Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-08-09

selves. These questions haze already been
setfled by our courts, if we are wise we
will act with reference 10 them. do not
nrpue or affirm these things; point ont
the danger under the laau, as declared BY
vour Suprense Court. Look ye 10 it. We
need active guarantees for our rights in
these Territories. We learn the opinions
of Gen. Cass, and the arguments of his
distinguished friends, adopted and quoted
by himself, that ace shall nerer get them
by the adoption Of his platform; that it
is ''imposslble that majority of the peo'
pie Ito whom he proposes to reler this
question: would consent to re-establish sla-
very'' in the Territories
The principal objection urged by those
who oppose Gen. Cass, and claim to be the
special and particular friends Of "lree soip'
to denying to Congress the right TO legis-
late upon the subject of slavery, and to
submitting the same to the decision of the
Supreme Court is, that they have no con-
fdence in the decision Of that body under
its present organization, Notwithstanding
they have the evidence of Judge Mclean,
and Of the Reports upon the subject, that
that decision has already been passed upon
this question, and that that decision was
in favor Of freedom. In Mr.. Toombs the
s'free soil'' wings have new accession to
the ranks of those who do not like to allow
this question to be taken out Of an 'excited
Congress, and referred to the calm deision
ofthe courts and 10 whom the position Of
Gen. Cass is extremely offensive. 1t is
true that the reasons urged by the two are
different, for the latter claims that the re
suit of such submission would be to pre-
vent the exten,ion of slavery into these
Territories, while the former fear that
such would not be the result, though they
are compelled to admit that if former (and
correc:l principles are maintained by the
Court, the freedom from slavery Of these
Territories is fixed fact yet their ulte-
rior design is the same--to defeat Gen,
Cass's election. 1t is certainly a pretty
compliment these free soilers pay to the
Judiciary of this nation, when they assert
their reluctance to entrust them with the
decision ofa great legal and constitutional
question for fear that they will violate their
official oa,hs and commit the damning
crimo Of perjury before high heaven. Does
any one believe that these political huxters
who have seen all their old supply of COM
modities-,he political principles of the
universal whig party'-such as National
Bank, Protective Tariff, Distribution, &c
rot upon their hands in the political mar.
ket and sink down in:o the ground, never
again to take root and sprout-we say, docs
any one believe them sincere in their pres.
ent movement when to establish their own
purity they are driven to the direlul neces.
sity of charging corruption ard falsehood
upon every department Of the government
and Of abandoning those great questions ol
their party upon which they have endeay.
ored TO make the people believe hinged the
happiness and prosperity of this country!
No; they have staked their political for.
tunes upon the hazard of die, and are play.
ing desperate game for the spoils.
/ But supposing they should obtain the
Enactment Of the Wilmot Proviso by Con.
gress; still the question is not settled. The
South declare that Congress has not the
right to prevent the Shareholders from
emigrating TO these territories and taking
with them their slaves. Should the ques.
ton come before the Supreme Court upon
The question Of the constituticnaity of that
measure, would those who now so ardently
espouse it and SO energetically urge it as
the only preventative to the extension OF
slavery, place implicit confidence in the
fidelity and integrity Of that body which
they regard rs SO corrupt when called upon
TO decide this question when presented in
another form? Certainly not; for while
the Southern members OF The court would
have the same inducements to give de,
cision which the Provisoists claim 10 be
wrong, we have the opinion of Judge Nc
Lean as contained in his Intellgencer arti-
Gle, declaring thnt the constitution gives to
Congress no power to legislate upon the
subject, and that even the power to estab-
lish territorial governments is not granted
in the constitution. Would the Wilmot
| Provise be safe in the hands OF such Il
court! would they even be willing 10 trust
it 10 the decision of Judge Mclean! The
fact is, and they know ii, this question is
got up and agltated for political effect. Can
any one who values the peace of the ma
lion lend his influence to further their de-
signs, and thereby continue the agitation
of subject which is shaking the Union
from center TO circumference without prom
lsing any permanent or substantial good.
General Jail Delivery.
On Thursday evening last, q little be.