The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-10-06
1)olltllal.
From The Louisville Journal
A DESTRUCTIVE RECORD.

John G. Breckenridge, as is generally
known, began his political career in 1850.
when he took scat in the lower House of the
Legislature Of Kentucky. Whilst occupying
this seat, Mr.. Breckenridge introduced a series
of resolutions upon the question of slavery in
the Territories, Of which the following was
the first:
RtSoltcd By The General AsscmLlv of the
Commonwealth Of Kentucky. That the CUES
TON of slavery IN the Territories. being
WHOLLY LOCAL AND DOMESTIC, properly be.
longs ALONE TO THE PEOPLE WHO lNIIABIr
TliEM.-Iiousc Journal, page lob.
Subsequently, Mr.. Breckenridge, as MEM
Der Of the Committee on Federal Relations,
made the following report ON the same ques-
ton, accompanied by the suhoncd resolu-
tons, and oihels not material to the point in
hard:
The undersigned, the minority of the Com.
mittcc on Federal Relations, have not been
able to concur in the resolutions of a ma lori
~ Of the committee.
The two sets of resolutions will he found
to differ only in two essential particulars. -
Those presented by the und. rsieued take the
ground that legislation on the subject of
slavery. excep, in certain specified cases. is
not u1ihin the poarcr of Congress, and thew
instruct our Senators to oppose Congressional
interference with the subject. The rcsolu.
tions of the majority surrender the power to
Congress. or al least fail to deny it clearly
and explicitly. and do not propose to instruct
our Senators to carry out the will of the
people bf Kentucky.
The undersigned cannot doubt that the
resolutions they have the honor to submit
occupy firm, moderate ground, proper for
Ncntucky to assume, and answerable to the
decided sentiment Of the State.
(S,gned) j. G. BRECKENRIDGE.
j. p. BATES,
j. p. METCALFE
Rcsolred By ihe General AssemJly of Ken
tuckp. That the Federal Government possesses
no other powers than those specially dele
gated, and such other power as may be neces.
sary and proper to carry into execution the
enumerated powers, and no to,aroN orer the
institution Of slavery, with TIE EXCEPTION OF
SOME SPECIAL POWERS RELATIVE TO THE
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, AND TO TIE RECoyEfiY
OF FUGITIVE SLAVES having been delegated
to the Fedora. Government therefore,
Resolved, That our Senators in Congress
be instructed and our Representatives re.
qnestcd, firmly to oppose erery effort that
may be made in the Congress of the United
States 10 interfere rih si,rerg either in the
States Of the Union, District of Columbia, Or
the Territories that now belong to or may
hereafter DE acquired by tie Government Of
the United States.
Here. it will be seen, Mr.. Breckenridge
AYERS that Congress has no "powER " to
]egislatc on " the SUBJECT of slavery" except
in certain spccifedcasrs," which, he
expressly declares. relate to "the African
slave trade and to the recovery of fugitive
Slaves BY every recognised and just rule Of
construction he denies the owerof Congress
to lcgislatc for the protection of slavery in
the Territories. His language construed
with the resolution quoted first above leaves
no room for cavilling on the point. tie
clearly asserts the constitutional right of the
people of the Territories pending the Terrific
rial condition to dispose If tho whole qucs-
ton Of slavery at their own pleasure. lie
anticipates the patent essay in Harper by
nearly decade of cvcntful years. So much
for John c. Breckihrdge's first public step
IN relation to the question of slavery in the
His next was the advocacy in the Federal
House Of Representatives of the Kansas. Nc
braska bill. cooperating ardcntly with
Stephen A. Douglas in the other House. on
grounds which the present pink Of intcfveu.
tim thus defined:
But II non Intervention by Congress be the
principle tina, underlies the compromise OF
1850. then the prohibition Of 1890. being in
consistent with that principle should be
removed AND PERFECT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THUS BE ESTABLISHED BY Law.
Among the many misrepresentation sent
to the country by some of the enemies of the
bill, perhaps none is more fragrant than the
charge that it proposes to hglslatc slavery
into Nebraska ard Kansas. Sir. if the bil
contained snch n feature it would not receive
my vote. The right to establish involves the
corrcla'ive right to prohibit, and. denying
both, would vote for neither. 20 further,