Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-15
DEBATE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE

judicial expense. Of the Govrrnrcn, Tor The y"tF end'n
The 3 IN oi June, i,G'. which j. now before M st""'' "
In Committee of he whole: .ui tie question !, o' ~
amendment Of tie Senator from New Hampshire. VI;
IT,Lg.I 10 Insert y, an additional section:
And be ii further enacted. rhl; the .~' section II u
act Untitled IN act Tor the admission Of the SAT- ="
kansa, Into the Union. approved May !, l~>. h.. and M
sane : hereby amended Icy striking "r; 'ir following
y,ri,. tn.att 'Whrn-ver il j., a,r,rtainef. by 4 census dull!
aaI legally taken. that tie population "f sal! T.-ri;or!
.1rol. or rAc-cd. Vie r;t'c Il repre-, -ntaiior require
t. /, uea'..- of the House Of Representative In III
Ccns---. "f tie tai'.'S'i'' ""''H N'r'S - h'r''s -
poiIci."
Nr prr.L,-. I a srr g" n t.s " "'rf ~ to - r''ds =
The sen t,or from Mississippi
Nr u,.,v. III, Senator hall certainly have ht'plt I'm
10 r.rl,. and | ,h III be- i patient l-t"n.r ~ due iiHi.. ~
| wa. one n ,r,-r who ;hn':Gt. Wien ne p,'n'cri, par!
f,.,, ,h. fr,. Stl,.., sui the Democratic parry rom ~
Southern >iare-. called the slave states. nnli.i Under W.
au-I! -. % IT, distinguished Senator rom I.lil"'-, :" pc
III, which h,, hrrn ctlle! :hs Kama. Nrbr.'S' h'. ma
". had really. by mutually lawn: Down prr.!h,e'' W ~
prr,.ioa.. or pr possessions. upon the common ,'i' i W.
c"rn'ry. e%,tah'.hr! a 'y'i"nl % lvs'>i''," ~ " -, 49,
qui-,. once amt for all. the iI,;r.ctiat question ~ sIt''t!
/ thought 20 .!ncerrly an h"3esiiy- have 'e'l IL ''"Ne''
] will no: ny .ircr!'ci.
sr thu senator froEi Illinois las correctly said titi II va
the pnrpos. Of rha, hNi 10 remit the question Of the !ntr"
,ucrion ~ slave. iato the Territory I" the Judiciary. ana :
abide hy IL decision. |: va Il concession m' : wan s.,'
rrl.,'tnc, rs in- southern states. IL Ma one t1iAi - "''
though, n.rr MOS, m1iurrly; AM We knew TIA. wien w.
u,tIr III Al can-r-- ion "a remit the question 10 thr .uii ltri
~ TOO. from The southern STATE, = portion OF ih"'r i'"ih'c'
r.s,tS. they Etsing the right 20 determining ihIt question '"I
,,r!a.iv,s independent of any judiciary. Thc .aUc qGr-
lion ~. pre>ca'e. 70 Congress IN Isis. aEi 4 committee Va
rl..t! upon Il. called usually The Clayton committee. n
which The honorable senator iraai Delaware. nov ~ loag"i
i,ius. wAs the Chairman. AMI the hohnrth!e senator ron
>o.,l Carol "a. uos no longer living. a"s L i"tIabrF OF ma
conn'tt..--Nr. Calhoun, they -: IN de!iher"i."n upoi
the II! ,po.i:ion % the territorial question for days an
nights: ..iD,r % II, shO we're not member OF the COMMITTEE
vs.: { c,n,ul'ed upon Il; a"l' after tiH'h hethsra'ion. y
yra.rr-,l on the p.g: "i sIc southern men ~ u iiei """l
,ru.t the ia Lei lry na lLis Cons: uii ma, question. Clciti'
uad.r,:an lag. flily approaching the polii."! tisti III TIE
.,y-r.i.u states. :" d.jermi1c the question ."r themselves
,, -. ,-t.tr.t Uf CON .--lUu. x RaI agreed tiIt " Slul4I
j- rem III 10 ihc IN Lila '. ,ui - that committee report
I'd with IN. concur enc OF tdnt very distinguished leader,
III itr "r. 'alh 'un. lie >enI;t Adopted TIE measure pa'
Il WI ~ n The :htr iiol'"
wei. ii. wlea We came, Ia I>5p. - sriile His question a.
