Missouri Territory, statute 1812, chapter 95.—A governor, appointable and removable as above.
Secretary, the same.
A Legislative Council of nine. Eighteen persons to be nominated by the House of Representatives for the territory; nine of these to be selected and appointed by the President and Senate. A House of Representatives, to be chosen by the people.
Arkansas Territory, statute 1819, chapter 49.—A governor and secretary, appointable and removable as above.
All legislative power vested in the governor and in the judges of the superior court.
When a majority of the freeholders should elect, then they might adopt the form of government of Missouri.
East and West Florida, statute 1819, chapter 93.—Statute 1821, chapter 29.—Statute 1822, chapter 13. From March 3, 1819, to March 30, 1822, the government vested solely in the President of the United States, and to be exercised by such officers as he should appoint.
After March 30, 1822, a governor and secretary, appointable and removable as above.
All legislative power vested in the governor, and in thirteen persons, called a legislative council, to be appointed annually by the President.
Yet, sir, notwithstanding all this legislation of Congress for the territories, on the subject of slavery itself; notwithstanding its legislation on a great class of subjects of which slavery is acknowledged to be one; notwithstanding its appointment, in some cases, of the legislative power of the territory,—making its own agent, the governor, removable at pleasure,—giving him a veto, in the first place, and reserving to itself a veto when he has approved; notwithstanding the exercise, in other cases, of full, absolute sovereignty over the inhabitants of the territories, and all their interests; and, notwithstanding such has been the practice of the government for sixty years, under Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, and others, it is now denied that Congress has any right to legislate on the subject of slavery in the territories. Sir, with a class of politicians in this country, it has come to this, that slavery is the only sacred thing in existence. It is self-existent, like a god, and human power cannot prevent it. From year to year, it goes on conquering and to conquer, and human power cannot dethrone it.