Worcester daily spy., 1860-03-09
THIRT sixth CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Mr.. GRIMES gave notice of bill for the
retrocession Of the District of Columbia to
Maryland, and the removal of the capital of
the United States.
The joint resolution for the enlargement of
the Louisville and Portland Canal was made
the special order for Tuesday next.
The Homestead bill was also made the spe-
cial order for Tuesday.
Mr.. Browns resolutions came up, and Mr..
CoLLAMER spoke. The idea of the founders
of the republic was to do away with privileged
classes, that every man should own his land
and cultivate himself what land he owned.
This was, generally speaking, the condition of
society and the free states. In southern states
a totally different condition existed, and he
quoted from Calhoun to show that in the south.
ern states there was an aggregation of COM
munities and not of individuals. The master
or owner OF slaves was the head of these COM
munities and represented in himself capital
and labor. 1t was obvious this was an aristoc-
racy. The great mass of the community (he
spoke OF the white men only} were virtually
ignored and masters as heads of communities,
regulated and guided the policy of states.
The question was, what was the duty of Con-
gress as the representative of both sections, to
each. He thought it should promote the inter-
ests Of both. This might be sometimes a diff
ficut task, as sometimes their interests would
conflict; but still he thought it could be done.
1t would be impossible to induce either section
to adopt the social system Of the other, but
he believed they could exist together. The
Union was a conglomerati0n of separate con-
federacies, the institutions of which were pro-
tected by their local laws A state could not
be both slavehOlding and free at the same
time, neither could a territory. The question
was, how they could arrange their difficulties
in relation to the territories. The early con
gresses under the provision of the constitu-
ton giving power to make all needful rules
and regulations in regard to the territories,
prohibited slavery therein, cut off the slave
trade, as one Of its means, and prevented
its extension, and it was believed it would die
out quietly without any act of abolition. The
republicans only proposed to carry out this
idea, and he said nothing in it should ex.
cite alarm. The rule of action of
the early legislators was, where slavery
existed, let it be where it did not prohibit it.
He quoted at length from the Louisiana act of
accession OF the western territory Of Georgia, to
show that the prohibitory power of Congress
was conceded and exercised. In the act for
the organization of Louisiana, it was provided
that no slaves imported after 1898 could be in
troduced. This was practical prohibition, and
conceded the power of Congress. He thought
the North and South should do as Lot and
Abraham did-one go to the right and the 9TH
er to the left. That was precisely the action
in 1920, when the Missouri line was enacted,
and the only plan to restore peace was to re-
store the line.
Mr.. BENJAMIN said that was the very prop
ositfe, "'' sout.il ii $3.50
MIR. CoLLAMER continued, and argued to
show that the compromise measures OF 1901
were passed on tho compromise OF lozU, ana
that taken together, they were the final set
tlement of the slavery difficulty. The agita-
ton was removed by the repeal of that com
promise. The south had no right to claim the
line should extend over all territories acquired
afterwards, when it was simply meant to cover
the territories then owned. The line was Just
and proper, and he contended there would be
no special danger to the south in the election
OF republican president. He reviewed the
provisions of the fugitive slave law, and con-
tended II was not the same as the act of 1898.
The law OF 1850 clothes commissioners with
final power.
Mr MAsoN-The constitution requires that
fugltves from service shall be delivered up.
Does the constitution submit any other oues.
tion than-was he held TO service. and did he
escape not whether rightfuly or otherwise .
Mr.. CoLLAMER-That does not touch tho
point. When man was brought befora the
commissioner, the question was-was the man
fugitive slave? 1t he was, take him back
Not for trial-no, this was his trial
Mr.. MASON claimed that there was no slave
state in the Union, but in which negro would
have full and ample trial, if claim were made
that he was not fugitive.
Mr.. CoLLAMER would not make issue on
this point. He claimed that the decision was
final for all practical purposes. He referred to