, 74 - motlett4.:starNiitu,
you constitutional rights, then there IS Ociraalon
for repealing thie act, for the courts wOllllll, 1151 t,,,
If it is constitutional, no northern man ht
to repeat it; if unconstitutional, there is trilinnal
organized by the federate compact itself:Art*4dß
such (petitions. Bat if the Consinutiotr,Vatelf)o4llo
any right' relative to slavery ikthelerrinsile4
j
v, hat are they! It extends the udidiejlen
g:ess over the Territory. As the Territory is em
braced in no other jorisdiction, it is, therefore, Upal
and exclusive, - trait like that , over , the , Siatest:Wrw,
there it is limited and defined, leaving each Stine
10 settle for_ itself . all .. , guestions of private rights,
either of persona or propeny. Bat in the Territo
ries, before this organization of a leeislative body,
what legal jurisdictions can there rns save that of
Congress, and what private rights are snor t ed t o
persons dwell* therein save those guarantied in
the Constitution. itselfe—turtongisite =most important
of which . is that " no person shall be deprived of
life or liberty without due course of law l" Bernie
any leeislation, then ' either by Congress or the to
cal Legislature, white there is no legal jurisdiction
of any kind extending over the Territory save the
Constitution itself, how can it, by its own inherent
fume andpower, enslave and hold in bondage a
human being, in violation of the most sacred and
solemn guarantees of personal rights l But When
the Territory is converted into a State, it 'is then
clothed with all the attributes of State sovereignty,
and the jurisdiction of Congress and the Constitii
lion, from being exclusive becomes thrilled and de.
fined, and thus the two jurisdictions are harmoniz.
ed.
Upon this point 1 will tele, to the atrhority of
-hie'
but one of many distinguished names, and to which
I desire specially to call the attention of the gentle
man from Kentucky, [Mr. Breakinridge.) who
combines, with% so much credit to himself, 'the
characteristic of his family name, as well as the
sterling virtues of an oft-deleated, thongb mown
quered, Kentucky Democracy, and also. the atten
tion of all others who were-his dieciplesrwhile
ing, and who revere his name now that he is dead
It is an authority that will not be questioned by
them, and certainly not by 'a son of.Kentueky ; end
upon this question it has become canonized in the
hearts of the American people.
Mr. Clay, in reply to this claim of constitutional
right to carry slavery whatever the_jorisJiction of
that instrument extends, said in the Senate,. 22d
July, 1850:
"If II had not heard that opinion avowed .1 should :have re
garded it as one in - the most eatraordiimry as and
the most indefensible position. that was ever taken by man "
"You cannot pat year finger on the part of the Consuration
which conveys the rightor the power to carry s aves,from
one of the States °fib@ Union to any Territory clam United
States.
leave the advocate* of this doctrine with their
own champion who stood on the floor of the San•
ate of the United States to scout the idea, and 'to
declare that if he bad not heard it, he would believe
it beyond .the presumption of man. z.
But it is said that these Territories are common
properly, and that all citizens of the United States
have common ridge in them • and that, therefore,
no citizen can be excluded ' from emigrating to
them without injustice and degradation. Sir, no
one proposes to exclude any person from emigrat
ing and settling on the public domain. The ter
ritory, it is true, is the common. property -of the
whole people, but by the ,F . edend Consiitutimohey
agreed to put it under a anpeeitiaory power. —Thai.
power is Congress; Congress is made a hoard of
directors over this trust-fund, to use it in such 'way
as, in their sound discretion,._ w• ill
. .ba most. advan
tageous to the trust, and will besraccomphith the
of jet:( of its creation, the promotion of the real and
and permanent interests of the country. ;Whoever
goes into the Territory, therefore, as a settler, must
conform to thou ruled and regulations" established
by this Supervisory board, created by the common
consent and agreement of the whole cottony, and
made one of the articles of compact.. No person
has any separate, distinct individual right than he
can have set apart as hut share to use as he pleas
es, any more than he can take his share of the
President's House, or of this Capitol, and appro
priate it to his own use. 'lt can be used only in
such way as, in the judgment of Congress, will
conduce to the advantage of the whale. Any at
tempt to exclude arty citizen from .emigrating' to
the Territories upon the same condition that you
permit others, would, of course be unjust.
Bat you claim to hold there, legally, whatever '
the laws of the State from which you emigrate re
cognize an property, because you are joint owners
of this Territory. It is upon movie)) doctrine. that
any species of property is held by any person in the
Terri ories. He can hold whatever the common
law of the country recognizes as property, and
nothing else, till there is local legislation, no mat
ter where he comes atom, whether (torn tue North
or South, (torn Europe or Asia All are, therefore,
placed ore an equality, and the rights of each are
determined by the same standard, and governed by
the same law If, then, yon have an anomalous
species of property, not recognized by the corn
mon law by which the rights of every one else are
determined, then you most submit to whatever in
conveniences are incident to that species of pro
petty wherever yon may lake it. Mr. Clay saidon
Senate, July 22, 1850:
Nor eon 1 /WWI (or a single moment that there is any se.
paints or several rig hts upon the part
. oftbs States or Jodi.
vidital members old State, or any port tot of the people of the
United States ,to carry staves into the- s Territortra under the
idea that these Territories arc held in common berwesn the
several States:"
In adhearing to any opinion of the illustrious
Kentuckian on' the gue:thou of slavery, L trust no
northern man would be charged with fanaticism.
If slaves are recognized , as properly
,by the com
mon law of the land, by which our rights of prop
arty in the Territories are fixed, then you can take
them there, and bold them as such. But if, the
right rears only oa local and municiple enactments
then there is no reason for charging the North with
a want of fidelity to the compact, but you should
rather blame nature, and reason, and the common
law of the laud, in the enacting of which we have
had no part. The decisions of the couns from the
time of Lord Mansfield's decision in the famous
Sommeraette case, in 1771, down to the present
time, have been constant and uniform, that there
is no foundation for slavery in nature or reason, but
that it must. rest for its support solely on local law .
The gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Bayly,] who
has just taken his seat, said that no court in the
country had ever decided that slavery could not
exist without focal law, but that the correct doctrine
is, that it could exist unless there irks a law pro.
bibiting it.