. ;crr.orii 81 auction III the or. Imitation 81 ;'' i"rFl'nrT-
Of ui.h AMI Ncw Mexico, i! the country acquired ron
VI .xico. wc ut L. the same :ons,s-."n. and 1t ".S provided
In u - ter liori,l Ita5 thst tn" question sh"uli he RENTED
~ the judiciary. She !Iws prOEIi!Is, according 10 nv fccn!-
lct;!nn, tbs; ni subjects Of legislation shoGli be- let ~ III.
rclp!, Of the Territory ~w.tilu; Reservations. AMI ihi- qies
;mn Il slavery was !titt" t..Ir, subject go the Constitution.
~ voted for taa:.
Tact, came ;he rsG ,ntz,;ioa ~ the T.rr ,orir, Of S-bras.
Ia and k.u.l.. when th. honorable Senator from ll..nJi-
rt.a; the lee! 4 the Territorial c'mai'''r That bin
y sra ne! - 81 very great car. i: rr't.nc 'lIc r%rincjpI"
( l.tyigg til. ~ =; 81, OF s!lyer! ~ The Territories 10 the
IN n!ry. l~t.!tmcr e. WIKI = 'i'w 20 give elect ~ jIii.
did ,,iion on tE,t question, the laws rgiEizinc til ia iclt.
re- v.r. changed ~ appeal hal Heretofore Lin frrm the
CONT ~ Ia: resort f. tEe Territories t. tie Supreme Couri
81 III. Cn.;ci ss,ie-, G"I The Law Wa fen'! lei 10 si''
,ht, apprt 4. both IN 4 qgt.:i n ~ liberty affecting = Save
In a territory. AMI In i question Of slave properly, all 'tna~
hv consent and agreement, In order TO leave ,a- question
OF y iVrrI In the 'crrIi iFirs 20 sbr supreme l'"f., aG.l ~
ARE. | 90 ADJ L. 0sr fortune, Tpor That
We'll. .i-. ,i- lev was pissed: It carried IN almost unii
y.!eI southern voi-; Il: carried Amos; IN undivided North
,r, lI..ocrltic yo'r. aud Thought We ualrr.t,cd each
cl,. Of 4 ,i,v- named bred S-oIi. 1t ",- .rriei 20 ,hr
supreme Court. ami the supreme Conr, decided that Con.
rr,,> pa>-.>s.tl no power io prohibit The Introduction of
slavery into the Territories; an out an "u: decision with
cut qualification or Limitation. The Supreme corr; 'icc!sr-
ri iht: there Wa no power III congress, under t'e I"n''l
tuition. 70 prohibit, III" Introduction Of slavery ia;o the Ter
rijnre.: AMI, u. y consequence neccss ,rlv following, n 10.
gic.l anil legal consequence, fully aalmt;e', a. under.
stand. in tie argument Of III. h%onUrthl' Senator from Ill.
mia. ii .~,lliiye power Of tn. Terri . " t. de iva,ivr,
,nd purely der waive. t,rre b iis no;hin: pin .y in j., 1t
fn.!oHe! ~ = con. .IurHce, both logic tN' AMI legally. thH
i.r people Of the Territory Possessed 40 sucl: power. Tn I
i, ,l- I,w Of the land At iii' day. ~ pronounced ~ the
hi.ilc-, iad.cill tribunal, th,t there |. o." power. either In
Cnusrc-, or ia the people Of - Territory. during their ieri
;od Il c"nhiiion. 10 prnlihi' ir' Introduction "i -'tr"rH
lr. plutifTLr. viii 'h- honor ibir sen tt"r from Vur-
-init allow NE 70 as him u question Oh that point
VIZ. M,,o>. Certainly.
Mr. pmLtrLr. II + the same poiu; to ~hi,h | d--l,.tt To-
cail the atirni!pu @: he honorable Senator from lliinoi. 80
Where. bv III. law Of the S,1;c from which We have ACQUIRED
Constitution of The United State, 81 i.orn force, rt-.-'rh-
Iih slave $ in ,uch /. Territory when We haze scIlir"i il.
