Democratic banner., 1849-07-02

a mighty element Of discord, dangerous to
the prosperity and safety Of the govern
.ment." =
Among the resolutions adopted by meet
ing of the democracy Of Platte. . fhsszth
|day of December, 1s4s, is the following:
"Fhat the Wilmot Proviso, seeking as e
does, to appropriate the common property
of the people Of the whole ~confederacs, sc-
|quired by their joint labor, money and blood,
Ito the exclusive and peculiar benefit Of the
North, il a direct thrust at the institutions
Iof the South in utter disregard Of the con.
promises of the constitution: and If persist
ed in, Immediately involves the very vitali-
Ity of the Union itself. Wrong in principle,
dangerous in its tendencies, unjust in its re-
quisitions, we are uncompromisingly OPP
posed to its adoption BY the General Gov
ernment." e' aemse*7
A resolution very similar, but even more
pointed, drawn up BY Benjamin Davies, was
adopted by q mass meeting at Palmyrs, and
similar ones in Pulaski and almost all the
counties whose proceedings we noticed dur
ing the Spring of 1S4s.
Thus it will be seen that Col. Benton ID
lin "~error" when he states that there was no
expression on the subject prior to the ses-
sion of the Legislature. In this county
both parties in mass meeting denounced the
Proviso. And the candidates o. both parties
pledged themselves against it in theirpublie
speeches before the people. The candid.
ates for Congress did the zane tbing,-sll
this is matter of notoriety to the people Of
Missouri, but Col. Benton has been so long
absent from the State, or has been SO atten-
lively observing the Northern sky that Il
was unnOticed by him. Now we have clear
Ily shown that there were expressions on this
subject prior to the meeting of the Legisla-
lture, and that Senator Benton's second OBJ
lection also contains two "errors." He 10
Indeed quite felicitous in making two Ger
Irors'' in the statement Of one short objec-
Ition. But let us see how many we can find
lin his third objection: "That these latter
instructions were unconstitutional" There
lis but one terror" in this and a very simple
one at that. The only thing that can be I'M
constitutional about these resolutions is the
instruction that our Senators vote so as to
leave the Territories to manage their own
concerns in their own way, and If they fail
in this effort, then to fall upon the Missouri
Compromise, for that is the only ~instruc-
ton in them, all the balance being their rea-
sons for giving that instruction, and q dec.
|~laration Of opinion as to the future action
Of the State if their rights we're further
|trampled upon. But if the instructions to
vote for the Missouri compromise be uncon.
stitutional, then Senator Benton violated
the constitution, for he says that he voted
for it; although we have shown that be af-
forwards backed out Of his position in favor
Iof that compromise. As to the reasons Of
the Legislature for instructing him, being
unconstitutional that is all nonsense: and it ia
equally absurd TO say that the of opinion of the
Legislature as to what would be the position Of
Missouri, in the event of a further aggression up
ION their rights, is unconstitutional. There must
be some positive act done, and not a mere ex.
Of opinion as 10 what will be done, to
make a thing unconstitutional. But Senator Ben
ton, as if ashamed of the weakness Of this point
|of his objection, leaves it, and with impudencs
unparalleled rOundly asserts, THAT the man who
"Ouiu HO" ucHy He coustituAIOudl power OF Ion.
|gress to legislate slavery either into or out of
territory, would betray an o~bliquity of mental and
moral vision, a perversity Of intellect and q pro-
'clivity for legal ialsehoOd which. should forever
disqualify him for setting as judge or juror in
any case of law or equity whatsoever Thus
Col. Benton at one bold declaration disqualiies
Reverdy Johnson the present able Attor.
ney General Of the United States, and Judge
Berrien of Georgia, one Of the most profound
jurists in the Union, both of whom have again
and again reiterated its unconstituiionslity upon
the floor ofthe Senate-Senators Dickinson, Cass,
Hannegan, Mason, King, Downs, