Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-11

minority opinion is now the ludgment OF the pre-
sent court as recently indicated in a case which
arose in the State of Illinois, There is, therefore,
nothing To prevent the revival Of the act Of 1896,
aud It's restoration to the place In our code 10
which, by its merits, it is justly entitled. This
would leave to the option Of the claimant, whether
he would seek his remedy under State or National
laws He had this right before the repeal of our
act Of 1926, and in my opinion, no good reason
can be assigned for relusing to place him again In
the same position.
would also recommend that the consent of
tie State be given, that the master, while So
jaurning IN our State, for limited period, or
passing through it, may be accompanied by his
slave, without losing bis right TO his service.
While such legislation is due TO the comfy
which should exist between the different States
of this Union, il would, undoubtedly, tend
greatly to restore that peace and harmony
which are not so unwisely ,mleriled. BY it
! Pennsylvania would coneede no principle We
would simply be falling back upon our ancient
policy, adopted al time when our people were
themselves struggling for their rights, and
never departed from, Until, by misconcep
tou of It's meaning, one Of our most imp orisnt
statutes was declared unconstitutional. Fsom
1880 10 l847, a period OF sixty seven ytars,
Pennsylvania, herself freo State, permitted
the citizens of other States 10 sojourn within
hor limits, with their slaves, for any period not
exceeding six months, aud TO pass through the
Stlie, il travelling from one State to another,
free from ali n0lestaliou. Was she injured,
or vas the cause Of human freedom retarded,
by the friendly grant of this privilege? This
question cannot be trutbtuily answered in the
affirmative, bu: it may be safely averred, that
by changing our policy, in this respect, we
h-ve, in some degree, at least, alena,ed from
ns the feelings of fraternal kindness, which
bound together, so closely, tue sisterbood Of
States. Let US, then, renew the pledge OF
amity aud friendship, aud onee mere extend
kindly welcome to the citizens CT our common
country, whether visiting US on business or
pleasure, notwithstanding they my be accom-.
panied by these who, under the Consultation
and the laws, are held to service and labor.
The Territories Of the Unted States belong
to Tie General Government, and 10 those ter
titories the people of the several States un-
questiouably have equal rights. They we're
acquired by means Of the common expeudi-
ture ol tiood and treasure. 81 tho Federal
! Constitution, power IS given TO Congress "to
dispose OF aud make all nscdful raleS and reg
ulatons respecting tho territory and Other
property belonging to the Uuitei States -
Whether under this, OF any other power ecu
feFred by ne Constitution, Congress eau pro-
hibit or pro eet slavery IN the territories. has
been seriously qucstioued. But, il. ,hs power
10 egislate upon this delicate aad important
subject was Clearly vested ID Congress, in my
judgment It ought not 10 bs exercised To
declare that slavery shall not exis. in lhe Ter
ritories, Is calculated 20 exclude from their oe-
caFaney the citizens OF the Soaihern aud
slageholdlog States, waiie, TO make il legal
INSTITUTION Ia all the territories Of the United
states By Congressional enactment, aud 10 pro-
vide for It's coatna1nce during their egtire
Tcrliiorisl cxisieace, would be equally ipiuri-
Gus 20 the people Of the fee States. The
priociple aiop'ed ii the Compromi,e measures
OF 1850, for DISCO ing of ths quit a. D. slave
~ 10 New Mexico aud U'ati, aud reiterated in
| hausas aai NebrAska bii Of 1851, of non
iuteryeni9n by Congress sith slasery 10 tie
stales aud in the Territories, il tae true rule.
1t Is tho duty Of Congress, w{ea sufficient
nnmbcF Of hardy aud adgeat81o1s pioneers
iiud thoir way INTO cur distaut Tstgiiories, 20
iuraish them a shield Of profession aud form
OF gogerumcnt; but TO the people themselves
belongs tbe right to regulate lacir own do
lnesic institutions 10 their own way, subject
only to the Constitution CT tae Uoited States
While these views have been long entertain
cd by me, cRd while / am siocaGeIy of the
opinion that their general adoption aad faiths
tu enforcement, would have preserved, aud
may Jet restore peace and harmony 10 al see
tons Of oor country, | am nevertheless not SO
weddeG u them 10 reject uBcersmoniously
all other propositions for the settlement Of the
vexed questions whIeh nov threaten 10 susler
the bonds which FOR three quarters of 9entu-
ry haze msde us Que people. For;y years ago
our fathers settled aa aogry controversy grow
| ing out OF Il similar question, by dividing the
Territories purchased FROM France, and provi-
ding that slavery, OF involuntary srrvitude,
should uot exist north Of certain line; aod
the whole country acquiesoed il that compio-
mise. In 1891, that restriction upon slavery
was removed, aud the people u al the Terri
tories were left free to decide the question for
themselves. Now the sectional issue is again
presented, by the North claiming that slavery
cannot legally go into ,be Territories, even If
sanctioned by Congress OF he Territorial Leg
isiAtare; aud that IS DE right and the
| duty ot Congress to proui8it its existence
! "dIte the doctrine shicA obtains with a
nsJofity OF the people 10 most of toe South
/ ein states is, that under the Conslitu.
lgn, the Territories are ali open to slavery;
thnt neither Congress nor the Territorial Lsg
isiature can lawfully prohibit its existence, aud
that 1t Is the duty of Congress to provide Tor
1t all needful protection, may We bot wisely
follow tne example of our fathers, by rc-enaot-
ing the old compromise line Of 1870, aud ex-
teudng it to the boundary Of CALIFORNIA; Not
oy the means of legislation OF doubtful oonsti-
tationallty, but BY an amendment TO The Con.
stitnaon itself, aud thus permanently fix the
CONDITION. OF the Territories, so that those who
desire to occupy them, may find homs at heir
discretion, either where slavery is tolerated, or
where 1t is prohibited. Ii the adoption OF such