Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-01-31
The Territorial Question.


grown out Of the Territorial question. IL is OBJ
yioas tha, adjustment Of that controversy
would ut once Danish sectional division and
strife. and restore peace and harmony TO tho
country. Hence it in that all plans Of psciheA-
ton encounter their chef difficulty in discover
ing satisfactory disposition Of this 'eSst'ous
topic. Among the various methods suggested
for 4 solution OF the problem is one brought TO
the notice OF the Legislature Of Virginia on the
l9th instant. by the Hon. A H. H. stuart nj
present a member OF tae Senate Of that State
from the county OF Augusta, and who Is well
known throughout the whole country for his
conservative character and for the ability with
which he has discharged his duties in high pub
lie trusts His plan is embodied IN the follow.
ing resolutions
Resoired.-Thst. in the opinion Of the General
Assembly OF Virginia. the following would con-
sutute satisfactory basis OF adjustment of the
unhappy controversies which now distract and
threaten TO destroy the peace OF the United
States
The Territories, having been acquired by the
common efforts. blood, and treasure OF all the
States. are the common property Of all the
-ssate.. and neither the sls'eboldng nor Non
l<t3laveholding states have any just claim To APP
2 propriate all II them To tkeir exclusive use.
BY existing provisions of the Constitution of
Tie United states. Congress is the trustee OF all
the States in regard 10 the Territories. Expe
rence, however, has shown that In consequeBe
OF nreconeilsble differences Of opinion between
members oil Congress representing the save
holding and Non .Sla,eholding STAIRS. tie com
mon property cannot be go regulated and sd-
ministercd by that body rs TO DO full justice TO
all the benehcisries of the common rcoper'y and
u Is therefore necessary 60 provide new agencies
Tor is regulation and administration.
To this end the Consti,utica Of The United
States should BE- 50 amended As 10 withdraw The
trust m regard To the Territories entirely from
the hands VI Congress. and TO provide Tor
equitable partition OF the Territories between
the slav-holding anil y on-S laN sholding States
.. Assigning To the former. an outlet fer Its
Increasing population. all that portion OF the
common TERRITORY held or hereafter TO DC
acquired situated south OF the parallel OF 30 deg
10 min. north latitude, and assigning 10 the lat
ter as outlet Tor increasing population, all
that part % the common territory now held or
hereafter 10 lie acquired situated north OF said
parallel.
IL should further be provided. bv n similar
Amendment that the SlsNeholding States shall
he constituted trustees IN regard to the territory
south oi 80 80. with iuil power through their re-
sPrcuSc Legislatures or Delegates IA CoarreEs
~ determine and regulate the status in rgrarG
20 slavery OF such territory. nnd that the y on
slaNeholding States shall lie constituted in ike
manner. trustees of the ihrritory north o.. said
l'ne. with like power. through their respective
Legislatures or Delegates IA Congress To deter
nine and regulite the status OF SAID territory.
States created out OF territory, north or south
Of the paraiicl Of SO 20. shall b, admitted into
the Union with or without slavery "a their re-
sPccti'e Constitutions NAV ordain
Mr.. srrAEr enforced his pEn OF Territorial
adjustment ia the following observations, offer
ed on the presentation of the foregoing resolu.
tons
"Expereuec has shown that, in CONSEQUENCE OF n.
reconsiabIe CirIeEces Of opinion bttN,vu tie mem.
Lsts " Songie'. irom s.A'cnOid-ng aud Noas.A,e.
holins States, and the prDiesse,I Scrur,, OF COT.
Sieice ~ the latter, II as become 4 s..uie 10 b.
tam lar And just a.IniGstI alto" 81 tie l.i ma.
yS'S " ille bGs'eeS, coming irUI the N,.. arc dis
osed to favor their own scclon IL the q, 80, - a.
Seaker srcuon- Here. Thea, IT,, .T.ere a. ,Iis., A.