Mr 3.1 YLY.' With the permission of the gen
thernan, 1 will say that in the case of Sommersette
the opinion at Lird Mansfield—
Mr, GROW I cannot. yield to the gentleman to
-explain Lord blansfield'it decision. If I bait' mis
taken his posiiicn, he can correct me.
Bat it has been decided by your own courts, by
the highest judicial tribunals of your own Sates, of
Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
that slavery can only exist by positive municipal
regulations ; aud, air, I have only time to cite a
few delimit :
" Shall it be said that beennse an officer of the Army owes
slaves in Virgiuhs that when as °Meer and soldier he is re
quired to take ecnornand of a post in the - non -slaveholding
elates or Territories, he thereby had-a right to take with him
as many Oetise as will gait Ida interest or convenience. It
M surel7 Canna' be the /aw.?—ltachati vs. Walker,4 Missouri,
. 4 The relation ofowner and stave le, in the Statue-the
Unica. in.whtelt a liu legal existence. a creation of the man
iciPzi law." — Suil. Louisiana, bustafonl vs. Oxon!lion
14 htartia'sPoria. 4o 2.
" Slavery is condemned by reason and the laws of nature..
It exists, and tan only exist, ?through municipal mita:Sou '
Sup. court of Missutsippi, Harry et al. vs. Decker k iloplims,
Walker's Report, 42.
'The righteftlie muter exists mit by•bren of the law of
mow*, or of nations, by virtue only of the . positllre teal of the
State."—State tssipto vs . Jones walker's Report. Rt
"The state of slavery to deemed to be a mere munierPs4
vegetation, Inutded upon and limited 10 the nate of the ter.
num& law 4l -Bup. Overt U. S., rnigr vs. Covent. of Penne..
10 Peters, ell.
And as the law of a State extends not - beyond,
the Territorial limits .of its jurisdiction,, whenever
one of our citiiena goes beyond that, he is divested
of the incidents of citizenship of that State, and
takes an those of the Stine or place in which he
may be. He cannot carry hes local institutions and
their incidents with him, hat he takes upotibirtwelf
the cheracielistics of citizenship ot the place to
which,he goes.
But it is claimed ? even if this law is constitution
al, that the legislat i on of 1850 rendered it's inoper
. .
alive *" for territory north of thitalisseorl cove IP'
, lesiliesr eiterillelte3, ' ' ' .. the - 116 ' i s ii's
tier/SOW 140.1ticr4*
._, ' . hal ';
'- ..- w - iHej i l ,
ettlOhiarti l Eeheraeter I -
, 2 r,'
.. ', ~,...____el_
I
*Onto and r . ffisr.,__ _ - 4 z ia '" a -, , . •JQP. ,11 .!
philately ludedelese , • .., 1 t ine, , it was;,
Vet h of **ch. i t
,11111(0- ' Fee * ,_ rsitcel, at Lesi
Aureate* . err noefilie' axoftellite r tt in aty.avay ,inne
an act of Congress. 11 then the ant 01.1820 la sa ..
lid enactment, slavety is of course elethltfeo."? en
aherereitoteenortleof. that ..lbletlJOAr i ttc 7o
existence, rio neater under whet lee -jars i
it may be included. "
~ . .
There was no p r inciple establotheo or act done
in t h
ie:ll:liaaliBcW!incunsult evel:lliltihis
act of t 820; loro:ersTreltwinrNe7Bexitn
anita : eowotidit ; iftrto4o;
prohibit slavery. And; I lake if to :Writ Hound
I .iuuerutieersaflieroolflimd itrillesPil4eoeoo9ll•
l
al law, that the taws 9f , a conquered country, not
inconsistent ivith . the-ingettio'law`Of die ibtiqueror,
continue in full tome tilt changed by iheecmquering
power. Congtetwt elutiedan 1,1#0,0 to change them,
PO they remait.ettlialid in'adtitterds for the Terri
tory juin 44:14itnie as if they hatrheen - rerifirieleft .
funerese. "Anifierritniial golfeinineuterchdritiere.
tote formed, leaving the validity etthese laws to be
settled by the mats, Anil, sii, WhydoidOihe same
thing in this case rlierti is aliWprohibiting slave
ry in the Territory, wiliiiietiese to Irwin) se ;en diem
wait in the • ITteb end 'New Mexico,:#4 skillet
it untouched there, and to ' be ConsistenCiiih' our
action then, we should do the same Ihin'o.,.'ntue,—
That wait the opinion: of the.chairman of she Com
mittee on Territories in the Struate4Mr. Doecreassa
as expressed in his report, on . ;the bill be -first in
troduced, before the.,addition .of jfie.antendnande,
opersedures•and. inconsistencies , And 1 , desire, m
call particular attention - to the . hollowing extract
from his report- made -on the inttoduction of the or
ig,inal bill, the 4th.cif January last: e ,:.. ,
" As Congress deemed it wise and predint to ' re
'train from deciding the matters in controversy then,
(i. e. 1850.) either by affirming or repealing the
Mexican laws, or by an Act,declaratory`of the true
intent of the Caustitutioti'aitd•the eittifieftlethe pro
tection afforded by it to slave propeity in the Terri
toilet, so your tonimfttee are: not papered now to
recommend a departure fronflhercoortepursued on
that memorable occasion, ether by greasing or re+
pealing the nth Bettina (lila. Alessours 'aet,,or by any
act declaratory of the meaning of the Ctinstitatiop
in respect to the legal points in dispute."
Out it in-said the South-did not ask the repeal of
this act, but it is a - boon tendered by the North.—
Admitting it to be so, - him stands your excuse. It
shows that you are witting to take the benefit of an
act after it iv petformell, and that too by your own
aid, which. your sense of justice would not justify
you in setting to be done.- Whynm then meet the
que-tion Wyly, and say that no northern man would
have ever thoeutit of milking this proposition, mi
les, he supposed that it Could be acceptable to you.
