Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-19
THURSDAY. JUNE 10, 1869.
Freed ON in the Territories.


The hill briefly alluded TO in the proceed
ings of congress, yesterday, as the substitute
for Mr.. Arnolds, making freedom the per-
petual law of the territories, is as follows :
s.To the end that freedom may be and re-
main forever the fundamental law of the land
in all places whatsoever, so far rs it lies with
in the power or depends upon the action of
the government Of the United States to make
it so, therefore,
''Be it enacted, &c., That from and after
the passage of this act there shall be neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of
the territories of the United States now ex-
isting or which may at any time hereafter be
formed or acquired by the United States, 9th
erwise than in punishment of crimes whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted"
This important measure has now passed
both branches of congress, and only awaits
the approval of the president to become alaw ;
and his approval will not long be wanting.
Thus the early policy of the government-es-
tabished first under the confederation, and
afterward under the constitution, by the COM
mon consent of the whole people. but for the
last forty-two years over-ruled by the control
ling influences in the governments restored
finally and forever 1t is one of those peace
full triumphs which may not be rightly estima-
ted during this stormy period of war; but
other generations, and states yet unborn will
long rejoice in its fruits.
1t will be seen that this bill, with the exccp-
ton of the preamble, is very nearly identical
with the ordinance of 1887, which was adopt
cd by the unanimous vote of the last CONT
mental congress, Georgia and the Carolinas
concurring. Three years before, a restric-
ton, similar in form, but extending to all the
western territory, including that portion
which had not yet been, but which it was rea-
sonably expected would be surrendered to the
confederation by the states Of North
Carolina and Georgia, and which now forms
the states of Tennessee, Alabama and Missis-
sippi, as well as the northwest, received the
votes Of sixteen members of the congress in
its favor to seven against it, and six states in
its favor to three against it. But the articles
of confederation required the affirmative vote
Of a majority of the whole thirteen states and
therefore the restriction, notwithstanding
the large actual majority in its favor
was lost. How great was that loss
the country is now writing in blood. But
for the unfortunate absence of that one mem
her from New Jersey. whose vote would have
turned the scale, the policy of the government
toward the southwestern territory would have
been changed in the beginning; there would
have been broad line Of imperial states ex-
tending to the gulf rivalling the marvellous
prosperity and thrift of their northwestern
neighbors; we should have prevented an evil
from fastening itself upon the country which
from that day to this has been burden and
curse; we should not now be testing the
strength of the two hostile systems in the fear
full hazard of battle. The golden opportunity
of doing right was then lost, and to-day the
nation is working out the penalty.