vaszt.imi 11.1'.0
questioned—our sovereignty over it denied. I have
examined, with some rare, the history of our legis
ratioti.in respect toTerritories; and I affirm, with
out the fear of contradiction, that from the first year
of the organization of this Government, down to the
present.session of Congress, our sovereignty over
them has been continually exist - deed in the most
perfect and plenary manner. That we have exten
ded over them our - sole and exclusive jurisdiction
and authority, in all respects, end in all things ap
pertaining to their government and laws.
Territories possess no inherent political sover
eignly. Sovereignty appertains to organized Stotts.
Ma. CHAIRMAN : I shall aveil myself of the pre-
It is that poser which prescribes laws, and tri
sent opportunity to discuss the great issue now be. which the citizen is required to yield obedience.—
fore the country—first presented by an amendment, Thi's power no mere resides in a Territory than it
which, some ,fvo years since, I had the honor to'
'duets in a county or a township. As well might
offer for the consideration of this House. That the inhabitants of the latter claim the right to make
amendment asserted no new.principle. I was but laws, and regulate their own attains as that the pen
the copyist of Jefferson, in the reaffirmanceof a ' plc of a Territory should assume to themselves
principle consistent with the uniform and settled such high prerogatis es and powers. Such a doe
policy of this Government—in harmony with thetr trine is unknown to the legislation of this country.
whole history of its legislation. Neither was the 1 During the whole period of our national existence,
subject improperly introduced into our national de•l not-an example can be found in which a Territory
liberations. There was uo design in its introduce 1 1
has beau permitted to, exercise a single act of in
tion, beyond what appeared on its face. It arose dependent political sovereignty. -Ties doctrine is
necessarily out of the circumstances in which we of recent origin—a new invention. It originated
were placed. We were engaged in a war with in the necessities of the occasion, as a cover be-
Mexico. TI c policy of the Aihninistration to ae * hind which to take shelter, and avoid sh'e. respon
quire vast territories as an indemnity for past iniu- • sibility bf meeting directly the great,sfuestion of the
rieie Ind for the expenses of the war, had been extension of slavery in territories' now free. lt is
frankly made known to the country and the world. not the' doctrine of the ConseMStion. It is unsuppoi-
Cmigress was called upon by the I..:xecutive to ae- ted by authority, and wjthily at yariance with the
propriete money, not for the prbsccution of tile M ar, ..teachings of thci , e veluthave gone before us.
but, confessedly, as a Means to further this policy i Commencing with the celebrated Ordinance of
of acquisition - . In tits judgment, then, as now,
1787, diesisteethc organization of a Territorial Go
there was no more fitting occasion, upon which to vernmenbfe. lowa in 1838, th is
, Government has
declare the future policy of this Govcreinent, in re- exerreteeil full and .exclusive sovereignty over its
spect to the territory to be acquired, than the one r i ituries.
This long record of sixtyyears furnish
offered by the bill to which the " Proviso.' was ' 67 4 es no precedent to justify this doctrine of Territorial
ginally attached. Such 1 believe, at the time, eras
sovereignly. We have invariably prescribed the
the judgment Of Congress and of the country..,'
Fie fundamental law, and laid down the great land
amendment was carried by a large majority in this •
marks. within which every Territorial Government
House, and would, I doubt not, have received the
should move. move. We have
re4ehtted
the descent
of
prompt sanction of the Senate. hal time been affor
lands. and the distribution of the property of Mts.:-
dr:el that body to
,act upon it, then in the last hoer tales : the
mode in which estates should be cmi .
olits session. It is unfortunate for the country and
vet ed and devised. We have pre.scribcd
yualihi
for the great interests at stake, that the Senate had
cations for the exerciseof the right of suflrasm, and
not then been permitted to some to a vote. The
for eligibility to othiec : esed the ratio of represen
question would,have been settled quietly, and with
tation, established courts,.(Telined _their power; a:
out agitation. No conamersy of a sectional char
jurisdiction, and directed the maucer of the s.cicc
weer would have grown rip, engendering unfrarer
tion of jurors. We have provided for the appoint
nal feeliegs.betwccu the People and States of this
mint and elect:tin of executive, judicial, legislative
Confedcraci. ° The South, I am persuaded; would
and military officers, prescribing their qualifications,
have cheerfully acquiesced, at that4lay, in a policy .
duties. and terms of office.. We have guarantied
so just, and in the estahlishmed of which South
the privilege of the' writ of habeas corpus, and the
ern statesmen had borne a leading and honorable
right of trial by jury. Such are some of the usnal
and ordinary provisions, must, it nut all of which :
are to be found in every act organizing a Territh-
Government.
