Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-04-26
PROPERTY IN TIE TERRITORIES.
SPEECH OF
HON. BE-, WADE,


January:
Resolred, That the Territories are
the common property of all the States,
and that it is the privilege of the citi-
zens of all the States 20 go into the
Territories with every kind or descrip-
tion of property recognized by the
Constitution Of the United States. and
held under the laws of any of the
States; and that it is the constitution
al duty of the law-making power.
wherever lodged, or by whomsocver
exercised. whether by the Congress or
the Territorial Legislature, to enact
such laws as may be found necessary
for the adequate and sufficient protec-
tion OF such property.
"Resolyed, That the Committee on
Territories he instructed to insert, in
any bill they may report for the or
ganization OF new Territories. clause
declaring it to bc the duty of the Ter
ritorial Legislature to enact adequate
and sufficient laws for the protection
of all kinds of property, as above de-
scribcd. within the limits Of the Ter
ritory; and that. upon its failure or re-
fusal to do SO, it is the admitted duty
of Congress to interposc and pass such
laws" t''
The pending question was on the
amendment offered by Mr.. Wilkinson.
to strike out all after the word ere
solved" where it first occurs. and in
sert: Dag
"Tlat the Territories are the COM
mon property of the people of the
| United States; that Congress has full
power and authority to pass all laws
necessary and proper for the Govern
mcnt of such Territories and that, in
the exercise of such power, it is the
duty of Congress so to legislatc in re-
lation to Slavery therein that the in
terests of free labor may be encouraged
and protected in such Territories.
"Resoiued. That the, Committee on
Territories be Instructed to insert, i'll
any bill they may report for the or
ganization of new Territories, clause
declaring that there shall be neither
Slavery nor involuntary servitudc in
! such Territories. except in punishment
for crime whereof .he party has been
i'duly convicted"i ~ asa
!. Mr. ,WApE-Mr. President, these
resolutions bring up at once before the
Senate two distinct and opposite svs-
TENS Of labor and civilization. The
resolutions which are proposed by the
Democratic portion of the Senate, de-
clare in favor Of that one of those two
systems which. in my Judgment, is
subversive Of the melioration and pro-
gress of human society on this cont
nent. The public mind. North. South.
East. and West, is intensely engaged
in making its choice between that sys-
tenn and the scheme Of civilization
which is asserted by the resolutions
submitted by the Republican side of
the chamber / can not therefore. ex
aggerate the importance of this debate.
1t is very extraordinary thing, Mr..
President. that the loudest complaints
of mal-administration CT this Govern
ment, and the noisiest alarms of i'm
minent danger to the county, come
from those who. for very considera-
bic period, have had possession of its
vast revenues, control of its mighty
power. influence of its agents and
clients. equally at the capital and in
every nook and corner of the land, and
so have formed and directed its poll
cy, without encountering any effective
resistance or opposition. The Repub-
lican party has been always, as it is
now, absolutely powerless to impress
its principles on the administration of
the Government. 1t stands by and
looks on. wondering at the progress Of
democratic. administration; and won
dering. most Of all, at hearing those
who have conducted it entirely in their
own way now threatening to pull
down the pillars of the Union, and in
volvc them all, with themselves. in a
common ruin. In the name of God.
Mr.. President, what does all this
mean! There is but one explanation
of facts so strange and anomalous. and
that explanation is, that you want to
continue the administration. when you
have found out that You can not adj
minister successfully. or even with
safety. for your own system.
Mr.. President. If there is a Senator
here who will gainsay me in my next
preliminary observation. let him now
look me in the face and deny, If he
can, that his section has had its full
share of political power in this coun-
try. from the hour when the Govern
ment was organized until the exact
moment when l am speaking. More
than this. your power in the Govern
ment has been altogether dispropor-
toned to your numbers. / blame no.
body for this, because | know that it
is human nature to use all the power
we have for the advancement of our
principles. our interests and our
accepted policies. Undoubtedly. un-
der similar circumstances, we of the
North would do the same; therefore i
do not complain. but simply state the
fact. fY
If. now. the present course of ad-
ministration Of the Government has SO
far proved failure that you are now
prepared to pull it down over our heads
pray tell us who is to blame but our
selves? Sir, it is very manifest. from
the confessions of the compliments,
that they have no real cause Of com
plaint. The secret really is, that up
rising political principles, which they
are no longer able to keep down. cast
? shadow across their path which dis
turbs their equanimity.