VI. Mi-oS. That question:. entirely foreign &, ~. line
81 ar,un.nt that ! Wa pursuing hut | have no difficulty
IN answering il. anl wil' 10 ~ al the proper time. n the
s.nl,or vii! iu,lrl:" u". | say III. itN u IL, land. =, now
established by ;L- supreme Court. n:,i,r u power conceded
{, i, by Congress. IL the kil>'>N rhri.kt act. J.. that .hcr.
/, no p,wrr IN The peop'r II = T .rr!:orr 10 prD'i i. -ltvcry
,u. ,5,..fr, ,hIt he 1~i..io. - ,,,ui.t. bnt I, seem. not.
81. sc., TO mran-what? Giving a. Ne ,Iy.. nai force ami
effect 10 the decision Of the supreme court, yr: that, asii
rec. ,rl, ia. Territories. practice liy, Il; J.. = rT-rc ab,'r,c. on.
IT M vi.or. 81 no force, 81 40 potentially whatever. to
give ,Gc I to what So: have always claimed 10 b. = con,tiiI.
tinrrl ri.ii-;o take SLAVES Into = Territory aud 10 enjoy
the property there. The honorable syahior says the re0'
~. ~ \ Territory have "a power, derived from Congress, 20
refu.. o. pas what lie call . slave code. VIVA /, a slave
code Thee sat h.ynrI- AZ. very ,taugernu, thing. \
, I,v. code Does the honorable senator mean thu, the
people % q Territory Iua:. or mag not. AZ their pleasure.
pas law 10 secure III" e"JGym " q ;hs property which
So f. ns fsHgs. 80. ~. fn 80 Tx fA.r.ss slnt tl"S hRI-
tlrit power, tul dvriycslit from Congress. either ht acts Of
OMISSION or corimi.,I'n2 II he toe. II that hs h!- inter
OF the law. then | would say 10 the honnr,b!"
senator, ~ one "f tlo-" Who gGitcl fully with him IN pas
ing ,la, act. ant claiming 20 knpH he undivided opinion "
the southern S.,te-. who reluctantly arprulcscrL IN what
We y al done. ~ their Representatives, l "'Gld say 10 hun,
you promised u. bread. and you have given ~ u stone
you prom rl ~, = i,h. tgd YOU have gircn ~ a serpent
W. thought you hal gwen u, a substantial ri-h', An you
given ii. the most evi.nrscrut shadow and delusion-
Sir, tie meaning OF Il i>-accoriins 10 the Interpretation
which tina, : na,or put upon the kansas Nebraska act
III -, me- matter what the supreme Court has decided. our
ri .hi- Il, least are dependent ilon the will 81 the people Of
the Territory aaIif The people Of III. Territory Choose L"
r--p-ct our property, We can enjoy IL hu; i I'll y choose.
by . systrin o' oIeIl,i'el'w-: or ly INJECTION TO deprive u
of thai; enjoyment. the people Of the Territory have the
right 20 do Il AMI the honorable Senator say, he 1, IL,
one Of those who will ever interfere with thn, territorial
power.
Now, l cannot understand h'" the honorable Senator
can bring himself To- thu, conclusion a, Il proper, logical
SEQUENCE, from hi, own admission. IT,. has said Ia the
bro .les, manner. ;hat the people o!tlIe Territory: more iu.t'
senator from Mississippi. Who has jus, taken his seat the
Inhabitants Of i Territory; because, by y people, in pol!'icd
nom .mrla:ur". W. generally understand those VIII" possess
political ppS"r-hr lns said HAT the Inhabitants Of \ Ter.
r!ior: have Ills psnrr given them 10y the htnsa.\rb aka
Wha' power; \ p"ncris c1n;ravr nr and 20 nul.ify
AMI destroy 40, only the Constitution " the United S'i'.,.
hut that Cou.ti.u i,n ~ i%nt-rprcie by the Supreme Court.
TAa, i hi, position c' ry. II- ,ay- the people vi 4 Terri
drive il from Congress ulles th' kan'r Nebraska
act. VII ch In them all power. II that in,erprcttti u were
uu.. what would Il, anruu, 10. liz acre e. u, ualyr-
.i.,uI him. :hi. the decision Of the : ipremc C'u-t l.,
IA. l,w Of the Constitution. AMI h. agrees. ~ | under.
