Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-06

Cd BY Congress or the Territorial Legisinturs q
hnder or prevent the taking of such person. =
sag territory nor impair any rights aris,n ssnhsct
sad relations, but the same shall De mace
to the Judicial cognzance Of the FeoeraI SouA -
according TO the course of the common ia"
This is clear and explicit ana -
the Kindred language IN Senator OIi ~
90 Eau+.so7 thst the only substantial difference
betvaa he two sections is thai the secton OF the
Peace Conference does not provide ior tne acquisi
.tior- 4f- future Territory. rms Is 81 impoftant
or,;ss;on II is q question that should be settled
eus md for ali time. We expect to expand-we
i re do Ii settling our present difficulties, let
=. ,+ match I'D temporary settlement, leaving us
- reneW these commissions, at no distant day. One
Of the great advantages of the Territorial plan
proposed by Gov. Crittenden was that, if adopted
e was final eternal ettlement of the disputes be-
tween the North and the South, or the questions
growing out of African slavery, 4 stgss3ehg
But that was not the only difference. The report
goes on to say:
with this exception the proposition to divide the
Territory is the same in the amendment proposedby
the1convention and by Mr. Crlttendens proposition.
There is difference Of language in some respects
between the two sections, but they both mean the
same thing that is, African slavery"
If that were so, and the Crittenden resolutions
were known all over the country, and had been ap-
proved by Kentucky, and other States-if il was
was the same in interest and meaning-why not
adopt that which was familiar to the people, and
had received the Endorsement of the people Of the
States The Conference report goes on to say:s
The expressions used in Mr.. Crittenden's sec
ton, That slavery is hereby recognized as existing
South of that line,' was objected to by some as 1t
might be construed that it meant to establish
slavery in the Territory by constitutional provis
ion." 4,
But the meaning of the language does not justify
such an inference. To recognize the existence of
fact is not to establish that fact by law gentle
of hon fhorn dol
egates to that Convention. They never intended to
commit their people or themselves to any form of
language by which property in African slaves
should be recognized in an any territory. They
have been true to that underlying principle of their
political party all the time. In Congress- and in the
Peace Conference, they give such phraseology to
their resolutions and measures, that they are not
committed or recognize in any form property IN AZ
rcan slaves under this common Government of ours.
That is the they object TO the language of the
resolutions of my distinguished friend. They did
MOI regard it as the same in meaning and intent.
will tell you why they objected to it. 1t is said
here: !
at may be well here state what is the status of
persons held to involuntary service or labor in all
the territory of the United States South of So deg
80 min. By the law of New Mexico which covers
the the whole of the territory South of that line
African slavery exists by territorial enactment pro-
tected by by the Constitution of the United States,
The laws of the Territory protect the right of the
owner provide remedies, civil and criminal, for in
jures or violation of such rights as completely and
efectually as it is protected in the State of Ken
tucky.n l...,., -. -, - g.
The argument is that the resolutions declaresth
as IN the present territory South of that line the
status of persons held to labor shall not be changed
without determining what that status is
Now, what follows? The law of the Territorial
Legislature, and its legal effect has been the sub
ject Of discussion from the beginning Now, Mr..
