The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-10-05

without any exceptionI lie might just as
we'll say that am opposed to protecting
property in merchandise, in steamboats,,
in cattle, in real estate, as to say that /
am opposed to protecting property Of any
other description; for desire to put them
all on an equality, and allow the people
to make their own laws in respect to the
whole of them" ,r,,e q
Mr.. Cass said (referring to the amend
ments offered by Mr.. Davis and Mr..
Chsse): :1ab- i,t7 sit .'la Z sn' '8 ''+' ~
"Now with respect to the amendments.
I shall vote against them both; aud then
shall vote in favor of striking out the
restriction in the Bill upon the power of
the Territorial governments. I shall DO
so upon this ground. 1 was opposed, as
the honorable Senator from Kentucky has
declared he was,. to the insertion of this
prohibition by the committee. I consid-
er it inexpedient and unconstitutional. I
have already stated my belief that the
rightful power of eternal legislation In the
Territories belongs to, the people"
After further discussion the vote was
taken by yeas and nays on the amendment
Of Mr.. Chase, and decided in the mega
tive: Yeas, 25; Nays, 80. The question
recurring on the amendment of Mr.. Davis,
of Mississippi, it was also rejected: Yeas,
25; Nays, 80. Whereupon Mr.. Seward
offered the following amendment: ..-.-5o !
Neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude, otherwise than by conviction for
crime, shall ever be allowed in either of
said Territories of Utah and New Mex
! ico.n 49,.
+ Which was rejected Yeas, %; Nays,
33. - -. ~. .,.,.-eq-i
After various other amendments had
been offered aud voted upon---aE relating
to the power of the Territorial Legislature
over slavery-Mr. Douglas moved to
strike out all relating to African slavery,
so that the Territorial Legislature should
have the same power over that question
as over all other rightful subjects oflegis-
lation consistent with the Constitution
which amendment was rejected. After
the rejection of this amendment, the dis
cussion was renewed with great ability and
depth of feeling in respect to the powers
which the Territorial Legislature, should
exercise upon the subject of slavery, -
Various propositions, were made, and
amendments offered and reiected-all re-
lating to this one controverted point
when Mr.. Norris, of New Hampshire, re
newed the motion of Mr.. Douglas, rto
strike out the restriction on the Territori.
al Legislature in respect to African sla
very. On the 31st of July this amend
ment was adopted by a vote of 80 to ! s
restoring this section of the bill to the
form the Committee on territories on the
25th Of March, and comforting on the
Territorial Legislature power, over cal
!, rightful subjects Of legislation consistent
with the Constitution of the United
States" a0ithout ercepting African sla
rery. -. =. -. ....-. ri,
i Thus terminated this great struggle il
the afirmance of the principle, as the ba
4 sis of the compromise measures of 1850
so far as they related to the organization
of the Territories, that the people of, tn
Territories should decide the slavery ques
tion for Memselves through the action .
their Territorial Legislatures. .,.-o -, r..
This controverted question having beer
definitely settled, the Senate proceeded OF
the same day to consider the other por
tions of the bill. and after striking out al
except those, provisions which. provides
for the organization of the Territory 0
j Utah, ordered the bill to be engrossed TO
: third reading, and on the next day
;. August l, lS5O-the bill was read Q thirt
time, and passed -
+ On the l 4th of August the bill for th
: organization of the Territory of Nev
Mexico was taken up, and amended s,
as to conform fully to the provisions Q
the Utah Act in respect to the. power Q
the Territorial Legislature over call right
ful subjects Of Legislation consistent wit
, the Constitution" without excepting Al
Erican slavery, and was ordered to be en-
, CROSSED for third reading without q di
visions; and on the next day the bill wa
passed-Yeas. 81; Nays. 10. = a.c
These two bills were sent to the Hous
of Representatives, and passed that bod
without any alteration in respect to }, ,th
power of the Territorial Legislatures owe
the subject of slavery, and were approx
ed by President, Fillmore September 3
) 1850. "
IL. In 1852, when the two great politics
parties -Whigi and Democratic-int
which the country was then divided, as
sembled in National Convention at Balti
more for the purpose of nominating can
! didates for the Presidency and Vice. Pres
ideney, each Convention adopted an
affirmed the principles embodied in lth
= compromise measures of 1850 as rule
of action by which they would be govern
ed in all future GASES In the organizatio
u of Territorial governments and the admis
sion Of new States. ayJ- .Tr.rg2 af7
al, On the 4th of January, 1854, th
: Committee on Territories of the Senat'
to which had been referred q bill for th
+ organization of the Territory of Nebrask.
}, reported the bill back; with On Iamend
!, meht, iRr the fern Of substitute for th
"