The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-08-23
Henry CIaY's Position.

Henry Clay's Position.
Tie Douglas Democracy Of this county,
ever eager to perSsrt truth and outrage
decsucy, whenever either initiates against
their teachings. have sought to induce
the public to bsIieve that Henry Clay was
"squatter sovereign" aud that his opin'
ions upon the question Of slavery in the
Territories were incompatible with Rs
publicanum. With view Of setting the
sage Of Ashland" right before the pub
lie. aud exposing the abSurdity Of these
assertions upon this question, we publish
below, extracts from his tgreat speech on
the compromise resolutions:
Mr.. Cluy says: "The power then, Mr.
President in my opinion-and extend
i to the Introduction as well as 10 the
prohibition Of Slavery in the new Terri.
torieS--doeS szist in Congress; and think
there is this important distinction between
Slavery outside Of the States and Slavery
Inside of the States; that all outside of The
Sa'os is debatdbls, and all intide Of the
States is not debateab'e"
Further on he says, "Mr. President, l
shall not take up the time. Of which SO
much has enconsumed already, to show
that the cluase which gives to Congress
the power to make ueedfu rules and reg
ulations respecting the territory and 9th.
or property Of the United States conveys,
THE POWER TO LEGISLATE FOR
THE TERRITORIES l cannot con.
cur with my worthy friend--and use
the term in its best and most emphatic
sense my friend from Michigan. (Mr.
Cass. Issy ! cannot concur with that
honorable Senator. though | entertain the
most profound respect for the opinions
which ho has advanced adverse 10 my
own; 6nt / must say that when point is
settled by all the elementary authorities, and
BY the uniform Interpretation and action Gt
every department Of our Gousrnor-iegis.
lathe, executive and judicial and Ohen
that point has been settled during period
@Ety years. IMiak MatU ws ars to re-
gard anything az yfrsd and SETTLED under
tho administration oFMis Constitution Of
ours, il is tAs question Which hos thus in
va' iabty and uniformly been settled"
Again he says. "There are prohibitions
upon the power Of Congress. within the
Constitution. which prohibitions. l admit
must apply to Congress whenever it leg
isIaIes, whether for the old States or the
new Territories; but none Of them re-
strains the exercise Of THE POWER OF
CONGRESS UPON THE SUBJECT OF
SLAVERY"
Il know that il is argued that there il
no grant oipower in express terms iu th'
Constitution over the subject Of slavery
But there is no grant in the Constitution
specifically. over vast variety OF sub
jects upon which the powers of Congres
are unquesionabe. The major include
the minor Ths general grant of powo
oomprehends all the particulars Of whicl
that power consists THE POWER Oh
ACQUISITION BY TREATY DRAW'
; WITH 1T THE POWER TO GOVERN
ALL THE TER SlT0RY ACQUIRED
IF THERE BE A POWER TO AC
QUlRE THERE MUST BE A POWE
TO GOVERN; and / think. there
|, fore, without at present dwelling furIhe
upon this subject that from tho Two sour
} ces Of authority in Congress- to which
have referred, may Be traced The po,Osr 0
thS Governmsnt Of the United States TO &C
upon the Territories in general" E"
After reading these extracts, will an
AO~'tman say that Henry Clay was
'squatter Sovereign" 1t is strang
that even Mr., Douglas, familiar as ho
} with the position of Mr.. Clay, upon thi
question will persist in talking about III
popular sovereignty" Of Mr.. Clay; bv
stranger still that he does not choke an
die with the Icing words upon his lips
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