But, sir, has the North mailer this tender. lit the
other wing-of the Capitol a' majority of northern
&tuners, representing a constituency Weight mill
ion seven hundred and silty-three thousand seven
hundred and fifty, voted against it while the four.
teen voles in its tared represented a constituency of
only four million five hundred and seventy eight
thousand five hundred and I:eve:op-three, but lie
the more - than half as many as the opponents of the
tan • - And st (he that mote in this House on refer
ring the bill to the Committee of therWhole, of the
orie bandied and two northern votes in favor of the
1 reterenece -nriyaroor --• rgernip. -Litelwoolusiy- COW
"'WV , and four Free.Soilers, representing together
a constituency of ten million two hundred thee&
and, while the twenty three votes against it repres
ented a constituency of only two million three hun
Bred thousand. And on the vote a tea days since
to take up the bill, there were forty one northern
Democrats in favor of it, tour of whom are open
and avowed opponents of the bill, so that there
were but thitty.esiven malty its its tarot., represent
ing a constimeney of three million seven hundred
thousand, whiterthe lorry-two Democrats agansi it
represent a constituency of loot million two hon.
Jred th ousand, and the forty-five northern Whigs*
coniiiitneney of four million five handled thousand,
so that the_amare representation of the North with.
out countimehe absentees. is three million seven
hundred thoneand for the bill to eight million sev
en hunered thousand against it. And ofthe ninety
one northern Democrats on this floor, bony-nine are
known to be open and avowed- opponents of the
bill. This, sir, is the record of the men authorized
to speak for the North, the word of her delegated
agents. And is it not entitled to as much credit and
consideration-as the proffer of any northern political
aspirant with, I will trot say southern interests, but
"southern principles 1 " `
But it is said, no matter whether the Missouri
compromise is constitutional or not, it has been
abandoned by the Narth, therefore we are under
no at:ligation to stand by it any longer. When
.was it ewer abandoned! Is not t it• act upon the
statute book today ! Was it not placed there on
the 6 hot Match, 1820 1 Has it ever been changed 1
Does it nut stand there still man act of feeielation I
Then sir, how has it been abandoned! le it because
the dorth would not consent to extend me line of
36° 30' actors, the continent, as desired by the South!
If extended to the Pacific ocean, so as tp end in
salt water o the lute would bepeifectlyjust and cop-,
, setutional, so the Sou th constantly .declared and
voted from 1847 to 1850-; but as the fine terminates
amid the crags and spurs of the Rocky, Muenteins,
tt is uuconsinutional and wijuit. Sir the isturill,wa t e
under no obligation to extend it over the acquisition
of territory tram Mexico; for it was an arrangement
made iceapply only to the Louisiana purchase, and
as such it bas ever been respected. Had the North
consented to extend ibis line over the territory ate
quired of Mexico, it would have , been an act of
suicidal injustice ; Wr in the territorial expansion of
country she would. have bemused herself in upon
twelve and a halfilegreertof latitude, whde unlimi
ted eapaneion would have been open to the Joirb.
The wall of Relish nitwit would burl back the
North, while t h e Isthmus of-Datien or Cape Hour ,
alone would limit the„Soutb. For who believes
that the territorial expansion. of the Republic will
not continue rill it covers ibis whole continent ? It is
one of the incidents of position resulting from the
habi s of our people and the 'character of the na•
tionalities that surround cs While the pioneer
spirit presses on into ins wielernessisnarching new
areas from the wild beast, and bequeathing them
a legacy to civilized man, it us in vain you attempt
to stay his progress by meridian lines qr legislative
enactments. The habits of his lifeand the prompt
ings oh his nature are stronger than the river or
mountain barriers of nations. And when he has
coveted this whole continent with the abodes of
civilized life, seizing the standard of the Republic,
he will bear it across the mighty deep, to regenerate
old dynasties end breathe new life into decayed
empires This, no matter what May be the views
of your stittesmeu or the policy of your legislation;
. is out mission, our mantled destiny--tor the ener
gy, enterprise * wealth, and superior intelligence,
are Destiny—and he who would attempt ro say it
may be borne down by the tide, but he cannot
change the current, .
Why, then should the North harf consented to
excludeiheraell horn , participa'ing ,in. the inevita
ble acquisition of the fulare, : especiellY ,When she
had. hemp:dote, yielded, without a , murmur, die
lion's share of all . our . acquisitions , the; whale. of
Florida, nearly all of Texas, and the haf t s o f Livia -
ia4a, so that the area of the alatrebobling States to
exceed that of .the tree States, includeing Call.
tor*, two hundred aqd eightyltre- tho*md. sit
i . eared and eighteen square milesl , ,_:
; et we are told that it is nedisseary ito rimed Ibis
net 011820, in order trit.givo the people 'ben , inelitni-f
a ble riddle—tbe . ri g ht u(populiy tievitignfy . ldr -
Chaittnap, I understand popular,soiereiguty,,to, he
the right of a . people io /elect !belt own jotters,-
make their, own laws, levy anal collect their own'
taxes. Andaloits this bill permit them !tido, !hat,;
.or can it.be'dinte undeirmy territoriatorgstlilalAM:
folioed by'iCengittiert Fet when you dcikive them,
of these -*list - mind • reqe,iiites, : or eitheVettliere,,
you deprive theta el
.popular, Soaitrid i tity. . 'Whet
rights of popular sovertngr.tillo you *ler oil 'O4-
mot even by this bill f ' You give them.no t ii* j in
the selection of their ruler., in the leaking and
collectitig their own taxes, for we ply the expel- -
ses of their legislation, build their roadq,lind erect
=MI
their public bnildiu se them their ezecudvo
girtl. • • • bedirial . whose sateen le
po om you give • vetik•po
Territogial Le latakei Awl
u o th P7 p - tb' • the essentials popper so l e"
iek 14 ,„
iftillat and ; a po
ple,..olllll,l l l4llerei the face of the Itarrtiggi
ern themselves. The absolute right of a peoele in
a civil govemnient is to meet together in mass eon- -
.1fe1gi9A 1 .44141 ,4 1W1-Actil;PW434l9a i snMAlßereAct,
their own raters. That, sir, is pope sr sovereignty,
and the great principle opcm,whictt our goverrtmeot,
rests—the right of the'peopletO govimi themselves.
