The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-15
rhe Doctrine of Protection.

It has frequently been asserted by Douglas
and his followers, that the doctrine OF Con-
gressional protection to property IN the Ter
ritories was a new dogma "a new plank en-
deayored to be introduced in the Democratic
creed, and unknown to the practice of the
Government. as4t
Without reference to the many other proofs
that lust the reverse is the truth, We call at
tention at this time to the following Act OF
Congress. passed in 1884, and TO be found in
the Statutes at LARGE" Vol. ~, p TAO, and
the report of the Committee recommending
its passage-showing that the doctrine OF
protection as now commended for was there
admitted, asserted and acted upon, by the re-
neal of an act OF the Territorial Legislature,
in relation to slave property.
The truth is, the doctrine of protection was
never denied or questioned until It became
necessary to do so, to enable this Illinois DEM
aoopue to get free-soil votes
AN ACT repeating certain Acts of the
legislative Council Of the Territory OF Flori-
da.' 1t is as follows:
ABE II enacted, dr., That all such acts or
parts of acts passed by the Legislative Coun-
Gil of the Territory of Florida as may inn
nose a higher or greater tax on the slaves or
other property of nonresident citizens than IS
;mnosed ON the slaves or other property oil
resident citizens of said Territory be, and the
same are hereby, repealed and declared null
and void.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That II
any nerson shall attempt to enforce any OF the
| acts. or parts of acts, passed by the Legisla-
tive Council of the Territory of Florida, as
| aforesaid. by demanding or receiving any tax
| ;mnosition or assessment, authorized or pres
| crihed thereby, such person shall, on conyIc-
t;on thereof. be punished by fine not exceeding
5000 or by Imprisonment not exceeding siG
months. or either or both OF !said punish
| ments. !, =.
This bill passed both houses without dis
senting voice, distinctly recognizing slaves a
property and annulling an act OF a territory
| hostile to slavery. -
But the report Of the Committee VINO III
troduced the bill is still more to the point
The Committee consisted OF nine members
| five of whom were from free States Here
| is. (No. 258. Twenty-third Congress, FRS
| Session } 100.
February 18th, 1884.
aMr. Williams, from the committee On Ter
ritories, made the following report
aThe Committee on the Territories, :
which was referred the memorial OF James
Garnctt. M. Garnett, and Maria ii. Garnet'
of Essex county, Virginia, report
: "The memorialists allege that they are u
owners of q number of slaves removed se'
eral years ago from Virginia to the Territor
of Florida; that the Legislature oil SAID lei
. ritory has imposed tax of ten dollars nea
. on all slaves of non-residents which shall
hired out, without reference to the amour
for which said slaves may have been hire'
that an e.c post faco operation was given
this enactment by applying it to slaves hire
out several weeks before the passage OF u
: law: and that the same, or perhaps anotn'
law subjects any non-resdent'S slaves tn
NAV be sold in the Territory to further ia
of fifteen dollars each fhe5 thssefore ai
. Congress for relief.
: "The Committee arp satisfied that the m
Q morialists are entitled to relief 1t is &c
: tainIy against the policy of the United STATE
r as well as the dictates of common justice,
t allow any Territorial Legislature to tax .
i uroperty of non-residents higher than 7
Q same property of resident citizens"
: "The proyisionary authority appointed u
t der the Act of ed February, 1919, havi
S passed an ordinance providing for the natura
: zation of the inhabitants of Florida, and
n City Council of st. Augustine having impos
l. by ordinance certain taxes upon the inha
n tant, an Act Of Congress was passed on
If 7th Of May, 1922, repeating both ordinan
$ and making the execution penal"-(See
u vol Laws of the United States, page
20 chap. S6.)
$ '''rhe Committee think Congress should
!, ways protect the property of the citizens
al the. United States when subjected to the op
~ alton of unjust legislation by the Territol
re Governments. In the case above referred
IN that principle of protection is asserted ,
mt maintained in practice. Tho same princi
IL requires the same practice now, and for t
ne purpose the Committee herewith report a !
Al