What other or strongereviecnce could be aildite
cd, or required, to establiA the gescral and cxclu
siye sovereignty of this government mgr its Terri
tories! Why were not all these matters of local
ern Bern felt to the People? Why hot permit thorn
to say who should vote, and who not' will
be eligible to office; and who not These powers
ate among the highest prerogatives of sovereignty :
and have been asserted from time to time, by Al
most every Congress since theadoPtion of the Con
stitution: • The novel and extraordioary doctrine
has been promulgated from high quarters, that we
have no power over our Territories, beyond the
making of ".needful rules and regnlations - for the
dierosition of the public domain. All beyond this,
it is claimed. rightfully belongs to the people them
selye'A Notwithstandingthis doctrine ‘‘ as sliam:•ful
ly abandoned by the friends of its distinguished ad
vocate. in the Territbrial bill recently laid upon your
table, I shall briefly examine its claims to respect
and support. It denies the right of Congress to es
tablish a Territorial Government. It makes our
territory essentially foreign, and independent of our
control. The people, in the exercise of their in
herent sovereignty, might refuse to associate with
us as a confederated State. They would have the
right in establiskon irelependeut empire. This Go•
vernment having no right except thcee of a pro
m ietary,tl ey would of course terminate e ids the dir
positiou nt the soil. elle territory front that day
henceforth would be as independent of us as is the
,Repnblic of France. We have hail rnany among
us, of late, favorable to the acquisition of the whole
of Mexico. The annexation of Cuba, is also, I
doubt not, a favorite project with some. Further
nrquisnioirs would hot be profrable, if this *new
dr - s-trine of the sovereignty of the Territories should
become firmly established. Cuba and die reinam-
Mg part- of Mexico are densely populated. The
lands are all appropriated : and in the hands of pri
vate owners. -Should we expend a thousand mil
lions in the conquest or purchase of those countries.
we would acqnire no puhlrr &minim, and theiTlore
nothing at all : it this property argurnent be good.—
Nu sooner would the treaty be ratified and exchan•
:sere than, we should instantly become detested of
'all the benefits of our purchase or conquest. The
people, in virtue of theisinlierent sovereignty, credit
recall their old rulers, and establish their old Go
vernment. Why net ! Wjutt rightful power would
we possess to interfere and prevent such a result.
If we have no
_right in, or power over Territories,
except such as result from the ownership of the
soil, it is very clear, that if we owned none of the
soil, we would possess no rights whatever. To .
this absurdity do we necessarily conic, by such a
construction of the Constitution, That clause which
gives to Congress power ci to dispose of, and make
all needful rules and regulatitms respecting the ter
filmy and other property of the United States, - has
received, and must continue to receive, a broader
TOW AT DA:
tOcbncoban filorninn, unlist 23, 1818.
- SPEECH OF
HON. D. WILMOT,
ON THE
Restriction of Slam" , in the New Territories.
84
Delivered tot the House of Rep.'s, Ayr. 3 1
- -
part.
The failure o( prompt action on the part of the .
Senate threw the question into the arena of party
politics. It was caught up by politicians. and used
-as an element to combine the power 01 the South,
and enable that section of the Cniou to reward,
with the honors of a Presidential nomination, him
' who-should prove himselt the hio,t pb.uit lu,tru
nient of the Slave Power. Through the press, in
their Legislative Assemblies, in State and eosin
Conventions, and in the primary meetings of the
people, the voice of the united South was heard in
resolve upon resolve, declaring, that she would sup
port no man for the Presidency, who did not open
ly repudiate the doctrine of preserving freedom in
free temtory. The Presidency, in fact, was held
up to the highest Nl' irthern bidder. and the humil-
Wing spectacle presented to the wild, of an igno
minious rivalship between the leadina nien of the
Nortli,t ! in a - race of i-übscrviency in Southern de
mands. Those who td-inuld hare led in die incul
cation of a sound..and virtuous ,public sentiment,
'who should Itti-e been the champions of the rialits
of free labor, the .standard-hearers in the strugPe of
Freedom, were first and foremost in )ielding to the
Mandates of the Slave Power. I speak as I believe(
truth demands, and as the iron pen of history will
make up thg record of the times. "A great ques
tion, affecting the honor and character of the Re
public, vital to the interests of the white laboring
man has been icoparded and endariaered,.in a sel
fish scramble for office.