But the inconvenience and..almost impossibility of
alt the citizens of a State of vast area, meeting to
;gethbr t r thepprtiosernfetiatlipg lawir,pikes/ if
nedessarito elect tepfestinfatives for:thin patibse:
Atgekko_iaACiAcci.-P444.10141134.-FigiAmAtity
resentativegovernmentr, instead of 'democracies
So the citizen iniftOirpinttiiiiefibliVnion, is forced
from the nature of the cue,
;Y to yield something ot
his inherent politiriatrights,,,otir%territoriaLgew
ernmermi, in any, shape, Are. an„enottlat! Mu
system of government ; and' upon the doctrine of
absOlute•• populist. novettiiititt , yoit ihiluld 'tine*
yaw territorial governments to the winds, and leave
the people to tbrita their own government-and train-
Me their own afiai,nhin their own, way: '
, ,„
What did the pretended friendicol This . principle
' of poplar sovereignty do in the case of CitifOrma
the only Maser of- - real popular sovereignty *hid.
ever accursed in • any Territory of the Union, Many
of the gentlemen here who are iPud, in favor
of populai sovereignty, protested aga inst the asl'•
mission of California because of the exnrcise 'of
poptllar soversignotby her people, 'excluding
slavery Icomshecrlimits. •Menr-nonthavn- Senators,
five of whom, are now in.,the Sena.p tut¢ strenonof
advocates of this • bill, entered, , proem
against the adinfoltin 61 California , after 'her people
in conventionirad traded her ofgartio law, Ili' the
eternise-of their !popular envetetgolYr," and amon g
,
{he reasons they awaited .for dissenting from, toe
bill was that " it gives the sanction of Jaw, and
thus imparts validity to • the unaultibrived action of
a portion of the intiabitanta of California by which
an odious discrimination is mark against the property
qui f fifice i tslarehogin g States ritbe Union who, are
thus deprived of that poaition of equality which the
Constitut:on so 'manifestly designs, and which con,
I Mite es the only sine and atabie lotentlation on
which the Uniaireansepose."
in the passage at the . ordinance of nu Our
which every southern man voted) it was not then
con-idered that slavery, was necessary 'in ruder,
that the States to be formed out of the Northwest
Territory might• come into the Union on an equal
rowing with the original States, nor was its ezclu•
Pion considered degrading to the citizens of the
South.
Popolartorereignty,it seems, is right when it
admits or benefits slavery, but wrong when it ex
cludes it. In the case now before us, the only
difference ip this bill, and other b.lls which have
been passedslor profs tor the organization of Terri
tories, is the s tdit repealing the Missouri com•
promise. And it is that therefore which gives dint
bill its character par excellence of popular sovereignly.
And still it is attempted to impose upon the pao
pie of the country by cty of popular sovereignty,
when this bill dams not an iota from other bills,
save that it repeals a prohibition on slavery:
But any territorial government being anomaly in
our political system, the people who got there must
submit to all the conditions incident to that anon
atouirposrnott 'odtirectirronwinvoirritroi-wwror.--nr•
the formation of a State consti , ution. A supervi-
sory power over the Territories in not only vested
in Congress by the Constitution, but, from the na
tore of the government, it is necessary that it should
have that power. For it would be a strange an
omaly indeed if the Government should pay all the
expenses of legislation over which it has no control
It would be a strange doctrine that a banditti ol one
hundred, who, being the first settlers of a Territory?,
should legalize murder, theft and arson. and all
other crimes known to-the criminal calender, and
thus drive off all respectable citizens from settling
the public domain in their vicinity, and yet Con
gress would have no control or voice in the matter,
save to pay all the expenses of their legislation and
the salaries of their officers. If the power is not
delegated in the clause of the Constitution giving to
Congress the making of all ," needfull rules and
regulations respecting the territo,y of all other prop.
arty," it is clearly within the treaty-making pow.
A necessary incident of the power to acquire is
she power to govern, and she power to govern con
fers the right to make such laws as the govern.
men! power shall think wise and necessary, relative
to all the subjects of legislation in the 'acquired
Territory. And'ihis power is not, of course, lim
iced to the mere functions of administering territory
as property, for il it embraces the power of civ il
government at all, it Would as well embrace jurie.
diction of Slavery as can other institution. And if
the power of civil government over the territory . is
not embraced at all; then why are, we legislating
(or the Territories to.day Why delegate powers
to their Legislature, send them their governors,
judges, and other civil officers, fix the qualification
-of their voters. and pay their taxes! Why, it there
be no conetitutional power to govern in the Terri.
tortes, do we deny the citizen, even itt this bill, the
exercise of the great attributes of r opular sover
eignty, the right to select his own . rulers, make his
own laws, and levy his own taxes?
And such is the construction even of some of the
ablest living statesmen of the south, but I have not
the time to refer to but Jew of them :
"1 agree with these ho maintain that the right
to govern the Territorie is in Congress."—Mr. Hun
ter. of Va., on Oregpm 6i Judy It. 18113-41 p. Cong.
Globe, eat. 19, page 902.
"1 do not doubt the dower of Corigress to make
laws rot the government of the people who inhabit
a territory belonging tolthe United States." • •
"There is no prohibitioh to be found in the Consti.
lotion In respect to the power of Congress ove, the
question of slavery when legislating for a Territory."
—llti. Underwood, Ky.,on Oregon bill. July 25.1848,
—App. Conk Globe, col. 19, page 1165.
"To my understanding it is therefore plain, that,
by the treaty-mating power, we have express au—
thority to acquire territory—and by the provision 1
have cited, Congress him - express authority to legis.
lato (or it when acquired. Now, sir, upon ibis pow
er whit are the restrictions and Where are they to be
found 1 There are plainly none in the Constitution
itself."--Mr. Badger, of N. C.,e App. Cong. Globe,
vol. 1,174.
T he inhabitants of a territory, till the formation of
a State constitution, must, therefore,from tne neces
sity of the case, be subject to' the supervision of
Congress. They go ont in the territory in the first
Place few in numbers. They go to contest with the
savage.and the wild;beast the dominion of the wil
derness, and are not of Sufficient numbers, strength,
and wealth to - protert themselvai alone against the
-uncivilised communities ar.mna them. Therefore
the General Government pays all the expenses of
their government, builds their roads, and erects their
public buildings, and, es a consequence, appoints
their executive and judicial officers, and yet the
country is told that we-extend to them popular so
vereignty, and Congress has no power , over their le
gislation. That is not the construction of the Con.
stitotion, as given to it biits trainers, by the Judi-
Cill interpretittoni' or-the highest tribune!' of the
Tend; by the action of the Government !rum 'the day
of its
,organizstibn to the fresent bcur, and by the
opinions 6f the most cixrinent Statesmen of the Re
living'and deseffir. Madison, in Congress,
fa` VIII% OD a question of referring to abolitioh me m
liaLisihns reported to the fourth volume of Elliot'..
