The Meaning of the Gettysburg Address

[Bill Richter]

The difference is that Congress has no power to vote slavery up or down in the territories since it acts merely as a trustee to guarantee the extraterritorial rights there under the Constitution (art IV, sec 2, I believe)--of which there is only one, slavery. The people in the territories share their sovereignty with Congress and cannot vote on it either UNTIL they become a state whereupon the people gain full sovereignty and can vote slavery up or down as can any state. The Mo Comp is thus unconstitutional and the Kansas Neb act is constitutional because it recognizes the Non-exclusion of slavery from the Terrs.