The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-01-04

legislation. Had it been decided that either
Congress orshe territorial legislature possess
the power to annul or impair the right TO
property in slaves, the evil would be intoi-l
cradle In the latter event. there would be
a struggle for majority Of the members OF
the legislature at each successive election,
and the sacred rights of property held under
the Federal Constitution would depend Tor
the time being on the result. The agitation
would thus be rendered ncessant whilst the
territorial condition remained, and its bane-
ful influence would keep alive dangerous
excitement among the people of the several
States.
Thus has the status of Territory, during
the intermediate period from its first settle.
ment until il shall become State, been II.
reyocably ixe! BY the final decision Of the
Supreme Court. Fortunate has this been tor
the prosperity Of the Territories, as well as
the tranquility of the States. Now, emf.
grants from the North and the South, the
East and the West, will meet in the Terri
tories on common platform, having brought
with them that species Of property best adapt.
ed, in their own opinion, 70 promote their
welfare. From natural causes the slavery
question will in each case soon virtually set
/ tie itself and before the Territory is pre-
] pared for admission as State into the Union
i this decision, one way or the other, will have
i been a foregone conclusion. Meanwhile the
settlement OF the new Territory will pro-
coed without serious interruption, and its
progress and prosperity will not be endan-
gered OF retarded BY violent political strug-
giles.
When in the progress Of events the inhabi-
tants OF any Territory shall have reached The
number required TO form State, they will
then proceed, in a regular manner, and in
the exercise Of the rights Of popular soNer.
eighty, to form constitution preparatory e
admission into the Union. After this has
been done. to employ the language of the
Kansas and Nebraska act, they " shall be
received into the Union with or without
slavery. as their constitution may prescribe
at the time of their admission This sound
principle has happily been recognised. IN
some torn or other. By an almost unanimnu.
vote Of both houses Of the last Congress.
All lawful means at ms command have
been employed, aud shall continue 10 be en-,
ployed, to execute the Laws against the AZ.
fican slaye-trade. After must catelul ami
rigorous examination OF our coasts and a tho
rough investigation OF the subject. We have
not been able 20 discover that any slaves have
been imported Into the United states excep
the cargo BY the Wanderer, numbering be
tween three and four hundred. Those en-,
gagged in this unlawful enterprise have beer
vigorously prosecuted; but not with as mucl
success as their crimes have deserved. !
number of them are still under prosecution.
Our history proves that the Fathers III tn
Republic, in advance 0t all other Nations
! condemned the African slave trade. u MAS
notwithstanding. deemed cxpedient by III,
, trainers Of the Constitution 10 deprive Con
, gress Of the power to prohibit " the migralio
. or importation of such persnns as any Of lhl
States now existing shall think proper L
admit "prior to the year one thousand eigii
! hundred and eight I
| Il will be seen that this restriction IN Ill
. power Of Congress was confined d such State
} only as might think proper to admit TIE I'm
I portation Of slaves Il did not extend I
] other States or TO the trade carried on abroad
r Accordingly. We find that 30 early as the -
j, March, 1894, Congress passed an act mpo-
: ing severe penalties aud puaishments upo
{ citizens and residents u Tile United State
a who should engage ii ihl. trade between q
! reign nations. LIE provisions ii rhi, 4
n were extended aud enforced By tie act ,
:, 10th Nav. 1860.
d Again: The States themselves had elea
e right TO waive the constitutional prIViieg
: intended for their benefit. and 10 pr,tiJlf. B
s their own laws, this trade al aHy time lie
I thought proper previous to lsDS. Scfrr.
d IL them exercised this right before that II
5 Rod. and among them some containing ii
e greatest number Of slaves. This gave 10 Tor
: gres. the immediate p6uer 10 act IN rega'
e 10 all such States. because thpy themst Il,
!. lad removed the constitutional barrier. Cor
I gress accordingly passed an At On tie 81
: February. 1908, (. II proven, the iinp1riaiia
|. of certain persons into certain states ahel
]; bY the LAWS thereof, their admission Is Ri
d hlbted." r, this manner The importation
e African slaves int, the Emitted states "a
e to great extent, prohibited some year.
y advance Of 1908.
\. the yrar 1908 approached. Congrr
y determined MT ~ saiief this trfir - III
4 even ipr i single las aifer they had ihr ppAl
!. ID abolish Il. On the "a III Mar u. 1867. ii,
e, passed an ret 10 take effect " from aud Aft
:. the 1T ,lay u January. 1875, pruhibiiit
:. the importation ct Airitan slave. into d
N United states. Ihi. was followed bY 81
y spquent sets ~ a similar character, TO witt
IL ! need not specially refer. such we're &
Je principles and such fhe practice 81 our Il
\. resiors more than flis sesr. agp il resa
). ID the African .la,e.fradp.
Il did NOT occur TO the rtrered patfiu
al who had been delegates to the eousentio
/. and afterwards became members 81 t'oBgfe,
,e that in passing those law. they bad ,ioiati
& The Constitution abieh they had framed VI
81 81 much care and helibrfatiOn. Thef -
!. posed that 70 prohibit Congress, IN EXPIRE
.. terms. from exercising specified pnwef D
oe iore an appointed dr.. necessarily intulsl
III The right 10 exercise this power alter d
ss day had arrived.
Ii. II this were not the case. the trainers
sI the Constitution had expended much lab
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