Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-22

squatter sovereignty 10 the pubic press ns.e tes.n",
charged. TN the contrary, while re Will not nlneh' under
any eonr.Ir.bIe circumsisncrs, from the principles and
platform of our party, MS we understand ,heW, no' ,'"op
~ court, for temporary purpose, the Au OF lnose "n",
vhiI. rIsIminp 10 belong 10 Its organlzation, do not cordially
unI,s in lis ,uppor,, We would gladly welcome hack into the
ample fold Of = common ns,i.nany tnos, i' HmT n~Nr "'a!
Du,Inv 6uy wears the question OF slavery WAS the all abb
.orhing topic Of discussion, In and Out OF Congress, ari'asins
,h. mir country. consuming valuable time, distracting at.
trutinn from Important public business. and exciting The
mos, rnvrnomed Liscurd AMI Nl.feeiing among the different
noriion. Of the cnnf-drracy. Abstract moralists and poll
,icl.ns vainly sought TO find a remedy for the evil, because
they souch, IL outside Of the compact VT icii the far.scring
vi.,.om Of our fathers framed 10 hind The several rrnlbcrs
Of The Union III un- brotherhood, and which thty trans
Ini;,ed to US for our future guidance. The retnedy was
found nj las, In leaving the whole subject 10 the people
where il belongs, and Withdrawing II altogether from The
general Government. which has n. ih!nH TO do with IL. ltis
The genius of the American Constitution to inrrust u great
deal To the local governments, and TO concude very II lie 1"
the general Il government. In the States where slavery exists
it was always confe.seiiy beyond the political control OF
,tose whose r..iiencc i, beyond Its sphere. The ni'i'iea-
ton Of The same rule to the Territories the c"inrn"l do
main Of the entire Ieup!c-when they sevefAlly frame 'h'it
constitutions and ask admission into the Union as siaies.
wa. considered 10 Ice the best and only just mIie ol setting
the vexrd question:. aud the people o! the Horth, s"u u
las, and Yves, Cheerful ~ acc, pied 1t as a tnaliy'
The compromise measures Of $50, Organizing tue letri'
;ories Of Ciah aud New Mexico, inaugarat-h the rr'icip.e
that the people OF u Territory should he Tree 70 resu,''e
their Affairs In ihci. owa way, aId determine whether 'les
would or would not adop, the institution OF domestic slave.
~ when they Iornicd their s:Lie Constitution. bGt ai
power over the subject while ia theiI Territorial c"hu'.om
was expressly forbidden ihetn, "a, will he seen ~ le 'eh''
section Ui the bill relating 10 Utah, Is rti'oF'eu Wy az
leci committee Of thirteen:
And be i, further enacted, Tha: the legislative power o'
the Territory shall extend 10 all rirhiiui sIn!ee's % L'.''.
laiion consistent with the Constitution OF The IIi'ea states
aud The provision, OF the act; but no law SHAH lie passed
interfering with the primary disposal oil 'Hc % "'' III
spect 10 African slavery, &c.
Daring the discussion Of these reasurc'by Congress 'he
question arose a. 10 villa; w., meant by me terra i,,tolIe'
II was remarked, and al the lcaiirg rtIn',ers ~ ire -.
nate. to,hl Whig- and Democrats, cnnchTteu; 'i''n heah'
the people ~, 4 political boay-iEe Pr'?i. ".-"i'AeI-
ulio aior,. have the right. on heco.iin: \ Sale, ny ic
authority Of The United states, TO eAsre,se SYNers'sn.l
over m. Territory AMI as 10 the disposition Of The SLAYER!
ou,.,iou. Mr. webster said: Il conceive that the lr@irr
mode Of procecdin: i 20 leave the natter I" s.',c -"
lion. ,nrr me Territories .lal hIyr become states. u.
decd. I: was generally understood that ile question could
ONLY b. disposed Of by the people when a'-e'iu'e" ~
Convention to frame Il Constitution preparatory 10 nIa"'I
sion into the En!On is q STATE. The following !fe"Iapie %
the ac: itself J.. sufficient proc! OF i!e tact;
"lh. true principle which oG;h. to REGULATE co'ethf:'ni'
for each newly acquired domain IS, 10 Ft'.ih 'r'I' ai -
l.;icn on the subjcc; ia the territory acquired % ION: ~
retain, he territorial form oi government, l"'V',ie 70 't
pccpl. Of each Territory. 'c"eA ts'yhart Gh"'htf 10 Il t"'-
diIvu .cficA r%.tjfi,~ Mem (" admission IT. Il Hf"tt. !" IT,
eide Tor themselves ;he allowance OF prohibition 'i a'Iies'
Hcthin: can he r,ore distinctly opposite than j. the irin.
ciplc lad down in the nboTc paragraph 10 the assumption
that i.c fis: settlers OF a Territory may at any time dH-r
their organization. and no matter whi; ii' IT number. pro
Hill, slavery, eth r - GiGcct lc- station. by falling 90 pro-
Vide for it, protection. C"aa'r:cudy legislation. oF =! ,i'
posin, snch an immense per ct .piti tan on Tie il;r'dae'!oa
oinvgro -layt- ~ would amoGnl 10 their prohibition.