1911 -, ,E.s TrY.sr.-z tE-sf DO. not sA-.- sls. .,e.-
iuru. it iplp@, =. 4 cnHsc iIrncr. accord! ~ n h- re ton.
in:, that Congress. although II does NOT posses the pow r,
- ve,tit IN , Il rcrcn; ho ly-rh- inhab 'tant. NJ a Teri
t'ry. or thu IL Con:rt,, =" sr>,t. aiii ms dr!e:at"d 1t. II
cInno' take /, back. and ourh, not TO take il back.
Mr.. President. what are thu tru. rel lti0n. between III" in
habit; mt, of \ Territory rni the people of the United
S.a;css Ar. they fixed by Law; Nobody will pretend thai.
They are a~xelh III, hundiarntalllw the c'n.,i,ution -
The people 81 a Territory are unsnown 20 the Con -l,u'iln
In aay political sense sh ,;cver--u;t-r!y unknown. The
puhlic properly j. recognized rs the Goa iiu'i"n. 'hr. land
and il IL competent To- Congress, in administering the pu'lc
p-opr rt:. - ALLOW .ha, lanl to BE- Inhabited 10y Inhabitants.
but il Is not '''npe'rn I" Congress. acting under The Con
81, Tuition. 10 give :" the people II a Territory political p"w-
III" people the power they possess Themselves 10 pt-'l'ws
Cor the proper :inins.riiioa 81 q ,rIGporary government.
C"nr-e,' may d. ;ltt itself. or may delegate i, 20 the PEG
pie OF = Territory. iu; does the honorable Senator con.
found Il delegation with . grant: Can Congress grant any
power wiitcver 10 The peop!" Of a Terri DRY. Using the term
grant IN IT, proper icgti and technical sense. II rau
DELEGATE. bGt il cannot grant. Congress. in other word,
cAnll"t dives, Itself of that control over ;he public property.
and everything pertaining {" thu public rr' perry. which i,
tF-'fHl W l'leI - Wv NV ''ss-tiltA'H4 IL III ItitEtAF ll
CONVENIENCE, and purely Tor convenience, the admin .'ra.
ton Of that property. ami OF the Affairs which may ari--
AIN ,rg ,t. inhni,ii Ant, of tina: property from tim" to timc,
br, ii can grant u thin..
Ra, the honorable scntIor seems u consider hat there i
something in the kta-l,-N"hr ,-lI act. or In the D-m0cr,,-
ic platform. | know not which. or IN both. ~ which Con.
grr.s ha- irrcv"'thly passed 10 the people II the Territory
N" power which h. say they hold under this gran: ~ Con.
g~c->-pow-g which. shape IL =. h. may, amount. 10 no.
Thin: more. and can h., made 10 amount ,o nothing l....
than an Inve.;ur- nf that people with = political power
granted rs Congress. and no, irrevocsh'-. Tia; T.. what. I
suppose, some pcr.nu. drsignat" ~ sluiit-r scv.ri.n'y.
VI. Prr,Ilen;. we has" sr-n ~" iocIrip"- said "a have
been entertained hy ;htt honorable Senator. through tie
public Journal Of III, iay. lot the last sN or ri.h; months.
no, In All au;ho.it,;ivt form. They come before w. nos in
M authoritative form from IL" honorable Senator. ] un.
Icrstooi him 10 s.y, that Nr. liuch ,i!tn. the President. pre-
srn;ins il a. Il TO-. ~ th- popular judgment in the free
States. could have received no votes IL PENNSYLVANIA. or
ohio. or c~l.ewhcre, rnier the construction which the south
place, upon ,li- act. ! SNOW nothing ah'u, tha:. Il J..
impossible that | can know. and should thius IL
WAS alfGo', equally impossible that ~. honorable
sen TOR cou!l kuow. what lei the Democratic
party Ia thu irTc States to yot" for IN. present occupant
Of the Presidential Chair; bu;, ! will .av. 30 the Honorable
senate. iha, ! clti:n 80 Know tliS: .ni | 40 rot fear nue
d-,rn'iruE voice south Il ;he oil Potomac river. and eN.
tending TO :ir hori.r- of Mrxiro: 'ln', II the Kan.asNe
t-,... ,rr &, ., Lac 'rf.-yr.,pl a. l,.i n',rpr.,s Il. u f. So. In