Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-08-16

them.
Now. sir. what is il the North do
really want? Not TO invade the rights
of the Sonth-not to interfere directly
or indirectly with slavery in the States
or elsewhere, where il is secured by the
constitution. Bnt they are opposed
to the institution. They believe it not
only to be wrong. bit detrimental to
the prosperity Of any country where j,
exists. This is the prevailing senti-
ment Of the North. snd hence they can
not consent that it shall be extended
where Congress may rightfully pre-
vent it. for they would be in part re-
sponsible for such extension. They
believe that wherever, under the CON
stitution, Congress may rightfnlly
control or abolish it, they as we'll as
the Sonth, are responsible for its con-
tinuance; and that it is not only their
right. but their duty. to free them
selves from that responsibility. They
do not seek or desire in the least to in
fringe upon the constitutional rights
of the slave States. and hence all
which you. of those States, have to
do when they propose to legislate
upon the subject in any particular
manner or for any particular place. is
by your arguments to satisfy Them
that they have no right so to do, and
they will desist. You may convince
them by your reasonings. but you can
not deter them by your threats.
Now, sir. let us see if nothing can
be said in favor of the right to inhibit
slavery from the territories. and thus
ascertain whether the wish to do so
on the part of the North. mast of nee.
essity be Indicative of wonton desire
to invade the rights of the South. /
have no doubt of the constitutional
power Of Congress to pass the proviso
though it may not be expedient for us
to exercise it. There are many latent
powers in the Constitution which it
never has been nor never may be ne
cessary or judicious, { for if not neces-
sary it would not be judicious) to ex-
ercise. 1t is too late now to dispute
the constitutional power of this gov
eminent to govern the territories until
the people of these territories shall be
in the situation and shall desire to as
sumo their sovereignty and assert their
inherit right of self-goverment. The
exercise Of that power was commenced
by the very trainers of the constitution
Immediately after its establishment,
and has ever since been continued and
unanimously acquiesced in by the
people, not only of the States but Of
the territories also. 1t is not material
to inquire whether that power is de-
rived from the war-making power.
the treaty making power, or the pow
err to make needful rules and rcgula-
tons for the territory or other prop
erty of the United States, from either
Of which it may be inferred. Slavery
is the creature of municipal law. is
controlled and regulated by it, and is
subject to the government under which
it exists. Hence, if we have the right,
under the constitution. to govern these
territories, to legislate for them, we
have right to inhibit slavery unless
our right to legislate upon that sub
iect is limited by the Constitution it.
.olc G,1 No e,oh l,,,,tot,op The
power to govern these territories, from
whatever source derived is limited,
only by this general restriction which
forbid Congress to legislate, in any
case whatever, upon certain subjects;
but the subject of slavery in the terri
tories is not one of them. | know. sir,
that the government is limited one.
and has no right to exercise any pow
er not expressly granted to 1t by the
Constitution, or which is not necessa-
ny to carry out such expressly granted
power, and my position is in accor-
dance with this principle. 1t is, that
the power to govern the territories is
expressly granted by the one or i'm
piled as necessary to carry out the 9TH
er clause to which have REFEREED
The power is general one, subject
only to the limitations of the Consti
tuition, of which slavery in such terri
tories is not one. We have therefore
the unlimited power of legislation
upon that subject in the territories.
and of course the power to prohibit it.
But admitting it to be constitution
al 20 inhibit slavery, is it right to do
so? There is, there can be no other
rule of right in republican govern
ment than the will of the majority,
when it confines itself within the Con-
stitution, and when it does not seek to
violate any of the natural rights OF
man with which no government has a
right to interfere. But it is urged, it
would violate these principles. because
the people of the Slave States, say it
dep:ives them, while it does not de.
prive the people of the free States. of
the right to go into occupy, and enjoy
the common property of our common
government, property of our common
blood and treasure. think not, sir.
They can so there upon the same
terms that we can go. We have nc
slaves, and can take none there; they
can go there without theirs if they
choose so to go. or they can stay where
they are and enjoy them. Their choice
is with themselves. This icprives
them of no right which they now en-
JOY. but it is a simple refusal of this
Government to extend that right to q
territory where it does not now exist
1t deprives them of no right which
they hold under the government of the
United Srates By virtue Of their citi
,apeh;p of ~ Tho r;yht ~ holI elo vas