Tie Kan.as. Nebraska l'E. in 'Iariaony Win AID 'uf'hrT
reduction 20 practice OF the principle Of Ia: coinnroiI'Ne
measures rcveaIed the Missouri restriction, rrohhhiiiae
slavery ana involuntary servtudr 'iorever,' IN all ;he Ter
ri,orit, North Of IL =" North latitude; declared that Con,
gre.s had no ri,h, 10 Interfere with tie local institutions OF
he Trrri,nr:es. and. a, JuGce Douglas stated in lis report
on the bill, DECLARED, in ~" rrvc!-, Language .! is c"'n-
promise measures of iSn, 'ha; when admitted as = siht-'
iac said Territory. ct ANY portion OF the same, 'iaii be re-
criyeG MO the Union with or without slavery, d. uieir Con
s,!;ui.vn. may prescribe al the time OF their adini-s!on.
TIE purpose VI Congress in passing the bill was defined
IN she following clear ami explicit L~ineuase:
81; being the true intrai aud meauinI oi tis ACT not !"
lecisllt. slavery into any state or Territory, nor 10 eNcii"c
ii iLvF-from. but 10 leave The people thereof perfectly Tree
10 form aud regulate their domestic Institutions In Their own
wsv. subject only TO III. Constitution Of The Quilted statr-.
When The &c, WAS passed t!,rre was SIN a question as 70
whether or not. under the Constitution, slavery exists In
the Territories prior 10 the adoption OF any municipal Law
Un the subject, and special prov ZION was made In The act
10y which ii, constitutional question could be submitted
for the adjuI.c ton Of the Supreme Court OF The United
states. The entire ~par;y-North, south, East ana Wet
agreed TO tlis settlement, md their representatives assem-
bIed in National Convention at Cincinnati. IN i9'o, sose,ih'
Is pledged themselves 10 accept and abide by !. Is "'ii-
ouly sound aud safe solution Of the slavery question upon
WHICH :he people OF The whole country can repose.' They
declared that this solution WAS ''Ihe basis Of the comrTo-
,ni.. MEASURES Of lsjn, confirmed lay both the lemocrat!c
and Whis parties in national conventions, ratified by ,ic
u.opl. m N. election oil lsi:. and rightly applied 10 the
Organization u; Territories in ia. Bat. lest there might
be tue least Doth, or controversy ~ 10 the time nj which
the people OF The Territories could eNerci,c iyeltima'rly ,'e
exclusive control Of the slavery question, they pass-i L
separate resolution, which IS rs follows:
.Iiesolved, Thut We recognise the right Of the people OF
all III. Territories. inc!udin- Kansas and Nebraska. acting
through the legally and fairly expressed VIII Of Il maturity
Of actual residents. and Whenever the number OF 'helr H.
habi:an,s jusiihes Il, 10 form n Constitution, NTH or "'iEou:
domestic slavery, and be admitted into the Union upon
terms " perfect equality with the other states
Upon the understanding tia; Congres, had no poser to
in,.r.rr. In auy way 10 determine the character Of tie II.
,,.,u,ions q. a Territory; that the people thereof had the eS'
elusive powe. 20 do so when they should frame the iniiia'
mental Law under which ;hry should ask admission Into the
Union as u state: that The citizens OF AL he state. had an
,qnaI right. under the Constitution, 10 seti!. In all The Ter.
riiurics Of the United States, and consequently had an equal
r.s,: 20 protection there in their per ons and property. aud
with the solemn pledge TO resist every ai'ei ~ al renew
in,, IA Congress and out OF Il, the agitation OF the slavery
question. Under whatever shape or color the s'te,hlI may
lie made The campaign Of $50 was fought by the Demo
cratic party, anu they were victorious. The Opposition
combined every in to defeat Us, and were READY event >
destroy .he Union. II they could only succeed In that way
Fortunately for the Interests Of humanity. there was con
sc-vail-m enough In the coua'rs then To save u from rum,
and let Us hope ,.a; there Is conservatism enough sun 10
.ay. L. from any departure from the principle. 10y which We
then ivfeaie.: r-cIionai,m in IT,, mos Formidable -trenr'!.