Vetiatea, page Stilt ' • '
. -
1 1340 *decried to the western eonntiy, and le tho cession of
=in witieh Congress hive (magnify the power to resit:
sublets ofelersery; which shows that tpunleaten are
wiataiceo w supposma, that Conaresa cannot, conatitntianakly;
interfere in the hesitates in any may.* ,
•
reft4tl WU the opialoW ottlti Mao who hatintost
:to do* Pranging the. Constitution of the U. Swett.,
If thettitbitpower he not in violation of the Paul
,tation,What right hove thignitth to complain .ofit.s .
:cumin heitussa it is, Unpalatable:le - Bid riot
.they, bind themselves to submit to whatever cotitli•
thin the carrying out of that Constitution imposed
upon them as well is upon the North? • 1
Bus, it may be asked, why should the North eirs•l
6;
whatitifid of Waled°liS a people select for them- 1
t Pato foftwitsim - , -
..,. • .as - a • pre.
se tivOn ttib
_gruoh tome , —,;2 men. , sin 1
i t s
te ticitjto INSinitifutfirtf: ,• : tit. 1 • it -in
-* 4 1!.14 -
.thei*ONlV . itit, .104: •.. Vie
.
prifilettii of 1.. ItiOti ,, ' t' 1. , . 0.- . 00 .. Of.
mittit atilt 7 tbatt ii* -- ,oth. - "' -.Of .;'', do, , &,., e' • s
stlftitionfiof I I E1tate5.4106646:..-7'elt "' r is 0 1 .
diiilliated au undistuthid,liithor • peep e or eitti
State to devise du theirown time their own remediea.
But in this Cals.:44llre called on for , otitivi.-
... *,
lifffirifietlag4itliiiiiiWtrOliet - t
don of slavery a vast empire from which ft is Sli..
cludedby:Positimillwo:l 4 ltit satisfied with the set.
dement we made with you in 1856, by which we
agreed to waive-the exercise of wbzi the Noith re
garded es a constitational_right s rq .as to by,
oer voififito`piXtititislailert tot/ Aft"errOo*Tftv, of
which it Is excluded by the.law of the and. My an•
iswervisirsolyapromift***lfik
own immortil Pfiset-,-!.,.,.:.-,,
Ai will eerie Wii.iiiiii'aii' biiiiieb - PitweeWillereimiti;
we wate.toipreatt slivery own: tteditery arliedott 'doer ase
now n
' Ail I ntaibt•fiticrthe' fiotleil emphatiOniguage
of his iirittallfillustrifitts'eokipehtlibii veteran Bee.
ator ta bliastsarje (Mriefteimn.) who Moder honors
his. aenstituentfixitb lt, prat on ithis.-.. Pm:. ,_ koyika_
almost the,dylimdeclarstiot of the Onctod having
livid ifi a' send Meta for mole 'Viii haf t's efititniY
in -the , bosom of the otter; it tenni *Mt= 'sr &WIG
continue auming,the ; kgeOlekthat he ;Will bulk
to the generadenathat aroto.ptketerM,s
But gentle - Mee tell its did ilireYY iihol d there l
byreasmi"tf clinite . tiff skil'..-Theitihre;totaij;
north of theparallel 61,80.0ra0ficight..htiltdre* Ind
sixty-rittre,e tflOOSOo4utiv,!. l o l .l*Ert AndeilEbtflllk o o
slaves. being,moie than a fo u rth of ilrt e Flayea.in
1 the entire Irdiott;'' II 'elides and iiirafidifir reiel
of nature and:God, wilt keep ilaverylostrof Muslim;
why , have-they 00 1 0 0 ,1441;e4.44F90eAwitiorii - Ketto
toek.Y.• - Yirfinie..4 l orVertd.: atick litelitTere.,dorief
this' two eentuttes iltibeliti tiSt' lit trtiatiellimi di& T
With the Shied loth ude. Ihe'sithieeelts ea thellfiktii
climate, the number of slaves has beeacoustandy
increasing in all these States except Delaware and
Missouri. What differencesof climate and soD,what
diderent-1aw..,0f nature, and2Gioth are tooperate in
the Territory of Ragtime to Kew t it. horn. becomiug
a stavelhat“ this 'bill patW'r- 1' 'Befit slavery
cannot en tbeivi - ,...hji rePeaVtlialiet 1" Why eielie
anew angry sectional feelings if nothing-ditobree&
complishe4l,bvit 1 In my, jofigment s if.ybie : bill
passes. Kansas, will become r& slave State ; andlet
northern' Men !Ili, asked' to - effeet this ty'i ik.siirie
legislative act b y their votes. '.lf . the Missouri act
io,constitutietud, a hat cause of comphdo canthere
be
,becattee we refuge to repeal it,t And while there
ft' a tillAirial that ran annul it, why 'ask QS to. yield
our convictions on a controverted point! ' • •
But a reason urged "ii and out of this Hail by the
opponents of bil is, that y ou ate voting with
urged 'd
t ifi: Chairrfitituot fere a man upon
this flair so - triven that he will tiae"tci vote this'
sentiments of hit-heart. and Otter his deep couvica. ,
lions, because. he willstand on the record.with some
man whose °pinkies, on other vie Slims, be does.
not aitprove t The'inee 'who Urge that reason libel'
1 their own integrity of character-no :less than the ito
justice the* do to others & for,no honorable man will
prescribe a rule of conduct for others that he would
not be 'Overtied by bithself. Sir. I shrink from, no
Companionship on the'reeorth when my-judgment
approves the irotez.it is no difference to-me who I
Fore with.
,i Nor have minorities any terrors for me,-
or for the , constituents I - represent. They stood
alone in the Keystone in the last great battle for the
supremacy of free and• untrammeled commerce. —.