A new creed was set up, a new platform aortic:4
of party fidelity erected. Denunctation and pro
si-ription followed all who would not bow down at
the shrine of Slavery Propagandism. Northern
men, who dared to I indicate the rights of free la
bor, to speak and vote hi favor et the while mail
and his Children, were proscribed by an Admini , .
tration that owed existence to the sacrifices and
noble ellorts of . the Democracy of the North. Its
organ here was pleased to proclaim that the•advo
cates of freedom u Unlit -find no favor w ith tboigt
Who, but for their support, would hai - e slumbered
on w the, shades of retirement. The patronage of
— the Goverinnent, and the money at the People,
Were employed to pro..ti ate the cane of Freedom;
an& to overwhelm and crush Its advocates. 'A.
press, largely dependent upon patronage I.nt sup
port. was actively engaged in misrepresenting the
true nature of the great i-sue inyolyed, and in de
nouncing thore NOIO in the face of power, and in
denunci,ol the mandater, remained true to prittct•
ple, anti to their solemn convictions of duty.
Such were the influencr, and such the means
employed, to break the ranks of the Northern De
mocracy, and to rait-e upon free Foil, advocates for
the propagation and P‘tensinn of hunian slavery.—
It is time that the, white laboring man should know'
that the Government which hesuplons by his la
bor,
and defends by his strong arm, is against hint
in this eAruggle for his rights. It is time he should
understand the influences that pervade this Capi•
tot, and which exert so powerful a control over the
legislation of the country. The efforts of their
friends will be unavailing so long as the patronage
of the Government is.wielded against them.
Mr. Chairman' : . Tln4*s a day of changet, and
nt new theories, in the polifical world. Novel and
most estraorsinvary doctrines have recently been
put forth by the advocates or slave extension. Our
rights to legislate for terreory has been gravely
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PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, AT TOWANDA,IIRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA qOODRICH.
and more common-sense constructinn.
'Mare Cuustittition were sleet upt a this subject,
still the 4tiestion would be' free from difficulty or
doubt. With what show of reason and fair argu
ment can it be maintained, that we may acquire
vast Exr-sessions, at an expense of millions of trea
sure and the best blood of our c nizets, and yet have
uo rower to gewerii it when acquired i No power
-- r • - _
AIEOSOLEiIi j 3-33:
•
•
to impose our laws upon its people, or to giro cha
racter to its.institutions ! Such dui:trines cannot be
defended. They are the resort of those who fear
to meet this question, lest it disturb the harmony of
patty organization, and ent4inger ale .*ccoS.s of
party leaders. It is a question alxive parry ; it is ono
of honor, of character, of humanity, of the rights of
free labor.
Mr. Chaira an : The general jurisdiction and ly established. The sixth article contains subatun
soveriguty of this Government over ifs Territories nobly the resolution of Mr. Jefferson. It provides
being established by the whole history of our leg- as follows:
islatirm, what is there in the Constitution. or in the "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary
practice under it, that juatifies this claim of special servitnde in said Territory, ettn!rwise than in the
punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have
exemption, on behall of slavery? Will any man been duly convicted."
tell me why it is, that we may regulate the clues- This Ordinance was passed by the unanimous
.tions of suffrage and eligibilirssto office in a Territo- vote of the slaveholding States. It elearty estals
ty, and not the question of Slavery ? Is slavery of fishes; the policy marked out by the men who laid
higher regard than these ? May this Government the foundations of our free institutions. Thevlook
regulate and control within its Territories, every oth- ed upon Slavery in its true light—as an evil of the
er interest and every other right. except that of sla
firat tnagnituile—a 'curse upon men and nations.—
very alone ? Does shivery dictate its own laws and It had been indicted upon us by the cupidity .olthe
ilehue its own limits ? Is there ncs power to stop t
motner country, and in the face of the earnest m
ils progress—to stay
,its advances—to arrest the
maestri - wes of the people of that day. For it exis
curse and desolation of its march ? Congress has tence among us, we were in no respect reapimsi
no power to bind the States by enactments such as ble. lt was in view of these circumstances that
are contained in every territorial bill it and if its our fathers adopted the wise policy of leating to the
power over territory be circumscribed by the same I several States in which it existed entire control
constantional restraints that are applicable to States, I overahe subject within their respective limits, and,
then is any bill you may pass a usurpation and a re the same time, of providing securities against its
nullity ; then has this Goverameut been in error, spread aver the unoccupied territories of the nation.
