Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-04
REMARKS OF GEN. JOSEPH LANE,
OF OREGON,


cem6er 10, 1859.
Mr. LANE Mr. President, I desire to say to the
Senator that it is not my purpose to prescribe rules
or platform Of principles for the Democratic party
| had nothing to do with displacing Judge Douglas
from his position as chairman of the Committee on
Territories but will say to my friend from Ohio,
that have very great respect for him, and that
have no doubt there arc many good Democrats in
the northern States who do not agree with me upon
the territorial question. | would not say that any
one of them who disagrees with me, and holds diff
ferent principles on that point is not good Demo
crat; nor do I>prctcnd to say that the fact, that
Judge Douglas holds the views opinions he does
on this point, would have been good reason with
me fo op POSING MS election to the chalrmanshIp OF
the Committee on Territories He had been dis
placed before became member OF this body IL
was done Nv Democratic Senators, whose devotion
to the Constitution the Union, and the rights OF the
States no man will undertake to gainsay
While am up, Mr.. President, will say that L
have nv views in relation to the territorial ques-
lion. and am sorry to find that they differ very
materially from those of my friend from Ono; but
am sure he is good Democrat. There is no doubt
about that and [ know | am good Democrat
Then, sir, how can undertake to say that gentle
men, differing opinion OH the territorial question:
shall not act together rs Democrats, when the sal
walton of our country depends upon the success OF
the Democratic parry: | think that the principles
this government and they must be maintained, they
"a mot be compromised Seeing and feeling as do,
the Importance of union, on the part OF Democrats
on all great questions, | would not rule out any
member of that party because he did not feel as
do IN relation to territorial matters. have great
respect for Judge Douglas; | believe him to be a
Democrat but | have right to differ even from
him. and do differ in opinion from Judge Douglas
and also from my friend from Ohio, in regard to the
power of the people in the Territories. hold that
the territory of the country is the common property
Of the whole country that the people of every State
of this Union have equal rights IN the Territories
and that while they remain in a territorial condition.
the inhabitants cannot by unfriendly legislation, or
by system of unequal taxation, debar the people
of any State from admission there; or III other
words that they cannot, by legislation, infringe on
the rights of the people OF any State. But let me
give an illustration | hope the Senate will allow
IIc to make
Application has been made to Congress, during
the last two or three years. for the organization of
territorial government in Arizona Arizona is in
the southern portion of our country. The climate
is warm the soil is adapted to the production Of
cotton; It is rich in mineral resources. have no
doubt that slave labor could be used to advantage
in Arizona. | believe it could be prOtitaby used
tIsrc for the production of cotton saw the cotton
fields on the ella in the winter of 1913; picked
the cotton out of the boIiS examined its quality and
grown and produced there in abundance. Besides
the cotton slave labor could be used protitably in
the mines Of that region, and in agricultural pur-
suits. That being the case, representing, rs do,
northern State elected by the Democracy of north
ern State, could not for one moment consent that
the people of the South should rush out there as
soon As a territorial government organized, get
possession of the Legislature, and, by system of
unfren,iv Legislation unequal taxation, undertake
II keep the people OF the North out of that Terrific
~. We wOuld not submit to 1t at all; we would
say at once they have right to pass such laws;
and believe any honest court, such a one as would
lie sent to that Territory, would decide such enact
invalid violating that principle of equality
ct States upon which this Government must rest
The principle of equality of States must he main
tIincd Their equal ri GIT IL the Territories is so
clear to my mind, that | cannot imagine how any
gentleman can gainSay it. The territory is the COM
mon property Of all the States, and ain sure that
the northern people would not submit to any such
system. Of taxation any such legislation, in Ter
1itOry, us would eXcude them. The Northern De
nocracy are just; and, while they would not submit
10 that course Of policy on the part of the South,
they would not attempt to exclude the South b.
system to which they would not submit themselves.
Mr. Pugh of Ohio. desire to correct the Scna-
tor !gom Oregon am certainly surprised, after the
great pains undertook to express my opinions, to
hear the Senator rcterate the assertion of the Sena-
that it proper, or Just, right or even compe-
tent for Territorial Legislature, by indirect
fraud, or unequal taxation, restrictions on the
right Of suffrage, anything of that sort TO pre-
vent emigration, or to give the people who emgrate
from section of the country an advantage over
those who emig rate from another. explained what
| thought on that point. While my friend from Or
egon probably did not hear me- think it extraordi
nary after corrected the Senator from California
twice or thrice, that it should be reiterated do
not believe in any Of these doctrines of unriendly
legislation as You eXpOund it; | never did If the
people Of the southern States entitled under the
Constitution, Or otherwise to this right; show me
the right and am opposed to all attempts to evade
the question.
Mr. Lane. I understood the Senator from Ohio,
in response to the Senator from Mississippi, to say
that the right was with the people Of Territory to
establish or prohibit slavery.
Mr. Pugh. Yes sir
Mr. Lane. And to regulate their own domestic
policy in their own way, in all respects.
Mr.. Pugh. | think they have right to do pre-
ciscly what the Territorial Legislature of Oregon
did and what was afterwards affirmed by act of Con-
gresS they excluded slavery there.
Mr.. lime. Well, Mr.. President | desire to say
that do not believe the people of Territory have
right to exclude or establish or abolish slavery
No such right is conferred on them by the COnsti-
tuition. recognize the principle Of the equality Of
the States-their equal right in the Territories
Any man has right to go from any State of the
Union into the common Territories of this Govern
mcnt, and take with him what is recognized as
property in the State from whence he goes, and to
hold it in the Territory while the territorial condi
tisn remains; and when the people of the Territory
come to form a State government, they have right
to say whether the State shall be saveholding or
nonsiavehOlding; and as they decide, ii is the duty
OF Congress to admit them. But | hold that the
people of Territory have not :, RIGHT to Drahihit
slavery, and would not agree that they have the
right 10 establish it; because the Territory is the
common property of all the States of this Union,
and every man, as | said before, has a right to 90
there, and take with him his property, and enjoy
that property while the territorial condition exists;
and IT the Legislature of Territory shall under
take by legislation to bar the interests or the rights
of any portion of the Union, | believe any honest
court will decide such legislation to be null and void
because it is in conflict with the Constitution of the