Traduced tiv almost _the .entftsuarrrso.. l --ougersote;
rw..-a - el:d e - corporatei capital et the commonwealth
—as false to Pennsylvania Interesti 'and recreant to
their Owl obligations as• Pennsylvania Dtimoerars
....yet uncorrupted by • patronage and unawed by
power. they rallied around and .upheld the banner of
free trade and unrestricted cothaterce; which they
hid Thrown to the breeze in 1841.1,•"while the stand
ard of Democracy trailed in dada's io almost every.
other portion of the Commonwealth. When satisfied
that they are right, they stand by their convictions
in sunshine or in storm ; and their representative, if
true to them, will do the-same..
liut it is said that it is necessary to repealthe
*curt compromise, in order to take the question of
slavery out of Congress, and to quiet agitation by
removing it from the political arena.' Those who
make this declaration, with se much apparent sin
cerity, either do not understand the real sentiment
of the North, or they fail to comprehend aright the
springs of human action" Sir, you are - raking open
and fanning into a flame costs which• were already
smothered, end which, if left stone, would have bu
ried themselves forever in their`own cinders. The
injudicious legislation in this Hall in reference to
satverris the origin of political Abolitionism, and
has given. them aU the strength they possess. Pre
viers to the passage of, the 21strule,Abolitignism
was but a isentiment, and at mere sentiment ii not a
sufficient basis for a forniidable organitar
tion. lint when great principles of constitutional
right are violated in the legisletiim of a coon try..le..
gislative acts, combining with a strong and univer ,
sal sentiment, may form enduring politica organi
zations. And the sentiment of the North in yetn
mice to slavery being deep end general s when you
force up legislative issuer to combine with it, it
then becomes a formididde element, as illustrated in
the canvass of 1848,, when, notwithstanding the
strength and power of the Damotratie party, its stan
dard-bearer was. stricken down on an issue similar
to the one you ere now forcing upon the country.
refer to that result in nospirit. of esultatiolt-or taunt,
r i p. I was. then one, of the ardent supporters of the ,
veteran statesman itrldichigin ; and after giving"
my best efforts, during the entire canvass, trr his
suecesr, it was with a sail heart I received his final
defeat.
In that canvass New Hampshire was the only
northern State in whiclithe Whig arta Free-Sail
vote did not emceed the Democratic. • And who that ,
knows anything of the real sentiment of the Nonh,
does not believe, that that combination would be
augmented a hundredfold on this issue'! For then
the' Whigs were divided in sentiment on the slave ,
ry question, now they'are'a unit.' And the organi
sation of the Democratic party having lost,most of
its power over voteri, must, pnder this issue, go.
into a hopeless minority in the northern States.—
The two hundred and ninety-one thousand 'voters,
who in 1848 separatedfrom their old political ema
ciates and party organizations, to lead a forlorn
hope, would, in my judgment, when again mustered
into service, become, instead of guerrillas. a stand
ing army to strike dOwn.the staff officers of the De
mocracy on this issue, as they did in 1848. The same
consequences,, it seems to me, must be the result.—
Not having approised of the movement at that time,
I therefore speak of it freely 41 at, philosophy teaching
by eztruple-" _ .
But, Su, as an early and constam, friend of this
Administration,l desire the detest of this bill ; for
its passage will, in my judgment, Insure, beyond a
doubt, an anti-Administration majatitylin the nest'
Congress. Assn earnest and devoted friend of the
Democratic party, to which i-have cheerfully given
my best energies'rrom my earliest political action, 1
desire the:defeat of this bill; for Its pessege will
blot it out as, a national organisation:OM& leaving
but a wreck io every northern kitate, it will liveonly
in history. Aie lover of peace, harmony, end fra
ternal concord among the citizens of the'Confederaci r
sad as a devotee at the shrine of this Union. ',khan
i s precionkhopes to man,l desire the defeitiof this
bill; for its Passagi; will tear open wounds not yet
healed; lacerate Spirits already. frenzied; and "the
bond of confidence whkir.unites the ten sections
of the Union will ,he rent. asunder, slid years,of
'alienation and 'unkindness
,may intervene beftireit
tin be restured;',4 itireacto Re - Wonted tenacity - and
strength:" ' ,
• /would say kali kindness to the Representatives
of the South upon, is, tiger. that if you would strike
down the trite men of the North who have evet;witli
manly inflexibility. maintainedletirtonstitutienil
rights against all fanatical assaults; you lave bat to
force , °pots thew the passage of this bill.as a polar
Cal issue / , end wheniqby your= own deliberate ter,
you bare vittlatedAt - noMPtuttef fteedom,, entered
Weis good fiitb 1 1. PAW . fathers for tha astuiement
of conflicting interests, observed by them while her
and.ptaintained ts, such Ity,illitsections tig:the
tinwares mom thee a thinta 0
1 t •1FV3449,,Wi,11
Joie - ectioieti the lasi tits Mit be
tweet your tiglitiiialth'er singes of nir int ';,49.
hnonistoi and, turftunrherlbY,4llplirelTutlar,i2mai:
you must he'eatteet re bare Yolk own boahma" 4
iEihesying I reeklesifindiferettee do
yourbehalf to the ileep•Seated 'convitiltets of the
northern mind the pan of wisagnal Is it for your
interest to lash it into a fr . on an abstraction
; ....