homalie•day of its foundation down to the present Who is it, sir, that now demands a departure from
hour. States and Territories am widely different in this wise and safe policy ! Who are responsible
their character, and in respect lo the power of this I for all the consequences that may follow the agita-
Govenunent over them. The former are orsaniz- hoe of this subject? I answer, the responsibility
eil, , inilependent powers, sovereign in all things, -is with those who seek to overturn the Settled poli
save in those restriction= and grants contained with. cy of this Government—who demand, that the ter
m the Constitution. The latter arc unorganized, I ritory of the nation, heretofore closed up against the
(I_,peniletit coinmunitics, destitute of sovereignty, approaches of Slavery, shall now be opened to its
lookine in us for political i•xistence, and in'time Our
desolating march. To thisiequirement we can 111.-
an admission into this sisterhood of States. i ver )ield. Let - the South adhere to the policy
It has become habitual with many, when sneak -which. in 1747, she aided to establish, and which
ing upon this subject, to talk hole the guaranties has been "preserved uniform and unbroken from
of the Constitution in a manner that seems to nn- that day to the present. NVe can consent to no
ply the existence of some solemn covenant ; planing ss i lasse , We w ill sanction no departure limn this
slaver - upon a different footing fruit that upon ! wise policy. We will not aid by onr votes, or
elfish rest , -ill the:other laws and institutions oldie countenance by borraience, the p v i m °l s la _
Statea. The Constitution no more guaranties the ,
.:.asery of Vilainia, than it does the banking very over the flee soil of this Continent.
s
'Y s 'l l The first Conerets that assembled after ti the ;slop
tem of Ventisylvania, or the common school ay s- ;
• non of the C,onstitution, on the 7th of A trust, 1789,
tern of New York. These are subjects without the
passed an act confirming the Onlinance of 1787,
s . shere of the Constitution, and, in respect to the
• and giving to it full force and validity. The pur-
States ; beyond Federal istaference and control.— 1 poses of this act clearly appear from the preamble,
The ) belong to the powers -reserved to the States.
which is in these words:
No rowels arc reserved to the Territories. The '
Whereas, in order that the Ordinance of the Uni-
Constitution recognizes the existence of certain per- 1
ted States, in Congress assembled. for the govern
sons, not freemen, but nowhere guaranties the con- went of ths territory, northwest of the Ohio, may
tinuance of slavery—much less does it provide for continue to brafa ll force and e ff ect, it it, required
that certain provistonsshould be made to adapt the
its indefinite extension. same to the present Consutuuon of the United States
No one will deny but that the banking system I —Be a enacted," ika.
within the States is as far removed from the con- I This act received the constitutional approval of
trot of the General Government as is the institution Washington. Many, of those who participated in
of slavery. The laws of Pennsylvania which au- its enactment had been members of the Conven
thorax bauking are as sacred from Federal inter- I tion that flamed the Constitution, ant, therefore,
lerence as are the laws of Virginia which authorist may be supposed to have understood its true in
the holding of slaves. Congress can no more in- tent and meanitie.
terfere with the former than it call with the latter. On the 7th of May, 1800, an act was passed for
Both rest upon State authority, and te e th are alike I the organization of a Territorial Government for
beyond the control of this Government. yet Con- Indiana. and Slavery expressly prohibited therein.
