The Nevada journal., 1860-06-29

tain ratio of representation IN Congress.
And now, sir, am one who, believing such
to be the understanding on which the Con-
stitution was framed, mean to abide by it..
There is another principle, equally, clear,
by which mean to abide, and that is, that
in the Convention, and in the first Congress,
when appealed to on the subject by petit
tions, and all along in the history of this
Government, it was, and has been, con-
ce9ed point, that Slavery in the States in
which it exists is matter of State regula-
tion exclusively, and that Congress has not
the least power over it, or right to interfere
with it. Therefore say, that all agitations
and attempts to disturb the relations be-
tween master and slave, by persons not liv-
ing in the slave States, are unconstitutional
in their spirit, and afe. in my opinion, pro-
ductive of nothing but evil and mischief.
countenance none of them: The manner
in which the Government Of those States
where Slavery exists are to regulate it, is
for their own consideration, under theft re-
sponsieility to their constituents, to the
general laws of propriety, humanity, and
justice, and to God. Associations formed
elsewhere, springing from feeling of hu-
manity, or any other cause, have nothing
whatever to do with it, nor right to inter-
fere with it. They have never received any
encouragement from me, and they never
will. In my opinion, they have done moth
ing but delay and defeat their own professed
objects.
have NOW stated, as understand it, the
condition of things upon the adoption of the
Constitution of the United States. What
has happened since? Sir, it has happened
that above and beyond all contemplation OF
expectation of the original trainers of tbs
Constitution, or the people who adopted it
foreign territory has been acquired by ces-
sion, first from France, and -hen from Spain
on our southern frontier. And what has
been the result? Five slaveholding State:
have been created and added to the Union
bringing ten Senators into this body, q in.
clude Texas, which consider in the light
of a foreign acquisition, also,) and up tc
this hour in which address you, not one
free State has been admitted to the Unior
from all this acquired territoryl
Mr.. Berrien, lin his seat.) Yes, Iowa.
Iowa is not yet in the Union. Her Sen.
ators are not here. When she comes in
there will be one to FIVE, one free State IL
five slave States, formed out Of new Terri
tories. Now, it seems strange to me tha
there should be any complaint of injustice
exercised by the North toward the South
Northern votes have been necessary, the,
have been ready, and they have been given
to aid in the admission of these FIVE new
slaveholding States. These are facts; and
as the gentleman fl Georgia has yer,
properly put it as case in which we are t.
present ourselves before the world for it
Judgment, let US see how we stand. I d
not represent tie North. | state my ow
case; and present the matter in that ligh
in which | am willing. as an individua
member of Congress, to be judged by civil
lied humanity. Isay, then, that, accordin
to true history, the slaveholding interest i
this country has not been a dsfavored in
terest it has not been disfavored by tn
; North. The North has concurred to brin
in these five slaveholding States out of newl
acquired territory. which acquisitions wer
not at all in the contemplation of the Con
ycntion which framed the Constitution, o
of the people when they agreed that ther
should be a representation of three-ifths c
the slaves in the then existing States.
Mr.. President, what is the result of this
We stand here now, at least do, for on,
to say that, considering there have bee
already five new slaveholding States forme
out of newly acquired territory, and onl
one non-slaveholding State, at most, d
not feel that am called on to go further
do not feel the obligation to yield more
But our friend, of the South say, " Yo
deprive US of all our rights. We hay
fought for this Territory, and you deny u
participation in it." Let us consider thi
question rs II really is; and since the hon
orable gentleman from Georgia proposes t
leave the case to the enlightened and impair
tial judgment of mankind-and as l agre
sidered by the enlightened part of mankin
let us see how the matter in truth stand:
Gentlemen who advocate the cause whic
my honorable friend from Georgia, with S
much ability, sustains, declare that we in
wade their rights, that we deprive them of
participation in the enjoyment of Terrific
ries acquired by the common services an
common exertions of all. Is this true?-
How deprive? Of what do we deprive them
Why, they say that we deprive them of tn
privilege of carrying their slaves, as slave.
into the new Territories. Well, sir, what
the amount of that? They say that in thi
way we deprive them of the opportunity {
going into their acquired Territories wit
their property, Their property 2" Whs
do they mean b. property" We certainl
do not deprive them OF the privilege of &c
ing into these newly acquired Territorie
nth all that, IN The general estimation Of humd