Setj no n maema dn l • 41,1
L'
~-
,?: - . •:" ve a remedy agabutrAll
. •' r -- , 1,. ;nary, in a dissoliincgkoftlini
~.•
on ±.. ; .' 1 o
...,,,,, you derive treaxertytirl
in * • '• ' . r instead of the Ifillani. did]
to • r . o' Ye "•'.• tn . fr ee' tetvitory t•jiloiewookt
ma your property any :,more securely - Wag
a meridian line as a tali**, boundary along the
illjr,Willftilkirokillitik - W this-- Unkil -JO
would be the security of the maiden who conceals
in her bosom the ponotardthat in the last extremity
is to take her own life, after it= has drank the life
blood of **aggressor. It - Would be thweeturity of
, ibcatusog pan -who...lnyion hold on the pillars of
tOklins.horWibidibil&ithiiiis foes in a common
ruin. It is the security of 4 des • r. enveloped in
of this I:fnion shelled's* to dostr-ibe , tem of a
dated earifidersey-Qbelitit bops et oppreeied
wage oat in ihrkness i•snd a Van - of 'inidelght
gkwet wilt bong oter his, latent. It. ever yonder
fAilsr,tarn Itrlsctlott}odlitigep4tiall fall rent sod
dfitinemVered, it Will be the:knelt Of men's political
•
rights, diodeslll4tigtreflibettY dearth. if trier,la
oat satiowal truotetemdsfit tweet-, Wadi fallopott
ham" ity will to "brooded io isoluctogagit skim,
tb6',rainre of math
hr ? iherersidiaifte to' this' thaftoi
bribe glories/if pasraitd-tbebopesoftMihto re
ato
bithAtlAvillitich he *us to his stifspliag, sad the,
8 .7 oilw!bY IlletAltrobs..Wanklp.the hews a,fmatt .for,
the woes - of ' 'Constitution and the
Uttletf.ottheorilludeeohittpree' diet 11101101601 W ere
oared_ to-theceriadata .efieteaVaa H . over. folly , or
finatisisin sballAy tt la,the date, freedonkheseing
her'hist eigit, may:wiegbtal way back from earth to
beer/re out this itsi biome' light, this polar
darturtddrtheptditsest nistiner over the troubled
waters of revolution and reform. sad. his tempest*
tossed bark, dismantled and wedded's", will
Oath the . wavii,antilie wikidsofheareit 4111 beset°
the , ends of the 'earth the wailing. of despair es they
Wit , (root crusboOttautnity. -But. sir. I harbor
no such gloomy forebedinp for Asa ,futore.of sty
cbtiiiiiy and race. Itit God that when the sa.
gel tiled! take his!pledeoeftli 'Onetoot upon thefind
and the• other epos the use, to proclaim to the world
theminte oi no logger, the- banner •that wares so
proudly - o'er us to-clay will, still goat out with
-its
timid - Motto iruleribed'arion its‘folds in letters of tit.
ins• •,“-- • -•-• •
Sir, •this is the only eleineat of discord' that can
ever sunder the bonds ,of.rhis Union and then,. jp
one method m reedei eveti this harmless. And ths;
is, faithfully to obserit ilf ithit compromises and
nteoriciliations of its indicts, and henceforth banish
it forever fromm AtelloB- . .„
Micabforo opovter.
onto
E. co. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
Towanda, Saturday, May 27. 1854.
, •
, •
' `Warms et 'rake, Reporter.
88 &Q par annam—Opaid widun the year 80 emits will
re dedocted—fo • cub paid actually i n advance 8100 will be
eidneuni„ No.paper. arnt overtwo year*, yokel , Paid tbr-
Anvaaramitarra, per square of ten duce. 50 ceou (or the
Arta and 'facials rot. each - abbargnent insertion.
MP' (hike in the " Union Otoek.mnonb side at the Public
square, next door to the Umlaut Hotel. Entrance between
maw. Adana' and Elwell' law °Aces. • •
Democratic State Soailnatioas.
ror Goatason,
WILLIAM BIGLER, or CLEASFiELD CO,
109 supos or rug soraziors
JEREMLUI S. BLACK, or Somows? Co
701 CANAL CONNISSICINIM,
lIENRY S. mom op PIKE Cowr".
The Nissan.' compromise aspeasa I
_ The outrage is consummated !--the deed,of infs•
my perpetrated l—which violates a national com
pact, entered into under circumstances the moat
binding and solemn, and tinder , which this nation
has lived and prospered for nearly hall of the pe
riod of, its existence.. The Bowie, on Tuesday,
passed the Nebraska Bill, by a vote of 109 yeas,
to 100 nays—thus in direct terms, repealing the
Missouri Compromise.
This a result, against which we have hardly
dared 'entertain a hope, since the introduction of itte
measure, by Senator Dovasss•-•for we have regerd
ed the iower of Slavery, allied with the pcitency
of a National AdMinisiration, as being able to cars
C legislation f
ry throug hongress any a othat might
be deented necessary' to promote the interests of
the " peculiar institution." _
lime now to discuss the principles involv
in the struggle which has terminated in such a
'disiefinaii overthrow
_for Freedom. The Nation
Witreceive the' announcement with sorrow, min 7
gted With indignation: . 11' is proper While we herald
the news, to siiie utterance to the emotions Which
will swell the breast'iot - every Freeman, and awe.
ken the 'liveliest feelings of apprehension and
gloin`n.
But a few months since, and the whole country
was in repose; The slivery question had Dean pot
at rest. The resolution' of the Baltimore Conven
tion—and the inaugural a Democratic President,
gave the moat aolemn assurance that the peace and
quiet ot "the country should be protected from all
assaults. There, remained not one foot of our ter
ritory,indegistated upon Is regards Slavery. There
seemei to he forever an end to the vexed and deli
cote question . Whn, when' the present Congress
attiembled, imagined that the alanibering embers'
were to be . quickened into flame-that the kitid
and cordial feeling already existing, was to be milt
eittraged,AV a proposition so monstrects and
uncalled for, as the • Repeal of the Missouri Com
prOtithiel Who demanded itelepeall—what sec
tion of ibe country has been inonting such a pro-
Oct 1
Yet itl the itlace or a tew months, has the deed
been accomplished. ;* What Southern men 'did not
tialt-4hattheilifire interest - did not hope lor—has
been brought' abnui by iltelell spirit or demagogue
ism, ambition and stthaelsiency to the power at
The'lifissburfeorepromistilteing note repealed,
libarneti demand will slaiery . make upon North
em TilleMen't Or rather; `Whit it loiter deep" of
degradation' arill•the designing plunge into, to otitis.
fy their'itiistelitUf their inbseraienot t' Does any
parboil believeittiit`the'rioterii`, Whitt 'slavery' has
gtiinett, will ititisfy the rapseity'elthil intirear or
PUrifrest,theigitattori otitistjat lion f Piet es
peektrice heir protein thatliaieririgiiition has uni
verialfkfreen cabled by* enuttiiebieents of that
power: The tiniiiii . ettlitiltirib'haiing bomitried,
new demands will be made; bald no barrier inlet-
Peseinioil ibis t r ontittint to goy the free epread of
itivery:proiragsndism.
~'r ~ rra st~:az.',(.
