The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-09-18

William S. Johnson, Roger Sherman,
Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas
Fitzsimmons, William Few, Abraham
Baldwin, Rufus King, William Patteson,
Richard Bassett, George Read, Pierce
Butler, Daniel Carroll, and James Mad
ison.
This shows that, in their understand
ing, no line dividing local from Federal
authority, nor anything in the Constitu-
ton, properly forbade Congress to pro-
hibit slavery in the Federal Territory
else both their fidelity to correct princi-
pie, and their oath to support the Consti-
tuition, would have constrained them to
oppose the prohibition. Again George
Washing ton, another Of the thirty
nine" was then President Of the United
States, and, as such, approved and sign
ed the bill-thus completing its validity
as law, and thus showing that, in his
understanding, no line dividing local
from Federal authority, nor anything in
Constitution, forbade the Federal Gov
ernment to control as to slavery in Fed
eral territory. Loud applause. No
great while after the adoption of the or
iginal Constitution, North Carolina ced
ed to the Federal Government the coun-
try now, constituting the State of Ten
nessee and few years later, Georgia
ceded that which now constitutes the
States of Mississippi and Alabama. In
both deeds of cession it was made a con-
dition by the ceding States, that the Fed
eral Government should not prohibit
slavery in the ceded country. Besides
this, Slavery was then actually in the
ceded country. Under these circum-
stances, Congress, on taking charge Of
these countries, did not absolutely pro-
hibt slavery within them. But they
did interfere with it--take control Of it
even there, to a certain extent. In 1898.
Congress organized the Territory oil
Mississippi. In the act of organization
they prohibited the bringing of slaves into
the Territory, from any place without the
United States, by fine, and giving free
dom to slaves so brought. This acI
passed both branches of Congress with
out yeas and nays. In that Congress
were three of the "thirty mine" who franz
ed the original Constitution. They were
John Langdon, George Read and Abra-
ham Baldwin. They all probably voted
for it. Certainly they would have placed
their opposition to it upon record, if, in
their understanding, any line dividing
local from Federal authority, or anything
in the Constitution, properly forbade the
Federal Government to control as to sla-
very III Federal territory. Applause. In
1903, the Federal Government purchased
the Louisiana country. Our former ter
ritorial acquisitions came from certain OF
our own States, but this Louisiana coun-
try was acquired from from foreign
nation. In 1904, Congress gave Ter
ritorial organization to that part of il
which now constitutes the State of Lou
isiana, New Orleans, lying within that
part, was an old and comparatively large
city. There were other considerable
towns and settlements, and slavery was
extensively and thoroughly intermingled
with the people. Congress did not, in
the Territorial act, prohibit slavery; but
they did interfere with it-take control
of tin Il more marked and extensive
way than they did in the case of Missis-
sippi. The substance Of the provision
therein made in relation to slaves, was
First That no slave should be impor-
ted into the Territory from foreign parts.
Second That no slave should be ear
ried into it who had been imported into
the United States since the first day OF
May, 1898.
Third. That no slave should be car
ried into ii except by the owner, and for
his own use rs a settler the penalty il
all cases being fine upon the violator of
the law, and freedom TO the slave. Pro-
louged cheers.
This act also was passed without yeas
and nays La the Congress which pass
ed it, there were two Of the " thirty-nine." ="
They were Abraham Baldwin and Jona-
than Dayton. As stated in the case of Mis-
sissippi, it is probable they both voted for
it. They would not have allowed it to
pass witAout recording their opposition
to it, ii, in their understanding. it viola
ted either the line properly dividing To-
cal from Federal authority or any pro
vision Of the Constitution. ln 1919 and
1890 came and passed the Missouri ques
ton. Many votes were taken, by yeas
and nays, in both branches Of Congress,
upon the various phases of the general
question. Two OF the 3" thirty nine -
Rufus King and Charles Pinekney-
We're members Of that Congress. Mr..
King steadily voted for slavery prohibi-
lion. and against all compromises, while
Mr.. Pinckney as steadily voted against
slavery prohibition and against all com
promises. Cheers. BY this, Mr. King
showed that, in his understanding. no
line dividing local from Federal author.
ily, nor anything in the Constitution,
was violaled3y Congress prohibiting
slavery in Federal territory while Mr..
Pinckney, by his votes. showed that. in
his understanding, there was some sutii.
cient reason Tor opposing such prohibi-
ton in that case. The cases have men
toned are the only acts Of the thirty
nine" or Of any of them, upon the di-
rect issue, which have been able TO dis
cover. To enumcrate the persons who
thus acted, as being four in 1884, three
IN I7S7 saypniaan IN | l72p three IN 7qR