Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-09-26

pied TO results that are 'fni;esyitable. 'ifCon
gress is TO be made the sole tribunal q
the barnburners insist. - :
Contrast this with the position rs Cen
eral Cass, and the platform ofthe Balti
more Convention. His ground, iii hi
letter 70 Mf. Nicholson. is this, in hi
own Words 'aa"7'' .'fT'
az am opposed TO the exercise Of an,
jurisdiction by Congress over This matte :
and am in favor Of leaving to the neo,
pie Of any territory, which may be here
after acquired. the right to regulate i, 70,
themselves under the general principle,
ofthe constitution and grant Of the ranni
site power to Congress, and / am NOT dis,
posed to exteid a doubtful precedent be
yoRd its necessity-the establishments
territorial governments when needed
leaving TO the inhabitants all the rioh,.
compatible with the relations they bea,
to The ieonfssdsration.' llsagsT .. -
Now IT this is not sound democracy
what is? He is treating OF a question o.
local law, in a territory affecting the
people Of that fertility, aid not concern.
ing the "territoIy or property of the Uni.
ted States" He would leave that cues
ton, not to Congress (which, tit had the
power, never would act against The 'insti
tuiion,) but to the people Of the territory;
and not to them without law or constitu-
ton togovern the rtle of action. Tut 'uI.
der the generai principles of The constilu.
ton; and of these principles and of the
acts OF the territory, the supreme court
are the constitutional interpreters. #
10 deny this to the people 6ftfie terri
tories, is to deny to them their constitu.
tional rights. To quarrel with the south
about it, is to restrict their constitutional
rights. They ask no law to establish
slavery, and could getnone ifthey did
But they have the power in congress, and
VIII use II, to prevent any law of prohibi.
ton. 1t must then Inevitably fail upon
the people of the territories under their
constitutional rights. r#. &" -7''7
And here the advantages are all with
the north; and in asserting 10 this the
south show their love of the Union, and
their fidelity to the constitution. If that
guarantees sllvery to them in the terrific.
rles where it does not exist by local law,
(Which the most eminent ihrists DENY. J
then they are entitled to it, if we adhere
to the constitution.
If as we think Is plain, they can en-.
force no such abstact right against natu
raj law, in the absence of a local law.
then the question goes to the people ofthe
territories. Under their organization as
Territory by Congress. they pass laws
subject only to the veto of Congress. If
the territory establishes slavery, Con.
gress can veto the law, as they did Flori.
ida creating banks. If Congress, the
chosen tribunal ofthe free sellers, can be
relied on, as they pretend it is safe here.
If on the other hand, as il is certain they
will do, from the composition of the set.
tiers and the country. and climate, the ter.
ritorial Legislature declare against slavery
the law must stand, unless Congress veto
it. This both houses of Congress never
would Go; and thus we have in practical
results the direct road to freedom and
free soil. through the action of Congress.
The laws Of the territorial government
never reach the president for. approval or
veto, and therefore, the question of veto
pro orcon, has no existence in the case.
Ana, now, upon a frank and candid
view Of this matter, is It not baselk false
to assume that the truly democratic posi-.
tons of General Cass, which resolves
all into the rightful sovereignty of the
people, Under the redistribution, are oppos.
ed 10 freedom, and free soil, when in fact
they are the only safe and constitutional
grounds upon which north and south can
stand together in harmony and just ed1Gal-
ity, and leave to the people the right to
secure to themselves, If they choose it
the blessings of q community of free la
Dor. Fl. .s-eaaa5 ~.
False and doubly false is the assertion
of the barnburning press, that Gen. Cass
is opposed to free soil, or that those who
are sincerely, and not merely factitiously
in favor Of that principle, cannot support
him with full confidence that the practi.
cal result, while equally just to south and
north, will be to secure that principle in
the government ofthe territories.
=