“There is just your mistake; and connected with it are most of the errors that are floating about in our political world. The _country_ gets its legal right to do all these things from the laws of nations; the Constitution merely saying _who_ shall be its agents in the exercise of these powers. Thus _war_ is rendered legal by the custom of nations; and the Constitution says Congress shall declare war. It also says Congress shall pass all laws that become necessary to carry out this power. It follows, Congress may pass any law that has a legitimate aim to secure a conquest. Nor is this all the functionaries of the government can do, on general principles, in the absence of any special provisions by a direct law. The latter merely supersedes or directs the power of the former. The Constitution guarantees nothing to the territories. They are strictly subject, and may be governed absolutely. The only protection of their people is in the sympathy and habits of the people of the States. We give them political liberty, not as of legal necessity, but as a boon to which they are entitled in good-fellowship—or as the father provides for his children.” “Then you think Congress has power to exclude slavery from California?” “I can’t imagine a greater legal absurdity than to deny it. I see no use in any legislation on the subject, as a matter of practice, since California will shortly decide on this interest for itself; but, as a right in theory, it strikes me to be madness to deny that the government of the United States has full power over all its territories, both on general principles and under the Constitution.” “And in the Deestrict—you hold to the same power in the Deestrict?” “Beyond a question. Congress can abolish domestic servitude or slavery in the District of Columbia, whenever it shall see fit. The _right_ is as clear as the sun at noon-day.” “If these are your opinions, ’Squire, I’ll go for Free Sile and Abolition in the Deestrict. They have a popular cry, and take wonderfully well in Duke’s, and will build me up considerable. I like to be right; but, most of all, I like to be strong.” “If you adopt such a course, you will espouse trouble without any dower, and that will be worse than McBrain’s three wives; and, what is more, in the instance of the District, you will be guilty of an act of oppression. You will remember that the possession of a legal power to do a particular thing, does not infer a moral right to exercise it. As respects your Free Soil, it may be well to put down a foot; and, so far as votes legally used can be thrown, to prevent the further extension of slavery. In this respect you are right enough, and will be sustained by an overwhelming majority of the nation; but, when it comes to the District, the question has several sides to it.” “You said yourself, ’Squire, that Congress has all power to legislate for the Deestrict?”