The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-11-02

| That The question Oi slave extension, depends
upon the Preside initial election, and mus, bo
determined by il. But We ask, does tho
Constitution say 60? That instrument de.
c'ares tina. CONGRESS il the Legislative
power. and the President tho Executive
power. y is CONGRESS, not the Presidens,
that has the power Of declaring whether or
not our newly acquired territory shall re-
main free. or become slave territory.
II 10 to Congress, and to Congrtss alone.
We must, in the first instance, look for nc.
'ion and decision upon this sgi,a,iug qucs.
ton; and secondly, We must have Presi.
dent who will not intcrpose his "individual
opinion" 70 arrest or control tho action of
Congress.
How then stand the two candidates in
reference In the exercise ri tho Kiuply
prerogative? We discard Van Buren, or
Hale, ~ the election Of either, BY possible
~, does not come within tho range Of lc-
gitimate, ideal computation.
Astu Gen. Cass, no has deliberately 70.
corded his opinion, that Congress has no
power 10 Lcgislate upon tho subject Of Sla-
vcry--,hat the peoples Representatives
have no power or right TO prohibi, the intro
d"ction Of Slavery into territory now free.
And II Congress pass ''ffee soil" bill or
ordinance, lic has pledged himself to kill il
by his individual fat This is the true DO
sition Of Mr.. Veto Cass.
How 10 il with Gen. TAYLOR! He pivcs
us no notice ofhis monarchial purpMe--no
declaration Of contempt fnr Congressional
enactfncnts in sdvancc--he goes for tho
supremacy Of the popular riA. and Tor that
Constitution which was not made for par.
ties or factions, but for the whole people,
Hear him:
"1'hc personal opinions Of the individual
who may happen to occupy the Executive
chair, ought not 10 control the action of Con-
gress upon questions of domcsfic policy,
nor ought his objections To he in,crposed
where questions Of Constitutional power
have been settled by the variois depart
mcnts Of government, and acquicsced in
by the people,"
"Upon the subjects Of the tariff, the cur.
rcncy, the Improvement 1T our great high
wnys, rivers, lakes, and harbors, the will
Of the people, - expressed through their
representatives in Congress, ought 10 10
respected aud carried Oh. by the Exec.
utiven
This 10 sound doctrine. lie denies tho
right. III an individual to control Congress.
Gen. Cass asserts that right, and pledges
hrnself'o exercise il. We % therefore
tor Glen. Taylor, bccsusc he declares he
will not assume such authority, but will
leave to the people to make their own laws
by choosing Representatives who will 10
the faithful opponents of their will and
pleasure. The issue therefore depends
first upon Congress. md then upon Pres
idcnt who will not inicrposc his .spcrsonaI
opinion, 10 control the action Of Congress
upon questions Of Domestic PoLrcY." Can
any honest man deny this, or hesitate for
moment where his vote should be thrown!
But, say tho men who claim 10 10 the ex.
elusive friends Of Freedom, Gen. TAYLOR
il Southern man and a slave holder, and
we cannot trus, him, although hc 10 tho
first Presidential candidate who Inns ever
given pledge in reference 10 this question
IN which there was any certainty of Exec.
n,ive sanction; and there sre some honest
Wings willing to listen to the suicidal
schemes Of these theoretical reformers.
Can any true friend Of his country for
get the Texas annexation, and whose votes
pcrpcirated the greatest slave acquisition
that has ever heen made sincc the adoption
al the Constitution! That annexation
which caused the Mexicsn war and all ito
woes. and produced the present threatening
agitation throughout the land? Every
man who threw away his vote upon Birncy
in 1914, must now be convinced that he
wss voting Tor Polk and slavery.
Cannot trust Southern man! Did not
the Southern Wings vote Tor Harrison, and
did not slave States 20 for him that went
against Mr.. Clay the elsyehoIdcri
Cannot trust Southern man! Did MOI
Southern Wings, men with al the feelings
and prejudices oil shareholders, vote seainss
Texas annexation; while Northern Loco
focos, men coming from free States, and
representing ''ffee soil and FREQ lshor," vo-
ted for anncxation2 Archer, Criitcnden,
Barrow, Bcrrieo, Clayton, Foster, Jarr;-
gan. Bsyard, Mangum, Eiosehcad. Rivss,
Pearcc---all Wing Senators from slave
States voted against annexation, whilo ev.
cry Locofoco Senator from the free a yell
A. slave States, including Dix, Niles, and
Tsppan, voted for il! And yet We are told
BY the selfstylcd apostles q FREQ coil and
free labor, whose agency and votes occa-
stoned the present agitation and danger,
they canUot trust Southern Wing!
These ore the men who stand upon the
elevations BY the way side, seeking notosi@
ETY., and say to the consisteos, practical op.
ponents Of slave-extension, 81 an holisS
thar AA~.. -