Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-27
NUMBER ~.

We can acquire sOytirg either BIZ treay or by Joint
resolution South Of Lhe division line
Again sr-ths state Of things nigh, arise under The
Crittenden proposition By that proportion you dyiSe
bo present and future rory by the lire of So go
You say slavery shall exist side and ha, IL
be exCuded from the other The existence Of slavery
south Of the line is guaranteed only during Us terrific rial
condition When the people Of the Terri,or,s come 20
form State Constitution, they are TO decide Tor them
selves whether they shall have slavery and are to
be admitted States, with wi hout that system as
may be determined by their Constitution. fos
there very valuable and desirable portions Of Mey
aud Central America south OF the Inc Of 3G 80 These
regions without slavery. The institution IL not per-
mted by tho law of the county. They cannot be
qued as Territories either under treaty by Joint
luton for the reason that being mude slave country
in advance the requisite majority could no. be obtained.
Bur, suppose the North, with its power OF Numbers,
with is preponder4tng population and with greater ap.
ttude of its people for emigration settles IFS colonies be-
fore acquisition in Of the rich Mexican provinces
of which they may obtain control in the changing for
tunes Of that iigoverned county Having obtained a
number equal 10 t5e population required for represen-
tahve in Congress suppose them frame consttution
for State Government, Republican in form, aud Gpoy
to the Northern msofty for Introduction into ihis
American family, eher by joint resolution by treaty
They might be instantly annexed and come with State
institutions fully formed thus escaping the restrictions or
Impress territorial condition sog tber. They would
with constitution prohibiting slavery. In such
Sc, what benef, would derive from present dyj-
sion of future tettoTesy We only fix its condit on
during the time il remains territory. Ii Is not clamed
By any one that we control the character OF ate
constitution
The same difficulty might arise in another firm So.
nora Tanaulpls other Mexican Stales might them
selves apply 20 be annexed the American Union ss
States In that event. the proposed division Of future
Territory would not avail Even New Mexico and
Arizona only secured to slave labor during the con-
tuuance Of Territorial condition. Even az 70 them
the right decide for themselves when forming Sat,
Constitutions whether they will adopt or reject slavery
i Acknowledged and reserved. II could not be Other.
wise. IL Is the uncomfortable right OF sovereign State
10 construct ana shape It's domestic institutions la
tie supposed the Nc xcan STATE annexed to- or re-
ceived AZ all would come with its own Constitution IA
ate, and With, or without slavery, such Constitution
might provide.
We are constrained, then, to look 20 some other
source Of secur y in the future cxaFerrora scqg;si.
tons of the naon than tie Giere division Of Them in
advance by given ine Iris security, think viii DO
found IA the provisions oil the cOnd section OF the
Conference n,I' and which should be considered
IN connection wh the objection 70 The frs. section that
II omits to divide future acquisitions.
The second section is II ihese words:
NO Territory email be acquired by the United Slales
except by discovery and os naval and com nercal ts-
tons, and transit routes without the concurrence df
majority Of ell the Senators from States which allow u-
voluntary seryitude, and majority OF all the Senator'S
tom States whieh prohibit thar relation"
Territory come in under thil clause Of the Sc
coad section by joint resolution except by the vote Of
majority OF the Senators from the nou.sayehod;ug Slaes
But further: "NOr shall territory be acquired by
treaty. unless the votes Of Ory OF the Senators lrom
each class Of States herenbGlOre mentioned be cast is
part OF the two-thrds majority necessary the ratdca-
ton OF such treaty"
This section was offered and adopted az s,ns,i,ute
for the second section proposed in the rport of tho
Committee appointed by the Conference-a Committee
consisting ot one Commissioner iro.a each State repre-
SAINT N no en1.o os.I Il
The corresponding section in tie report as it came from
the Commt.ee is this.