gress may annul a bank charter, and nprobt the This act Was approved by John Adams. . -
whole system of banking, in a Territory. I January 11th, 1805, the northern part of Indiana
The Territorial Legislature of Florida having in- was erected into the Territory of Michigan, and
corporaled several banks, an:l insurance companies I Slavery prohibited. February 3d, 1809, the Terri
with banking privileges, Congress, by ace of July tory of Illinois was established, with the like pro
-Ist, 1836, declared the same repealed and annul- I hibition as to Slavery. These two latter acts re
led, •‘ together with all other acts and parts.of acts ; (Tired the approval and signatUre of Thomas Jef
passel by the said Territorial Legislature of Florida ferson.
in the yetsr 1536, ereating tsanks, or extending batik- On the 20th of April, 1836. Wisconsin was or,.
ing, corporations, or corporations with banking pow- amazed as a Territory. and Slavery orobilated with
in,. or conferring banker; powers on any corpora- in its Inuits. This act was approved by General
lion or Matheson; whatever."' Jackson.
Was this an act of usurpation and tyranny over I The Ternary of lowa was established by act of
kite good people of Florida? Or did it fall within Congress of the 12th of June, 1838, tinder the ad
the exercise of the iielitful power of this Govern- ministration of Mr: Van littreu : and here, also was
ment ? It the tatter. as lam bouid to believe. then Slavery prohibited.
Why with equal right may not Congress prohibit i Here are a series of enactments, commencing
the introduction of slavery into Territories in which with the Ordinance of 1787, which was confirmed
it does not exist ! Slavery and banking depend by Congress, in 1789, under the administration of
upon the same anthotitylor support—the authority Washinatott, Eleven through the administrations of
of Stale laws They are both equally - secure front I Adams, Jefferson, Jackson and Van Buren, to the
Federal interference within the States and alike I yeat 1838. when the last Territorial Goyemment
subject to our control within the Territories. I Will, ors -ensed, covering a period of more than half
IVe are nut left, is the investigation of this sub- a century. in which this polio- of resteietine the
jeet, to argument drawn from analogy alone. We spread of Slavery Was steadily pursued and enfree
have precedents fur our guide—the authority of the ; ed. The constitutionality of these enactments was
lounders of the Republic, for our instruction. Our , not controverted at the time ; nor has it ever blase
lathes had this same question in hand : and in its been _called in question.
settlement, as in all things, gave sis an example I Not content with providir that slavery should
worthy of imitation. Immediately upon the close never exist in any Territory which was free from
of our Revolutiouary struggle, the wise and good it at the time ul its organization, Congress has front
men of tse die, turned their attention to the condi- tirrie to time regulated and restricted it in those Ter
tion of the country, and he'ssan to digest plans to dairies where it had an actual existence.
promote its prosperity and growth. Among the By the 7th section of the act organizing a Terri
objects of paramount interesethat first engaged their tonal Government fur Mississippi, passed la 1798,
.attention, sails the then alinost trackless wilderness the importation of slaves into said Territory from
of ffie j Nottliwest. The territory lying northwest of any place without the United States was prohibited,
the Ohio river embraced the entire national d'omain. under severe penalties. This was ten sears berme
It was the great heritage of our people—the field Congress had the rower, under the Constitution,to
in which our empire was to growsand expand. It prohibe the importation of slaves into !to States.
was the cnnimon property of the North and the By act of the 26th at Mareth, 1804, that part of
South, secureil i ky the joint efforts and cOmmon ca- Louisiana sonth of the Terri'nry of Mississippi was
et-ince:l of both, in the same great struggle for Na organized into a Territorial Government, by the
tional Independence. Looking, out upon this ler- name of Orleans. By this act, the importation into
tile field of human enterprise and labor, they.dis• said Territery of slaves from abroad, was prohibit
covered the germ of an evil, which, if permitted to ed, and also the importation of any slaves from
grow, scold blight its fertility, and paralyze the within the United States who should have been
energies of its people. It was Slavery just starting brought into the country since the Ist of May, 1798,
into life They strangled the monster. or who should thereafter be brought into the Uni-
As early as 1784, Thomas Jefferson, the great ted States. It further provided that no slave should
apostle of our faith, introduced into the Congress of be brought into said Territory, except by a citizen
the Confederation a proposition, having reference of the United States, who should remove there for
In the States to be fanned out of this Territory of the actual settlement, and who should at the time be
Northwest It was in these words: the bona foie owner of such slave ; thus directly in-
Retal yea, Thai, after the year eighteen hundred of terdicting the domestic as well as the foreign slave
the Christian era there shall be neither Slavery nor
involuntary servitude in any of the said Stain, oth• trade in this Territory of Means. This act was
•
erwise than in the punishment of crime, whereof the approved by Jeffemon.
