The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-10-01

After further discussion, the vote was ta
ken by yeas and nays on the amendment
of Mr.. Chase, and decided in the mega
tive: yeas, % nays, 80. The question re
curing on the amendment of Mr.. Davis
of Mississippi, it was also rejected: yeas
% nays, 30 Whereupon Mr. Seward Of
fered the following amendment
/ "Ncther slavery nor involuntary servitude 9th
| erws than by conviction for crime shall ever be
allowed in either Of said Territories Of Utah and
! New Mexico"
! Which was rejected-Yeas % nays, 33
After various other amendments had
been offered and voted upon-all 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 Of legislation con.
sistent with the Constitution--which
amendment was rejected After the rejec.
ton of this amendment. the discussion
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 pro-
positions We're made, and amendments Of
fered and rejected-all relating to this one
controrerted point-when Mr. Norris, OF
New Hampshire, renewed the motion OF
Mr. Douglas, TO strike out the restriction
on the Territorial Legislature in respect to
African slavery. On the 3lst of July thi,
amendment was adopted by vote of 80 ,o
. l9-restoring this section of the bill 10
the form in which it was reported from
the committee on Territories on the 2jth
of March. and comforting on the Territori-
I IL
! iects Of legislation consistent with the Con
stitution Of the United States, ,iM5pa e.
/ ccJting 4trica,, sLqrsrn
| Thus terminated this great struggle in
/ the atfirmance of the principle, as the ba-
/ 81 OF the compromise measures OF 1850.
50 far a they related to the organization
of the Territories, that tie p>op}e .t he Ter
I r'tortes sho.cM decade tie sla,ey question .t6r
/ henlselroe Nu'04yh IL. acton, # hctr Ttrritgrol
/ LoHsI4t.,rs.
/ This controverted question having been
/ definitely settled, the Senate proceeded on
/ the same dav to consider the other por-
/ tons Of the bill, and after striking out all
except those provisions which provided for
/ the organization OF the Territory Of Utah
ordered the bill 10 be engrossed for a third
reading. and on the next day-August l.
lejU--the Ill was read Z third time. and
passed
On the 18th Of August, the bill for the
organization of the Territory OF New Mex
leo was taken up, and amended 50 as to
conform fully 10 the provisions Of the L tab
act in respect 70 the power of the Terrific
rial Legislature over all righttul subjects
OF legislation consistent with the Constitu-
ton, without excepting African slavery
and was ordered 10 he enyrossed for a third
reading without division: and on the
next day the bill was passcd-I cas-, - ;
navs. ~.
These two bills were sent TO the Hous"
Of Representatives, and passed that bc d :
without any alteration in respect 10 the
power of the Territorial legislature over
the subject OF slavery, AMI were approved
by President Fillmore, Sept 9, lNJ9
In 1872. when the two great political
Whig and DemocrItic-into which
TIE country was then divided. assembled
III National Convention at Baltimore for
the purpose of nominating candidates for
the Presidency and Vice Presidency, each
Convention adopled and affirmed the prin-
ciples embodied in the Compromise Mel-
sures Of 1870 a rules of action By which
they would be governed in all future case,
in the organization of Territorial Govern
Ineuts and the admission Of new States
. un the lth Of January, l>jf, the Com
rniJJee on Territories of the Senate to
which had been referred bill for the or
sanization of the Territory OF Nebraska
reported the bill back with an amendment
in the form of substitute for the entire bill
which with some modification is now
known on the statute book Is the Kan
4 sas Nebraska act. accompanied by a re-
port explaining the principles upon which
IL was proposed TO organize those Terrific
rles, as follows:
The principle amendments which your com
mittee deem II their duty 10 commend TO the favo
rable action of the Senate in a special report are
those in which The principles established by the
Compromise Measures of $50, so far Is they are
applicable to territorial organizations, and propo
sca 10 he affirmed and carried into practical ope
T ration within the limits OF the TERRITORY
The wisdom Of those measures is attesed, not les.
by their >slu;arv and beneficial effects in aIIav in
sectional agitation aud restoring peace and haru,u
nv to an irrItaiej and distracted people. than b,
. the cordial Gnd almost universal appreciation witt
which they have been received and sanctioned by
/ the whole country.
In the judgement of your committee thos,
measures ere intended 10 have a far more com
/ preheusive and enduring effect than the al
ju>tmentpf the difficulties arising out of the re
cent acquisition OF Mexican territory. They wer.
designed to establish certain great principles
which would hot onv furnish adequate remedies
IoT ensuing evils, out, IN all time 10 come, aNolt
the peri> of Il similar agitation, by withdrawn,
the question of slavery from the halls Of Congress
and the political arena and committing 1t To th'
al aibilrament of those who were Immediately inter
esied in and alone responsible for its conSequen
ccs. With a view of conforming their action Il
the settled policy of the Government. sanctioned
by the approving voice of the American people
ycur committee have deemed II their duty to in
corporate and perpetuate in their Territorial Bill
the principles and spirit of these measures"
De-. provisions of the bill, the committee con
cludes as follows:
From these provisions. i, is apparent that tn
Compromise Measures of 1850 affirm the rest up
on the following propositions"
! 'First-That all questions pertaining to saver'
in the Territories, and III the new states to b
formed therefrom, are To be left to the people re
siding therein, by their appropriate representa-
tIvcs to be chosen by them for that purpose.
"Second-That all cases INVOLVING title to slave
and questions OF personal freedom. referred Il
the adjudication of the local tribunals, with tn
right Of appeal to the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States"
'Third-That the provisions of the Constitu
tion of the United States with respect to the fugi
tives from service, is 10 be carried into faithful eY
ecution in all the organized Territories the same
III the States. The substitute for the bill whic
your committee have prepared, and which is re
commended to the favorable action of the Senate
proposes to carry these propositions and Princi
pies INTO pfactcai opefation' III 'he PietiHe ian
guage OF the Compromise Measures OF 1900
BY reference to that section of the Kan
sas- Nebraska act as it now stands on tin
statute book, which prescribed and defin
ed the power of the Territorial Legislature
f it will be seen that it is, " i'll the precis
language of the Compromise Measure @
. 1850" extending the Legislative power .
, the Territory Ito all rightful subject
, of LEGISLATION consistent with the ConstitI
ton" without excepting African slavery
1t having been suggested, with som
r BILL that the act of Congress of March ,
1870, prohibiting slavery north of the pa
allel OF 36 deg 80 min. would deprive tn
people of the Territory of the power {