Lincoln sends judges out to the Territory Of New
Mexico to determine this status-judges appointed
according to his political principles, to determine
this status upon the principle that the normal
dtion Of all the territories is Of freedom and
that neither Congress nor the Territorial Legisls-
turs nor individuals, have right to give it exist
That viii be the decision Of his judges under
these status resolutions. Il is ambiguous, incon-
elusive, unsatisfactory, and deceptive After giving
away four-ffths Of all the public domain as con-
eesson to peace, TO be put of BY dodge, to be put
of BY deelsrstiop that the status shall not be
changed. but shall be determined and administered
according to the course Of the common lsW-the
dispute existing IS TO what that status isby judg~
es who hold that neither Congress, nor . Terrific
rial Legislature, NOR individuals, have right to
recognize slavery in the territories Of the United
States. arrr
would rather have nothing at all. Igwould
rather STAND upon the old Constitution and fight it
cut than take such an abortion as that. And then,
after we had been pared down, cut down, right and
left to adopt, simply for the sake of phrsseology,
thing that it is ssid m2nt the same thing Cover
nor Crittendens, taking about twice as many words
to express it. Senator Critendens proposition had
the advantage of condensation, it is admitted
Bat after being cut down in this way, givings
whole empire to the North-prohibiting, In express
terms people from ever sharing any part Of it;
giving in return suit at law TO be determined by
judges against us as to the remaining one-ffth-
han II nat tha 0f
more than one-third Of the Northern States
in the last Congress. There were fourteen North
ern States represented there. Five voted for this
emaseulated proposition. Out of twenty-one or
twenty-five States but nine voted for it-four being
Southern Senator's. And that, gentlemen, is the
out all us in this deplo
rable position as States; and in even in that
form receiving but one-hrd of the Northern States
and rejected by Congress. These the PROPOSE
lions that am told the people Of Kentucky are to
adopt as means of receiving their rights, and re-
calling the seeded States. In my opinion that pro-
position look at it how you may, means disunion in
It's worse senses and nothing else; because we know
it will never restore the Union of States 1t means
disunion-permanent separation of the seven Sc
ceded States-and compelling the Border States to
choose their future destiny. .s.zs
Mr.. Speaker, in this branch of what have to say,
set out to give brief statement of what had been
and what had been done witt the present
condit ion-with the present sdtgsof the question,
In so far as the dominant party is concerned, the
sum of it is that the Representatives of the major
ity of the States of the Union-Of the non-slave-
holding States-haVe in the midst of commissions that
ought 20 have moved every patriot to some prompt
effort for the pacifcaon of his country-they have
voted down every proposition which came from the
North or from the South-every proposition, say,
that looked at all like broad and comprehensive
of this question They voted down the res
outions of the Senator from Kentucky, and they
voted down the resolutions of the eminent and pa
triotic Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Bgler. They
voted down the resolutions Of Mr.. Douglas, and
they voted down the Border States resolutions even,
which think they might have accepted, for there
less in them for anybody to be satisfied with
than in any thing ! ever saw or thought of.
Then they voted down the peace propositions; but
presented their ultimatum the resolution Of the
late Senator from New York. now Secretary of
State-gentlemen, we won't abolish slavery in the
States where it exists, we won't abolish by Con-
gress and the Constitution shall not be SO amended
as that Congress shall be authorized 10 abolish slave
~ in these State9 Nearl four months OF eloquent
and patriotic appeal by many Senators and Repre-
months of effort in the presence OF
States-and at the end of it all the ult-
matum which has been offered by the dominant par
ty 10 the Wronged section Is, we will agree to say
that we will not amend the Constitution so as TO
deprive you of your property in your own State
So far as they are concerned, that is the reward
States for efforts as loyal herao, and patriotic as
ever were made by men, first to preserve, and then
to re unite this Union,
| desire, in telling what believe to be mournful
truths, to state what 1 consider the present
policy of the dominant or Republican party. say
to YOU sir, that SO far from intending to make a
thorough, fair, and honest settlement of national
troubles they are engaged today IN devising plans
by which they hope to secure to themselves, and
ultimately to their principles, all the Border slave
holding States of this Confederacy.
You have seen in the public press an account OF
an interview between leading spirit of this Ad-
and delegation from Illinois, about
the time of Mr.. Lincoln's inauguration. 1t is the
key note, in my opinion of the policy of that party
He DECLARED TO them then, substantially that Ae had
had occasion heretofore 70 call their attention away
from the ppion, which vas not in danger, to the
principles Of freedom which were in dangeFI hut
now having occurred the principles offreedom, he CON
tempsted calling their attention away to the eonsid
GRAFTON of the Union, which is in danger. Without
purpose to surrender or yield IN the
slightest degree in regard to the essential principles
of their organization, they are the loudest in Pro
claiming the old Constitution-that Constitution
which they have far yeAns Keen perverting.
Hon mt IN