The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-10-05
bs,iaU sdi n9sEj9d yilg9ihib adT eEs

com panied by Report explaining the
principles upon which it was proposed TO
organize those Territories, as fol!ows:i
The principal amendments which your
Committee deem it their duty to COM
mend to the favorable actioniOf the. Sen.
ate, in a special report, are those in which
the principles established by the Compro-
mise Measures of 1850, so far as they, are
Applicable to territorial organizations, are
proposed to be affirmed and carried into
practical operation within the limits of the
new Territory. The wisdom of those
measures is attested, not less by their sal
utary and beneficial effects iE allaying
sectional agitation and restoring peace and
harmony to- on irritated and distracted
Ipeople, than by the cordial and almost
universal appreciation which they have
been received an6 sanctioned by the whole
country.ff r-s..srl ,aa-fl s6r~%s
| "In the judgement of your Committee,
those measures were intended to have q
far more comprehensive and enduring eff.
feet than the mere adjustment of the diff.
6cultiss arising out Of the recent acquisition
of Mexican territory. They were design
ed to establish, certain great principles,
which would not only furnish adequate
remedies for existing evils, but in all time
to come. avoid the perils of similar agi-
tation, by withdrawing the question of
slavery from the Halls of Congress, and
the political arena. and committing ii
to the arbitrament of those who were inn
fmediately interested in and alone respon-
sible for its consequences. With d view
of conforming their action to the settled
policy of the Government, sanctioned by
the approving voice of the American peo.
pie, your COMMITTEES have deemed it their
duty to incorporate and perpetuate, in
/ their territorial BILL, the principles and
|. spirit ofthose measures aa g &oss'i"sAs
l. After presenting and reviewing certain
, provisions of the bill, the Committee con
clude as follows: 9tl % swgl l1a noaHif's
"From these provisions it is apparent
that the Compromise Measures of 1856
affirm and rest upon the following propo
sitions: tfagai aids 5ass9T buG sli0q
"First-That all questions pertaining
to slavery in the Territories, and in new
/ States to be formed therefrom, ure to b,
s left to the decision of the people residing
] therein, by their appropriate represen
: tatives to be chosen by them for that pur
pose. ''-'0
: "Second.-That all cases involving ii
: tie to slaves and questions of personal free
: dom, are referred to the adjudication of TIL
D local tribunals; with the right of tappea
: to the Supreme Court of the Unitet
: States. f.,.s o,;..
: "Third.-That provisions of the Con
8 stitution of the United States in respec
9 TO fugitives from service, is to be carriet
e into faithful execution in all the organic
e ed Territories the same as in the States
! The substitute for the bill which. you
t committee have prepared, and which i
Z commended to the favorable action of tn
: Senate, proposes to carry these PROPOSE
tious and principles into practical opera
tion, in the precise language Of the Com
: promise Measures of $780," OF s4n yia1c
> By reference to that section of th
kansas. Nebraska Act, as it, now stand
9 on the statute book, which prescribed ant
: defined the power of the Territorial Legis
lature. it will be seen that it is. din tn
) precise language ofthe Compromise Mea
sures of 1885," extending the Legislative
power, of the Territory "tor all drightfu
!, subjects of legislation consistent with, tn
II Constitution" without excepting Africa
slavery. .nfo oaT $50 Isss7 e'i'''
y 1t, baving been suggested, with som
y plausibility, during the d;scussion of tn
!, bill, that, the act Of Congress Of March
q 1920, prohibiting slavery north of !, tn
% parallel of $50 80 would deprive the peo
e pie Of the Territory of the power Of reg
v ulatiug the slavery question to suit them
o.lselves while they should remain in te,
d ritorial condition, and before ;.heyshoul'
u have the requisite population to entitl
= them to admission into the Union as
= State, an amendment was prepared by til
/ chairman of the Committee, and inoorpo,
/ ated into the bill to remove this obssecl
! to the free exercise Of the principle (
IS popular sovereignty in. the Territory
.oi while it remained in territorial condition
'e by repeating the said act of Congress, an
y declaring the true intent and meaning Q
le all the friends, of the bill in these words
sr n THAT the Constitution and all laws {
= the United States which are not local
,, inapplicable, shall have the same force an
~. effect within the said Territory as else
al where within the United States, exoeI
% the eighth section of the act -preparator
$ to the admission of Missouri integth
j. Union, approved March s, 1890, vhic
!. being inconsistent with the principle |,
s. non.ipterventio by Congress with slavl
d Ery in the States and Territories, sirecot
'el uized by the legislation of 1850, commoul
es called the Compromise Measures is, her
l. by declared imperative and void--it 6ei,
IN the true intent and meaning of Mis act 4,
S. to sgsslatS slavery into any 7srritory
al State, nor to erclude Il aerefron, but
,e lsave the people thereof perfectly free
Q, form and yegnlate their domestic instit,