oar pre,-lt worthy ch!r!n.gis;ra'e Was elected as the repre-.
tentative Of these principles, and the executor U!;hr national
will a, expressed ~ Cincinnati. In his Inaugural Address,
delivered nh Mach, ISL, he clearly cXpr. sscs lbs unquai.
majority should determine the gu stlon Of domestic slavery
In the Territories. With regard 20 the tim When The people
Of a Territory shall decide tie question Tor themselves, lie
remarked, although tie supreme Court, before WHOM IA:
question was pending. had not yet decided II, that. In his
opinion. under the kaasas-Nebraska act, the appropriate
e,iod would be ..vl.n the number Of ac!ua! residents IN the
Territory shall Justify the formation OF n Constitution with
q view TO Its Admission as state Into The lLion. Ana
here let Us remark, tina; when MIR. Buchhna", AT The very
outset Of his official career. eDuuciatrd this doctrine ih.>
pIa!uly; ana when he repeated L; in still more forciblc iah.
guage 10 his famous letter 10 professor sliiitnan. no. one 0!
those who are now urging u. GCttirr"spNtrr'rhNy DOGMA,
sad lcnouncirg the Administration Tor ent,Iialnih. the
yicws expressed by the Presii"Gt, took the ; 'eh'esi t.cti'
ton 20 :!eia. or questioned their entire orthodoxy, On ~.
contrary, = ,Iuc OF those who arc now lnrG 81 N Their aCci'
.Iiion. Of Inconsistency agains; the Pretiier; 7Th NJ al
ini,is,ra,ion were then the icuiest in 'he!r rThi'e OF Us IA
aryu: i iiaress and letter TO The New Haven rTo'-s-oir.
am: .,pycially hat portion Of those documents IN which me-
defines the { me wh-n the people OF = Territory have Vie
right 20 determine the slavery question. " thGi de'ii'i"
1, wrong and c.r.urablc now. surely IL was wrong and c"t'-
.rrabi. ;h-n. And yet, We repea;-aad We beg the a'tli'
ton Of the candid oni i,ncst 20 the ftct-ihcrc were none
.l.- .-.fr.. a.. .arflps.s q nd trs.
..ce Of the Presidents giews on the question, as expressed
in is lnau.ui al aid Siliraan lc'tcr-nonc MOI" ready TO ac'
ccpt the 'av"rs and palro age VI the admias,;a,oH-'hh
ii,o.e who now sssaii him 30. consistently a1herin2 "a III"
principles and platform p!his party which tiiey have "ban'
toncd.
Address, the Su;,5-m. Cour o. The United S:a;e., The con:
serya,ors Of the sanciity ani integrity n he Constitution,
pronounced their great decision In The pTed >S"'t ea's,
which declared that, uIhor the Constitution "f III. Criici
State, s!aYrry exists Inihe Territories, and tir"; ;hrre II
no poacr either IL Congress or ,ie territorial LEGISLATURE to
d.,rir, the pcopir Of The la vrh"idng states of The right tn
take their slaves into sush T-rri;1ri"- during their terrific
rial existence. We MAJ" the 20 losinc extract from the
nr,rion o!,lc Court, a. delivered by Caief Justice fancy
"Bu, the power 81 Congress over the person or property
Of a citizen can never be 4 mer. discretionary power under
cur Constitution and form Of Government The power. q!
tie Government ahl the rights and privileges .! tile citizen
are r.ynl .,ri and plainly defined by the Constitution Itself
AMI uher ,he Territory becomes 4 part Of :ht United States,
IL, Federal Government enters into possession in the ella
r c.cr impressed upon Il by those TliV erected u. l. enter
upon 4; with its powers cyc- the citizen strictly defined. and
limited b, IN. Constitution, from which it derives il own
.xi.,. nee, and by virtue OF which alone II continues TO ex'
l.; and &C; asa Government and sovrreign'y: ~ hs no
rover Of any Kind beyond IL; and IL cannot, when u enters
4 Territory Of the United states, put OIL ls character ana
assume discretionary or despotic powers which the Cois'i'
tuition has denied 10 II. IL cannot create Tor hsen u new
character separated from the citizens Of the Tn ted sisi-s,
md the duties II, over them under the provisions Of the Con-
.,;,u,Iun The Territory being \ part of the United States,
the Government and the citizen both enter 1t under the an'
ihoriiy Of tie Constitution. with their respective rights de-
fined and marked out; and the Federal Government can
exercise no mower over his person or pro periy beyond what
that instrument coniers, nor lawfully deny any right which