St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-01-10

| pledged to protect and MAINTAIN the
rights of States to all powers not eX
prcssly delegated or necessary to car
ry into effect the powers delegated
1t was fundamental with them tC
maintain the sovereignty of the sovc
raj States, and the right to control all
domestic institutions. He would un
dcrtakc to say that no Republican cx
pressed the desire or wish that tn
General Government have power t.
interfere with slavery in the States
He knew there was book published
by an individual named Spooncr, thai
took ground that the Constitution it.
self abolished slavery. but it found nc
supporters of any weight. 1t was
precisely like that other fanatical idea
that the Constitution of its own force
establishes slavery anywhere on the
earth.
Mr.. Clingman said he had seen pub.
lished statements that the Senator
from New York (Seward) had recon,
mended the book. Did the Senator
from Wisconsin mean that this was a
forgery, or did he mean the Senator
from New York had no weight.
Mr.. Doolittlc believed that the
author was a man of sound sense ;
but what he (Mr. D)said was, that
the idea that the Constitution estab-
fishes or abolishcs slavery, had no
shadow of foundation. The Constitu-
ton was formed by men who knew
the meaning Of words they employed
They recognized the right of slave
holding States to persons held to ser
vice, and made it the duty of the free
States to deliver up such persons, but
left each State perfectly sovereign
over its own laws. The law of the
Slave States makes the slaves proper
ty. The law Of the Free States does
not make them property. The COnsti-
tuition does neither With the idea
that the Constitution establishes slave
ry, we cannot have peace on the
slavery question, and we may as well
know it first at last. The people of
the United States will never consent
that the Constitution be SO altered as
=
extending Constitution. Bnt they dc
not put a construction upon it which
will make it abolish slavery in any
State or Territory. We simply ask,
let the Constitution stand as our faith
crs made it, neither affirming or deny
ing, then we can have peace.
Mr.. Brown said it seemed that
Northern Senators overlooked the
main point at issue. We claim that
there IS property IN slaves. and they
deny 1t. tntIl we can settle on some
basis Tor this question, 1t IS idle to
talk OF peace. lie said the South had
Si,ooo,ooo, 900 IN tins KIND OF proper
ty, Is 1t to be supposed that the
south would consent to live under
government outlawng tins KIND OF
property
MIR. Green said his object was to
organize a government for Arizon!a,
ana he hoped these political matters
would be postponed. tie did not
think the amendment OF the Senator
from Mississippi practically amounted
to anything. Under the present cir
cumstanccs he would vote for 1t.
furticr discussion ensued between
Messrs. Green and DoOIlttle, when the
senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
SENArE.-The galleries were crowd
ed. There was a large crowd about
the doors. Ladies also were in the
lobbies and on the floor.
Mr.. Wilson offered resolution of
inquiry that the Secretary of War be
requested to inform the Senate what
disposition has been made Of the arms
made at the National Armories if
any had been sold, and if so, at what
price and to whom what number
there were in the arsenals, and how
they were protected. Objected to.
Laid over
The bill to organize the Territorial
Government of Arizonia was taken up.
Mr.. Trumbull spoke in favor of the
amendment to the amendment to allow
the Mexican law abvlishinc slavery
to remain in force.
Mr.. Green said that Mr.. Browns
amendment did not change any law,
but proposed to continue an existing
law. lie was in favor of leaving the
people free to choose their own laws.
The special order-the bill proyid-
ing for the admission of Kansas-was
taken up, and postponed till Monday
next.
Mr.. Benjamin, of La, rose to ad-
dress the Senate. He said he had sup
posed, ere this, he would have had Of
hcial Information OF the position OF
affairs IN South Carolina, but III the
absence OF it, he should presume that
he had such information. The South,
he said, had repeatedly warned the
North that they were driving them to
a point that would result III separa-
ton, and for this they had been sncer-
ed at and maligned. lie (Bcnjamin)
wished to speak in no spirit OF recrlm-
ination, but to perform his duty.
From what he had heard, 1t almost
seemed as If the other side OF the