Territory shall Lot be acquired by the United States
unless by treaty nor except for naval and commercial
stations aud depois, unless such treaty stall be ratified
by iour.htths OF the members of the Senate"
Now, by this provision, i. will be perceived that the
acq of territory restricted resly alone and
scq isition by resoutca is of When by treaty it
rcqlres tie ratification Should be- not by twothrds Of
IL Senator's, e. now provided Ia tie Constitution but
by four-f bs T. struck of ~ that this NJ ur-
ss3gy and oppressive hu:tLcn upon the treaty X
'ng pawer-hssvy buj, equal or in tie best manner
proeciye prupoosd The 2.s cio!, as Il stands,
So siU.a ior tie 2qd g. cton of the report ol The
Commtles did not tbilk IL desirable that, in every
Imaginable case, he acquisition Of territory should be
restricted to treaty though, that Whle Islands, newly
discovered IN tue oce2H-an arctic antarctic couu
nent-if any such awaits the hsrdhood and enterprise
OF our people, might possibly be brought Ia upon tho
right OF discovery aud upon principles OF Internal ona
law it not thing OF impossib!;y, however that
a country might be Oveuun iu war lot to leave
any competent authorities To treat with. Ia Of
with Central America or Mexico the government
mght b: 80 completely overthfown TO leave gov
efnment to deal ~ih. Il is not difficult 10 imagine
government shattered broken end crushed cut to
leave sufficient authority to contract with. I'M such
q contingency, what Opposition could be made Of the
coaqVcred county, under Constitution which estricts
you absolutely to treaty? co rot thiuk il s.rable
foreign ends by joint resolution Of Congress
done iu the case OF Texas. Yet there might be-
uCder peculiar circumstances, necessity for such .
over. IL ought however, to be carefully guarded
By the section adopted it will be necessary in case
OF 0G by joint resolution, that majority Of the
Senators shall be had from each cssa OF States and
where the ratification Is made by treaty. that tie
of majority Of the Senators from each class of States
shall form component part OF the two-thrds majority
now necessary the ratification We leave the iaIify-
ing power n the hands OF wohirds Of the Senators as
is in the Constitution provided it be made up of
IL j0rid for beth sections Of the country.
You will observe that this will not apply to ordinary
commercial treaties. lt has application treaties OF
anity peace and the like. IL is only applicable rea.
ca OF acqusiton-acqusOn Of territory. In treaties
OF this latter class have good and warrant for
departure from the rules OF ordinary treaties. Restrict
ed is to the acquisition Of territory in these nod,s
and not applicable 10 treaties of other character il
t. me that h the perfect security that the South
en- have. The very FIRST question that arises in the
mind both North and South, when the acquisition of for
egn territory spoken Of is what is 10 be the condition
OF that territory 10 regard the institution Of slavery
after i, shall have been brought in We all know that
We could no; carry the division of future territory
IS Mr. Crittoudon, with Mr. PUwells amendment, pro-
posed.
We could not procure, in advance equal partition of
territory hereafter TO be brought in We proposej,
therefore to substitute for equal partition territory
where it could no, be had equality between sections
the right and power OF acquisition. Mr. CrittenGeL's
plan proposed tsir and equal partition OF territory here
after to BIZ acquired making change in the mode Of
acquiring It, We all voted for the Crittenden PROPOSE
ton under the resolutions OF the General Assembly We
could not obtain it. We then sought Il substitute for
this partition in adyance-ths equal partition of terrific
nv hereafter be brought in between the Northern and
Sou. hern States as tqlyaeutand that hest at
ta1ed by equality OF power in the acquisition.
II gentlemen will permit ther minds 10 have free
ton upon this su6sc and they will give II due con-
sidera ion sba! have little fear OF any coming TO tho
conclusion that this is au Obiec .onable feature.
In the first place comments itself to US in this-bat
il establishes perfect equality between the secors upon
this vital sectional question OF slavery where need
most IL is uot merely 5son oi equality lus II ls
concession TO the weaker section, end places that weak
er section upon an equal footing with the stronger
ion 30 far az all future Territories concerned both
in their procurement and in fixing their condition.
If we wers ell In union ain, bsra oniously, as
great political femilyand no one moarns that it Is not
so more than do and no one Is more hopeful an am,
that IL viii be So ye.-lhece would he ID slave States TO
l9 nonsavehoiding States The second section would,
ia that Gaze give TO every Southern State onefeenth
of poger instead Of oHehir yiourih part OF poSefhe
whole nrmber OF States being b. Ia the present unhsp-
py condition things wi only slave States TO J. oon-
sqvehodiug States, making ~ in all 1t gives 10 every
Southern State ooe-eghth of the power aud ndoGnee in
stead Of oretweniy y-sevehth.
l. s sed 10y some that teritcry will never be stqGred
under this provision How can slave territory ever be
acquired uudr the report OF the Committee, oIrhiihs
~ l.. NfTrr