The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-06-21

present Constitution of the United
States"
Here il complete recognition of the
power of Congress to legislate for the
Territories, and to exclude slavery
therefrom; for this act re-enacted and
established the provisions of that Or
dmance. In pursuance of the policy
marked out by the ordinance to which
| have referred, Congress, from time to
time, in the organization of territorial
governments, applied the same restric.
ton of slavery, by direct Legislative
enactment; and SO unquestioned was
the complete power Of Congress over
the subject, that in 1902, President
Jefferson approved the anahling act
authorizing the people of Ohio to form
State government, which contained
a proviso that the Constitution should
not be repugnant to the ordinance of
1887. Mr.. Madison approved similar
act, in relation to Indiana in 1916 and
Mr.. Monroe one relating to Illinois in
1918. Acts were passed during the
administration of every Democratic
President down to, and including
James *. Polk, when the Territory of
Oregon was organized, with the same
prohibition, that there should be ssneith-
er slavery nor involuntary servitude in
said Territory. otherwise than in the
punishment of crime, whereof the par
ty shall have been duly convicted" +"
During all this period, Congress not
| lool.,-.,xor,.;co1 III. p<,xrar r,,rouoSt;,,naJ
of prohibiting the existence of slavery
in the Territories, and of requiring the
State Constitutions to conform to the
provisions of the ordinance, but it ex-
ercised the power of regulating slave
nv in the Southwestern Territories.
Under the provisions of the Consti-
tntion Congress could not restrain the
foreign slave trade until the year 1918.
and that infamous traffic was regarded
as legitimate commerce. And yet, in
1894, Congress Disseminated against
this species of property, and prohibit-
cd the carrying of slaves to any foreign
country, aud utterly condemned slaves
and slavery as an article of Commerce.
In 1898, ten years before Congress had
authority to prohibit the importation of
African slaves into the States, in the
act for the Government of the Nlissis-
sippi Territory, the seventeenth section
makes it unlawful to bring slaves into
the Mississippi Territory from anyplace
without the United States; imposes a
fine of $500 for every slave thus brought
into the Territory in violation of the
act, and gives to every slave thus
brought in, his or her freedom. The
doctrine of '',,o,a- -interUentio7a" had not
been invented at that time, and the
Congress of that day was not hindered
by constitutional scruples from exer-
cising the sovereign power of prohibit
ing the African slave trade in the Terri
tories ten years before they were au-
thorized to make the same prohibition
in the States.
In 1904, when the Louisiana Terrific
ry was organized, similar provisions
was enacted prohibiting the introduce
ton of slaves into the Territory from
any place without the United States,
with an additional provision against
the introduction of any slaves from the
States, that had been imported since
1898, exercising unquestioned, express
authority to prohibit and regulate
slavery, and all other matters, in the
Territories. These acts were approved
by Jefferson-authority which the
Democratic party has never had the
hardihood to dispute. Congress after
wards, in the year 1886, repealed and
nullified the territorial acts Of Florida,
incorporating certain banks and insur-
ance companies, and this act received
the sanction of General Jackson. Con-
gress also, in several instances. legislat-
ed in relation to slavery in Florida.
In the year 1900, a petition from
Mississippi Territory was sent into
Congress praying for permission to
take slaves into the Territory. This
petition was introduced into the House
of Representatives. The House passed
bill entitled, can act to permit. in
certain cases, the bringing of slaves
into the Mississippi Territory"
This territory was at the Southern
extremity of the United States, and
altogether surrounded by an old slave
holding population The bill passed
the House without division. 1t was
sent to the Senate, where Thomas JEFF
ferson presided, by being Vice-Presi-
dent, where it was rejected by vote
of IA to5. H- 1i
From this statement it will be seen,
Mr.. President, that for long period
i'm the history of the Government, and
of the Democratic party under its most
distinguished leaders, the power of the
Government over its Territories, in all
respects, was unquestioned; and that
the wise and statesmanlike policy OF
restricting and regulating slavery was
Invariably pursued. E
But "then arose a new king which
knew not Joseph" The precepts and
examples of Jefferson were discarded.
An influence appeared in the Southern
States which sought to change the set
tied policy of the Government, and to
establish and perpetuate the institution
of slavery. This Influence shall de-
nominate the slave power. Perhaps
its first attempt to control the Demo.
cratic party was in the nomination OF
President in 1874. Having acquired
a large additional strength by the ad.
mission of the States of Louisiana
Missouri. Arkansas and Florida. from