The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-06

10 promote peace and harmony among the
States. 1t is striking proof of the sense OF
justice which Is inherent in our people. that
the property in slaves has never been disturbed
to my knowledge, in any of the Territ5rles.-
Even throughout the late troubles IN Kansas,
there has not been any attempt, as am credl-
bly Informed TO interfere, in a siogle instance,
with the right of the master Had any sQch at
tempt been made, the judiciary would doubtless
have Afforded an adequate remedy. Should
they fail to do this hereafter, 1t will then be
time enough TO strengthen their hands By fur
ther legislation. Had it been decided that ei-
ther Congress or the territorial Legislature pos
spss the power to annu! or impair the right to
property in slaves, the evil would be- intoiera-
bic. In the latter event, there would be a
struggle for a majority OF the members OF the
legislature at each successive election, and the
sacred rights of property held under the Fede-
raj Constitution would depend for the time be-
ing on the result. The agitation would thus
be rendered incessant whilst the territorial con-
dition remained, and its baneful Influence
would keep alive a dangerous excitement "a
mong the people ofihe several States.
Thus has the status OF Territory, during the
intermediate period from It's first settlement un-
tit it shall become a state, been rrevocabiy fix
ed by the final decision of the Supreme Court.
Fortunate has this been for the prosperity of the
Territories as we'll as the tranquility Of the
States. Now, emigranls from the North and
the South, the East and the West, will meet in
The Territories on a common platform, having
brought with them that species of property best
adapted, in their own opiaIon, to promote their
far ~Ir
question wIll in each case soon virtually settle
itsell ; and before the Territory is prepared for
admission as a State into the Union, this de-
cison, one way or the other, viii have been
foregone conclusion. Meanwhile the settle
ment OF the new Territory viii proceed with
out serious interruption. and IT'S progress and
prosperity will not be endangered or retarded
by violent political struggles.
When IN the progress of events the inhabi-
tanls Of any Territory shall have reached the
number required to form State, tbey wall then
proceed, in regular manner, and in the exer-
else OF the rights of popular sovereignty, TO form
a constitution preparatory to admission into the
Union. After this has been done, 10 employ
the language Of the Kansas and Nebraska act,
E'they shall be received into the Union with or
without slayer, as their constitution may pre-
scribe at the time of their admissions" This
sound principle has happily been recognised, 10
some form or other, by an almost unanimous
vote of both houses Of the last Congress.
All lawful means at my command bave been
employed aud shall continue 10 be employed TO
execute the laws against he African slave-trade
After most careful and rigorous examination
Of our coasts, aad a thorough investigation Of
the subject, We have not been able to discover
that ans slaves have been imported into the
Uuited States except the cargo by the Wander
ar, numbering between three aud four hundred.
Those engaged in this unlawful! enterprise have
been rigoroas!y prosecuted out not wiki Is
much success as their crimes have deserved.
4 number OF them are still under pyosecu-
ton.
Oar history proves that the Father OF the
Republic, in advance OF all other nations, con
demned the African save-tIate. 1t was, not
wthstandina, deemed expadient by the trainers
of the Constitution to deprive Congress Of the
power 10 prohibit 'the migration or importation
Of such persons as any OF the States now eXis-
ung shaI. think PropeF not to admit" prior 10
the year one thousand eight bundled and
eight.
power of Congress was confined TO such States
only as might think proper to admit the ImPoF-
tation of slaves. 1t did not extend to other
States or 10 the trade carried on abroad. Ac
cordogly, we fad that 50 early as the 22d Of
March, 1894, Congress passed an act imposing
severe penalties and punishments upon citizens
and residents of the United States who should
engage in this trade between foreign nations.
The provisions Of tins act were extended and
enforced by the act of 10th May, 1900.
Again The States themselves had a clear
right 20 wave the constitutional privilege in
tended for their benefit, and to prohibit, BY
their own laws this trade at any time they
thought proper, previous TO 1908. Several Of
them exercised this right before that period,
and among them some containing the greatest
number ofsIaves. This gave to Congress the
immediate power TO act in regard to all such
States, because they themselves had removed
the Constitutional barrier. Congress accor-
dinghy passed an act on the 2Sth February,
1903, s'to prevent the importation of certain
persons into certain States where, by the laws
thereof, their admission is prohibited" To this
manner the importation OF African slaves into
the United States was, TO great extent, pro-
hibited some years IN advance of 1903.
As the year 1908 approached, Congress de-
termined not to suffer this trade to exist even
fo- single day after they had the power to a.
boiish it. On the ID of March, 1907. they
passed an act 10 take effect "from and after the
lst day of January, 1905" prohibiting The i'm
portation of African slaves into the United
States. This was followed b. subsequent acts
Of similar character, 10 which need not spe-
cially refer Such were the principles aud
such the practice of our ancestors more than
fifty years ago in regard 10 the African slave
trade
1t did not occur to the revered patriots who
had been delegates to the convention, and af-