party .hall have been duly convicted to have been On the 6th of March,' 1820, art act was passed" to
personally guilty. authorize the people of Missouri to form a Consti-
This, sir, looks very much like the " Proviso." tution and State Government, and for the addmis-
Here is the original " . firebrond"--the heresy, for sion of such State into the Union on an equal foot-
=
holding on to whioh men am now proscribed by
the:Government of their country. Mr. Jefferson,
had he lived it this day ; would have been denounc
ed as an Abolitionist, Enid a disturber of the peace
of the triton.
This resolution did not pass at the time ; but,
in 1757, three years later, the work was consum
mated, and the great Ordinance of Freedom firrn•
~i~oz3 -r~iaT
I ~.;~~~~
B=IMMILE=
•ng with the original Statee, and: to prohibit shier/ jaws it will enlists woe io die Pacifiei , leefethel .
in cerise fcrritoties." .. power 01 tile Government is itempased to prevent
By the tith section' of that act it was provided, .t. 'I% is sir, is a teCat paten: and politieel sine, i
"that in ell that territory ceded' by France to° the tiori. Ite settlement belays to the Veopte, and siri
United States, uuderthe, name of Louisiana, which t i the Conrts.
: The Supreme Court have already
lies north Of thirty-tax degrees and thirty miuutes -decided thet we have authority over the .subject ;
north latitude, not included within the limes°, the let atotio stir ditty, and itta seek. tn eller& ofF the
..
State contemplated by this act, slavery and nivel- responsibility upon otlisee. We know whether
antary servitude otherwise than in the punish:acre slavery ought or .nriett dot to overruo these .Territes
of critnestwhereof the Fara shall have been duly riss, end lel as declare directly either that- W . 114
convicted; shake be, and the same is herebyforeter .Sr that it may rot •
prohibited.': . Ettend slavery to the Pacific Myron ri es h hifiree
This net, as also the Ordinance of 1787, actually the ultimate 't . tobjtellitittit of the whole etuuhera halt •
abolished( slavery—a thing we do not now propose of this continent to its timinion. It erects a barrier
to do. 'Slavery existed in parts
,of she Northwest over which free emigration cannot pass. It effect.
Territory; and in Louisiana the law of slavery at the. unity cuts off the tree Stateitone all continuity
time of the cession from France coveted the entire- a ith Mesieo, and secures to slaiery an easy and
territory'', 'from the Gulf of Mexico to the parallel of I certniti ntivanve. tn the South. Sack a comerfotnise
the forty-pine degree of Le ath latitude, and west to would be the certain triumph of Slavery, and She
the Rocky Mountains. The !thesauri compromise last strtereie of Freedom. It would give to the
was in harmony with the settled policy of our Gov- slave interests en ate-elute - my in this Ile:pin/lie for
ern:neut., It restricted and narrowed the Ernie; -of all coming time. There is sue trey, 010 brit orfe,
slavery. The arrangement that should extend i in which this controyenl should be settled. Do
limitsnti a enlarge its boundaries would possess rt s hi. Leave the soil of Freedorti alone. We- make
at
all
Mine of the features or characteristics: of the aliseou-• no hments upon slavery—we will submit
ri romprOmiee. This project however has for the Ito . -,Lan the boundaries of Slavery and Ftee-
present heen abandoned. It sonnht its object by i dom siandsieshey are. This is the eceriptritniee
means kei direct met too easily understood. The iWe offer—it is irrst and' fair, anal all that shdeld be
masses Of the flee States had condemned it in ad- \ required at our hands. Pt otecton to the institabons
vance. It was well ascertained that it could not ,of the South against foreign -invasion or domestic
pass 111:1 Douse, and hence the Exten , ioni-t 4 were I violence, is a duty enjoined alike by the Constittt ,
driven tO new shifts and dewices. A scrtimed con- tibn and the fraternal ties thatbind ustogether as one
sultatme or caucus, as I am informed, was _held on I people. Slaiery within the States, es all other State •
the etedine preceding the day on which the Select 1 'estimating, we held sacred from Federal interter , .
