Speech of Hon. Thomas L. Clingman, of North Carolina, on the Subject of Congressional Legislation as to the Rights of Property in the Territories: Delivered in the Senate of the United States, May 7 & 8, 1860

Portada
J. Murphy & Company, 1860 - 16 páginas

Dentro del libro

Páginas seleccionadas

Otras ediciones - Ver todas

Términos y frases comunes

Pasajes populares

Página 4 - March 6, 1820,) which, being inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention by Congress with slavery in the States and Territories — as recognized by the legislation of 1850, commonly called the Compromise Measures — is hereby declared inoperative and void; it being the true intent and meaning of this act not to legislate slavery into any Territory or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their...
Página 4 - That the Constitution and all Laws of the United States which are not locally inapplicable, shall have the same force and effect within the said Territory of Nebraska as elsewhere within the United States...
Página 4 - States, except the eighth section of the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri into the Union, (approved March 6, 1820,) which, being inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention by Congress with slavery in the States and Territories — as recognized by the legislation of 1850, commonly called the Compromise Measures...
Página 3 - There is a very striking difference between the position in which the slaveholding and non-slaveholding States stand in reference to the subject under consideration. The former desire no action of the Government; demand no law to give them any advantage in the Territory about to be established; are willing to leave it, and other Territories belonging to the United States, open to all their citizens, so long as they continue to be Territories, and when they cease to be so, to leave it to their inhabitants...
Página 4 - ... intent and meaning of this act not to legislate slavery into any territory or state, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States. Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to revive or put in force any law or regulation which may have existed prior to the act of sixth March, eighteen hundred and twenty, either protecting, establishing,...
Página 10 - ... Congress has no right to legislate on the subject, the Territory can have none. The pretence that Congress cannot intervene, and yet that the people of a Territory, remaining a Territory, can settle the question of slavery or any other question demanding legislation, is simply absurd. Either Congress has power to legislate on the subject of slavery in the Territories, and then to admit or exclude it, as it judges proper, or there can be no legislation on the subject, till the Territory becomes...
Página 4 - It may be settled on that ground simply by non-action— by leaving the Territories free and open to the emigration of all the world, so long as they continue so; and when they become States, to adopt whatever constitution they please, with the single restriction, to be republican, in order to their admission into the Union. If a party cannot safely take this broad and solid position, and successfully maintain it, what other can it take and maintain?
Página 4 - If it cannot maintain itself by an appeal to the great principles of justice, the constitution, and self-government, to what other, sufficiently strong to uphold them in public opinion, can they appeal? I greatly mistake the character of the people of this Union, if such an appeal would not prove successful, if either party should have the magnanimity to step forward, and boldly make it. It would, in my opinion, be received with shouts of approbation by the patriotic and intelligent in every quarter....
Página 16 - I think that the gentlemen on the other side of the chamber have given us a platform already. We shall have to fight them; we had better make up our minds to go into the contest, and meet them on the great issue they tender us. In ten days we shall probably have their declaration of war from Chicago, and the clash of arms will commence very soon. It is time for us to close our ranks. I am ready to fight under that flag and that standardbearer that may be given us. I can adopt any of those platforms...
Página 3 - ... citizens, so long as they continue to be territories, — and when they cease to be so, to leave it to their inhabitants to form such governments as may suit them, without restriction or condition, — except that imposed by the constitution, as a prerequisite for admission into the Union. In short, they are willing to leave the whole subject where the constitution and the great and fundamental principles of self-government place it.

Información bibliográfica