The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-02-07
SPEECH OF GEN. JOE LANE,
In the y. s. Senate the 18Th Of Dec, 1899
on the Territorial question.

MR.. LANE. / was unfortunate, Mr. President
in not hearing the point which was submitted by
the Senator from Ohio in the course of his speech
to the Northern Democratic Senators. l noticed
that the Senator from Minnesota rose and respond
ed, but did not hear what was the question sub
mitted
Mr.. PUGH The question which I proposed,
referring to the statement contained in the speech
of the Senator from California at Grass Valley,
was whether the other Democratic Senators from
the non-slaveholdng States held the position that
any man who entertains Judge Douglas opinions
or mine-for they essentially differ in some things
as to the power of Territorial Legislature,
unfit to sit at the head of the Committee ON Ter
ritories, or to be received into the ranks of the
Democratic party-whether it was a cause of ex-
clusion?
MR.. LANE. Mr. President, I desire to say to
the Senator that it is not my purpose to prescribe
rules or platform of principles for the Democratic
party. had nothing to do with displacing Judge
Douglas from his position as Chairman of the Com
mittee Territories; but | will say to my friend
from Ohio that have very great respect for him,
and that have no doubt there are many good
Democrats in the Northern States who do not agree
with me upon the Territorial question. l would
not say that any one of them who disagrees with
me, and holds different principles on that point, is
not good Democrat; nor do pretend to say that
the fact that Judge Douglas holds the views or
opinions he does on this point would have been 2
good reason with me for opposing his election to
the craftsmanship Of the Committee on Territories.
He had been displaced before I become member
of this body. 1t was done by Democratic Senator's
whose devotion to the Constitution, the Union,
and the rights of the States no man will undertake
to gainsay
While l am up Mr.. President, will say that l
have my views in relation to the Territorial ques-
ton andI sorry to find that they dffervery mate
L. g,
sure he is coed Democrat. There is no doubt
about that; and | know l am good Democrat.
Then, sir, how can | undertake to say that gentle
men, differing in opinion the Territorial ques-
ton, shall not act together as Democrats when the
salvation of our country depends upon the sue
cess of the Democratic party? [ think that the
principles OF the Democratic party are the true
principles of this Government, and they must be
maintained, they cannot be compromised Seeing
and feeling as do the importance of union, on the
part of Democrats, on all great questions, [ would
not rule out any member of that party because he
did not feel as do in relation to Territorial mat
tiers.
have great respect for Judge Douglass; be
lieve him to be Democrat; but have a right tC
differ even from him, and do differ in opinion
from Judge Douglas, and also from my friend from
Ohio, in regard to the power of the people in the
Territories. l hold that the territory of the coun
try is the common property of the whole country
that the people Of every State of this Union have
equal rights in the Territories and that while they
remain in Territorial condition the inhabtant:
cannot by unfriendly legislation or by a system OF
unequal taxation, debar the people of any State
from admission there; in other words that they
cannot by legislation infringe the rights of the
people of any State But let me give an illustra
tion; hope the Senate will allow me to make a
case.
Application has been made to Congress during
the last two or three years for the organization Of
Territorial government in Arizona. Arizona is
in the southern portion of country. The
climate is warm; the soil is adapted to cotton; it il
rich in mineral resources. l have no doubt that
slave labor could be used to advantage in Arizona
believe it could be proftably used there for the
production of cotton / saw the cottOn-fclds or
the ella in the winter of 1S4S picked the cotton
out of the bols, examined its quality and texture
and found it to be fine. Cotton can be grown auC
produced there in abundance. Besides the cotton
slave labor could be used proftably in the mines o
that region, and in agricultural pursuits. Tha
being the case, representing, as | do, Northern
State, elected by the Democracy of Northern
State, could not for one moment consent that thu
people of the South should rush out there as sool
as Territorial government was organized &c
possession of the Legislature, and, by system o
unfriendly Legislation unequal taxation, under
take to keep the people of the North out of tina
Territory.
We would not submit to it at all; we would say
at once they have right to pass such laws; ant
believe any honest court, such one as would b
sent to that Territory, woull decide such enact
ments invalid, as violating that principle Of equal
ty of States upon which this government mus
rest. The principle of equality ofthe States mus
be maintained. Their equal rights in the Terri
tories is so clear to my mind that cannot imagin
how any gentleman gainsay it. The Territor
is the common property of all the States, and al
sure the Northern people would not submit to an
such system OF taxation, any such legislation /
in territory as would exclude them. The Nortl
ern Democracy are just; and while they would nC
submit to that course of policy on the part of tn
South, they would not attempt to exclude tn
South by system to which they would not sui
nit themselves
understood the Senator from Ohio, in respons
to the Senator from Mississippi, to say that tn
right with the people of Territory to estat
fish or prohibit slavery.
Well, Mr. President, | desire to say that d
not believe that the people of Territory have tn
right to exclude, establish, or abolish SLAYER
No such right is conferred on them by the Const
tuition [ recognize the principle of the equalit
OF the States-their equal rights in the Territore
Any man has right to go from any State of I'll
Union into the common territories of this govern
ment, and take with him whatever is recognized
property 10 the State from whence he goes, and
hold it in the territory while the Territorial col
dltlon remains; aud When tie people of the teri
tory come to form State government, thew hay