Commieeeot Eight was moved in the Senate. The , mice ; but the soil of Freedom most not be invaded,
known Opinions of a majority of that committee— I neither by violence nor by stealth—by the aired
their opit opposition to the policy of engrafting the - action of this Government, nor by its stifferanee
screat feature of the Ordinance of 1787 upon the re- and reknit acqtficzeratee. • Slavery has its abiding
emelt. acquired Territories. mode it certain, from place. 'anal Freedom its home. Let the limits of
the lire, that the interees of elavery would, govern each be satorilly observed. Ile- is the true bone ,
their ceinisels. i I promise : upott it we can stand in security and
Sir, I (regard this new bantling--this "child , born peeve. Beyond, there is no met ; no place of safefie
in dog tlays - - wer whose suddeu death Mr. Batch- I The experience of the last few year is full of iu-
ie seems the principal, if not the only mourner, as struction. We have seen the Southern boundary
a frand'both upon the people of the North and of i of the - republic extend as. if no obstacle impeded
the Smith. It had no slams) of manliness about it, mar advance; while en the north, it stands like a
but was a studied effort to- evade and dodge the e all el adamant. Our Northern .boundary never
question. Why not meet this subject as mete end a moves except to recede. -Within three years we
settle it upon a basis that all shalt understand 1 This have st y e s to our possessions s t h e
. s out h ti mai _
new scheme. so happily defeated, settled nothine s tory of the extent dt nearly half of Europe, mid sur-
Certain it iit, that one party or the other would hove reedered on the North a vast Country, to which it
been grossly deceived. Ilas it passed, the }OA:: i was said our titletwas " clear and unquestionablei"
clues hope would have been held out to the North I Such are the fruits of Southern policy. In lill4,
that slavery was excluded, while at the South it Oregon and Texas were twin meattures—they litchi
would have been understood that the whole coun- hand in lanna. Texas was secured ; and Oregon
try map open to that itistitutitin.. The speech of the abandoned; and the moiety that terimined to Its
hononible Chairman of the Committee of Eightmust be denied the protection of but Government •
[Mr. Clayton] upon ate introduction of the bill to, anti laws, until we consent to Valenti sletdry beet
the Sedate, is as e.Nintordinary as are all the other Nee- Mexico and California. When a meastirele
eircurnstances connected with its history. ° After I proposed for the aggrandizement of the South—for
mining the nature of the Governments provided fur witlenine. deepening, and strengthening the institte
California and New lexico s lie goes on to say : I tion of slavely—then the patriblisni of the whole •
"Thus placing lite question Lslaverfl beyond country is involed—then we are one people,. ithd :
the pOwer of the Territorial Legislature. ami resting i the Democracy one great party. But let Northern '
the field to introduce dr prohibit slavery in those men talk of the integrity of free soil, of the interstate
two Territories. on the Constitution, as the same and rlelits of free labor ; and a Govemttrant . press
shall be expounded by the Judges, with the iiela l assails and detiourices them as Abolitionists' and
of ap seal to the Supreme Court of the United States. , demagogues, who seek to create sectional divisions,
It wad thought, by this means, that Congress would ' i anti to organiz parties on ',geographical lines.
avoid the decision of this (Es:riding question, lea- ;Then there is. no Democracy but that which adopts
ving it to be .settled by the silent operation of the I Southern opinions, and submits to Southern dicta-
Constitution itself ; and that in case Congress should I tioe . - We are remiked to surrender our elle
refuse to touch the subject, the coin try would be Fished principles, to do violence to Our solemn
dereholdine, only where, by the law of nature, slave I convictions; and it we refuse to make this sacrifice,
labor was effective, tied free labor could not main- we are driven from the councils of the party; and
brie itself. On the other hand, in ease Congres-s permitted to have no voice in its deliberations. A
should hereafter cheese to adopt the compromise I Northern Democratic Statesman, however exalted,
of 36 ideg, 30 MM., or any other rule of settlement, I and whatever may be his claims upon the confi
it N‘ ill be free to act as to its wisdurb and patriotism dence and partiality of his political friends, must,
shall eeem fit.'' I quality himself as a candidate for the Presidency
tateh sir is. in part, the statement of the charace by wi ineli pledges to the South—must perge him-
ter a this new " comprornit , e," as given by the self of the taint anti leprosy of Freedom, and rd.