Il 10 that &C must nov al-isss Uur,,., IS, me
trustees or majority OF them. aiirm that tLcv nr.
eonsSiehrousiy opfs,,ed 10 sstugy aud caEn1t cor.
ent 70 administer the uuss.snLjc. in sncI = marer
A. % extend ia sooner a. Az 20 ,Ii, t.N an
Saesf, declare 10 20 lie their paTte 10 Violate lie
irut by Transferring 10, whole yOmnion brupesi, 10
me peoPe oi the Northern State 10 the excu.i1n OF
trepIS oi the s"H'ii. Tue :, u'ieTa ststcs IBsi.t
OF tae.r nehts 90 equal Ia'' o.. bat The ~cIuI
This the pfccise stale 81 M. co. ir,, -
ga oae side ard pgeiudce the cher agd Ibr Gov.
ernincht j. brUusit ." stand AMI tbr upa - THREAT
edou Win .dlArupuou. What J. the remedy IA n
we're case betsren individuals a court OF chancc-v
would soon settle tue question. But 10 judicial a..
banai can supply adequate relief Khat tbcn IL Ia
DC d"ne' The most eIcirui remedy j. to reno a.
tustees and substitute others no vii fulfil titef a.
faithfully u ball dozen individuals were ju4niiv
iHetes'ei IA common properly, witch ~ heia 10 =
trustee WHO ~As Disposed ~ be rar al W ,sme OF ih-
heneaeiaTes the othcrs would be ssti,Gcd ~li noft
& ,.y y ~ ns Tein"ya4- This. sa!d VI. s'UIsr, IS
arg "hht propose to Go. lpfoiosc, % siigg..os
Al ar c adlnSut To- remove tie trus'c. and B.c.us.
ro;n &c difference IN tie social sys;vu. ,ocat,t q,
81 'pIea % uapGsht 81 tie dGerrNt ten srgsaFlps q
the ruN properly cannot be cr.oyti ami tc.-rti, d
IN commas pFOiose tO divide H. ,lug 60 the N1yth
lr iA4T proportion To DC managed v iru,e-, ~ In.
ON ssiection ana the south is talr share l.. IL,
managed - trustee Appointed by s-tI H. tht, a.
20 seeu al manage u0~n Share IN lts o~n w..s
a"c Svft = cousc!eI.cc will be r,u-sci tom ALI -.
'"nHtibiy for thr establishments OF continuance Of
.A,tfl % ans other irstiution The whole question
HA'try ~ All ~ asffcts srd phases Nii be fars..
~ ryms, 81 tTps the halls OF Corgfe-s gs,,@,,ry
,oyeTe'griy all DC hari,lo5 AMI Consfessio, &c.
te'noh VI erase 10 DC IT~r,.cai iisuc.
M. :. believed thai thcra va, strong d.srr,.,..-
In Tie Noith 20 accommodate tLis unhappy l.g.uit,
pf0'tdeq 70 could ~ dDlr NiIhout s.sr.nse af urri.
I1es. The rutse,entsnts. OF tEst ssei,,,7 E...,e-
he ret Wiling ~ i--itivc ard afrfn sgl,e le.saiu
pf tVnsfes>. fO tsiaJsisa OF extend .la.eFY IfIs
ran "prs Toe DIOR 10 pEacCful solution ct ie ma.
let u. - ne relieves Northern f-rn from an re.
sPouNitility tonp,irity sIth tie tu.tatg, "a
slavery IL dispcns,s With The yeecr,iy of ali con.
ussnona cg'sis',pn o. 10 sutjsCl. II LocnAEcs the
iuesoon AL confines The iurslgii over 10 o. tie
souiheTn states. % sat iss cf coniro, ~ssy ard In
Iant' 81 collAoii between lie two sections are re.
move each section ..gts rs opp star. sf fi NJ
CONAN add earn as.uucs tL- responsibility 1i man
AthF NhHt beA'nFs O. a. the tNo syttCrus Of labor
- .,'..LAlon &C len nee 60 rroTress vcsSari.
zoe ~ sie. without Interference vith each oti,er
nh"ni Tits PROPOSITION b. ncrrptet harmony viii
sn - r-st"rcd 60 the eouutr, II Involves 10 sac.
nhse % Pr"'ipirs 10 hsrLrg down rs either D.r:
f't lheit positions. Il gives n iLc satr Oh ,tat Il
"a, Just nght a. claim IN regard 10 The Territo-~.
go 80 ~ sofns ~ co'ies With the prg'udices OF
even ne platform ~ the great party OF ,e SOTth.r