Now long will the North submit to the exacti on ,
r
s o t
,-- Clio hitt How long will Me so u to
tet N 4 - .. yo4ind !tumbled by unfaitblul % mien.
b l letwas
a bring before power and po nuo ,
Ng*we : ' which every Freem an i h the
a , aeriotudy ponder. The time wilia,„fl
eitpaa, eshilitho North most be true to he w ,
0.
become powerless before the aristocracy ba led ' e.
homimpiwAncor judgment the ti me I , v _
come when every Freemen Should Speak IQ
Xereb Branch Canal.
The officers are now engaged in filling the N oah
Branch with water. This is necessarily a reri sloe
. .oelngtotheconstant tenerge miba ,„
to leak, and the great deers of b ra W s
e
hese thin eater fiancee nearly in th e "toil line ,
and that in a few- dada; the Canal bei m.
bk, frnmgthenitM.Muslon• As monponion of
Canal &Wrestling, is yet in as unfinished slue,
but will be completed by the time the Junction Co.
oal - is lii:**4ll9ch
The proper officers have been for sometime seri
ausidutiitsly-telniebig to get the Canal into pro per
repair, and they are now assisted by Gen. CLoe e „ ,
President of the Board of Canal Commissiooe,,,
who is giving his personal soperinteudence, l e d
endeavoring to hasten the necessary repah t
no untoward eveqt mins, are are usored a few
day. will find the finished part of the Canal filled
with water, and ready for boats.
The Xareliky Coal Tract.
This greet body of land situated in our Con
has recently pasted into the hands of an associatio n
of gentlemen of wealth and standing in Philnlei.
phia, in connection with one of our well knotro
Citizen., who have abundant means and energy to
to unfold its great resources immediately.
The company has engaged Mr THOMAS T %EL
was, as Engineer, who will commence the fur
veys of the Rail• Road on Monday next, and pro-
ceed to locate and construct it without delay.
This land is of great fertility, covered by heavy
and valuable timber, with inexhanstable suppliel
of Coal, Iron and Fire -clay and its development is
of great interest to our Ct. izens who should be care.
fur uvifford facilities for the company to antelope
their property in our direction and not seek other
open Mg..
AB IMPORTANT Acv.—And Act was passed by
the Legislature, and approved by the Governor,
changing the mode of creating and dividing elee.
lion districts in this Commonwealth. Upon the
petition of one third of the voters of any election
district, presented to the Court of Qoarter Sesuons,
it shall be lawful for such Court to order en elec•
lion in such district upon the question of the lon.
Lion or change of the place of holding elections.•.
The second section of this act gives the Conru en.
tbority to divide any borough, ward, or township
into one or more election districts, or to form en
election dtatrict out of parts of two or mote town.
ships, to Suit the convenience and wishes of the
inhabitanui thereof. d'slo district thus leaned shall
contain less than one hundred voters.
A Numeric% Mcwrisa.—We observe a handjall
posted in one or two places, addressed to Demo.
cram, calling fora meeting at the Ward , House, on
Friday evening, to respond to the pasaage of the
Nebraska bill. Whether it is the work of rotas
wag. who deems such art idea a proper subject for
a joke—or is designed to nannfacture esposi for
some one w h o w ou ld accept an office—rs yet tote
deter mined.
otr , We invite attention to the able speech
of Hon. G. A. Gaow, which we publish thus week.
Its length compels us to omit the remarks sugges•
ed by this eloquent efiort in favor of Freedom, and
the bold and consistent course of its actor, in
Congress.
Proceedings of the XXXIIId Congress.
rissT sElsimf
lx. , -..-..,
WASHINGTON, Monday, May 22, J 854
Hooss..—Mr Pratt presented the resolutions of
the State of Connecticut against the Nebraska bill
Mr. Richardson moved to go into Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union, and resume
the consideration of the Nebraska bill.
Mr. Wheeler moved to suspend the rules, in or
der to introduce a resolution which was not read .
The Speaker rulsd the motion of Mr Richardson
bad precedence : according to the practice of the
House
• filL , D__ean called for the yeas and geyser' th e no
lion of Mr Richardson.
Melees and nays were ordered to be tatensnd
the thoticiliskas agreed to—yeas 115, days 70.
The HonieZNlten went into Committee of the
Whole.
Mr. SlePbe ,moved to @I/Ike ow the en.
acting cldurre. tte s it °mold rot o 8 all wend
meats the otherstpulil Mport, and the bib could
then be imutedivalli road to the Howe. Fle
hoped that th f the bill wound Wee 10
them a, and when the bill ise
reported to the House, the friends could rote the
motion down.
Mr. Richardson could then offer his snistiltre
and call for tbe•previoos question. Thus the,' meld
go on voting on the bill.
Mr. Chandler protested against the motion. The
action resorted to by the friends of the bill au 1701 ,
contemplated by the rules. Such a course su
ding rough shod over the minority.
Mr. Dean moved that the Committee Me.
The motion was 1091—yeas 82, nays 101.
'The question was then taken on the motion al
Mr. Stephens, and it was carried—yeas 103, sip
22.
The most of the minority refused to vote.
The Committeea vote itteetheoni
totro rose
to 2
eand reported seise 13
the lianas
Various questions of order were raised, as to
whethpr the Committee could rise and report arson
With Ws than a quorum
The Speaker mled that it was for the Committee,
and not for the House, to decide
M . RiChardson moved the previous *levies a 1
allteaintt to the report of the Committee
Mr Weshbome, of Me., moved that the Nil td
laid on the table
Mr Dean moved that the'House Owl „
Mr. Pringle moved to adjou rn lig I Vedneg ' a/.
Theis motions were lost.
The House in great confusion—there is 10 1110
Oat struggle going on for the yeas and nays.
' The same routine of business has prevailed op Is
this time, 94 o'clock and the minority are rdwill
betng drawn into narrower limits.
A motion was made to lay she bill on the tibiet
but it was detested—yeas 92, nays 102.
The House refused to concur in the report slid
committee, striking out the enacting clat' s. " l "
97, nays 117.
Mr Richardson moved a sutatitote for tho ell : ‘ ,
ate bill "wtiltoot the Clayton proviso, why
read on the demand of the minority. 91.
After debate it on adopted--yeas 1.5 8 1 1'
Mr. !Willson moved to lay it on the tabid.
The bill was then pawed by yeast 113 to r 7311
WO.
lEEE