chairivau who reported it to the, Senate: Truly it I reivethe stamp that marks him as the gentaine Can -
was a most clear and satisfactory settlement of this 1. , didate of the slave power. Thee qualified, or stet;
"distracting question." As a purely legal question, ' tified. we may be peenitted to vote for him. litre
it was to be_finally put to rest by the adjudication oft do so, we save the most solemn endorsement to'
our highest law tribunal. Then Came its the law principles we detest :if we withhold our totes i the
of untfure—auti climate. soil, and the adaptation of i patronage of a Southern Administmtion, acting, upon
the miters - to slave labor. was to fix the boentlary I a mercenary press, is employed to excitg against
between freedom and slavery ;' and. lastly, the lus the honest laborer, to *hose rheas and interests
whole subject was left open and unselifel for the we have stootisnie and feithful. Sir, I will not be .
subsequent action of Congress. ‘Vas it not sir, an forced in a direction contrary to my principles. I '
admirable and ingenious ":compromise 1" It set- know the fearful odds that- are against me in ,this.
tied the question, aid yet left it open. The Su- strugrele 2 —the overshadowing power of 111 institn
prenie Court was to decide whether slavery could or tiorithat directs the action of this aofemtnent, eon
could not legally eeist in these Territorieteand yet the trols its patronage, wields the organization of die
slarrholder was allowed to appropriate such parts Republican party, and tears down and builds up at
to himself as he deemed adapted to slave labor. pleasure.. I Snow the chances are a hundred to
Such.a scheme was unworthy of support from any one, that I must go down in this unequal tornest.
quarter. We can submit to be voted down, al , °Be it so: I had rather sink into the deepest obscu
though it is hard when the blow comes from Nor- rity, with' my integrity and reputation unsullied than
kern men ; but the cann - ot - cor.sent to be cheated. purchase distinction at the sacrifice of my self-re-
We ; want'ao paltering upon this subject. When it
,!spect, and the good opinion of all honorable Men.
is settled, we wieleto know how and upon what But sir, I have laith in the moral power of a good
terms the settlement is made. If tree soil is to be cease . There is another day coming; tutti Sin the
surrendered, tee evish to know the extent of the language of an able and eloquent statesente of
surrender—the limits where slavery is to cease its, France, "I am willing to Place my bark tiptiet the
ilfl,gressions. highest promontory, and await the rising of the we
_l ,am fully satisfied; in my ewn mind, that this tens." I cannot believe that the Illetimattassy of die
ingenious device, not of settlement, but to event a North will ever take upon its broad shoaldere - - - the
settlement, give up the entire Territories of Califor- institution of slavery, and carry it ever upon _lands.
ma and New Mexico to slavery. There was noth- now free. This is not the mission of the Democrat.
Ing in the bill to obstruct the slaveholder in his de- is party,- and any attempt to pervert itsorganizatioa
elated purpose to overrun these countries with his to such objects must end; as it should end, hoover. •
slaves. Congress imposed no restraint ;and the whelming defeat.
people themselves, however much opposed to spa- Those gallant and true men, Who hate fought - the -
very, where expressly prohibited from raising their battle of popular rights against privilege and tnce
yoke against it. The idea of a judicial deeision nmioly all its forms—who aided in trashing 11•6
that, should be effectual for the protection of those rrenster bank, and wresting from the reag of
distene"Tertitories was shamefully deceptie. I Eastern capital the hard earnings of Labor, will n.O
- satisfied that no case would ever have ver fight thehatles of slavery propagandism. They
beein brought before the Supreme Court ; and if one will never become the champkins of a =lntl poorrt
had been, before a decision was obtained, slavery in the Eolith, more potent and more dangerous than
%weld have fixed itself so firmly upon the soil, that all other enemies of liberty combined. Southern
its removal would have been impossible. Slavery capes' has a thousand millions of dollars invested
neVer yet went into a country tinder the authority in shires; and this is another great struggle between
of previous law. The law of slavery -is the law of capital and labor. Northern and Eastern capital,
violence and aggression. How came slavery in invested in manufactures, claimed the_privilege of
Texas' It found its way the rem violation of law, . Isr.l 701711111 PAGJI .1 -
;
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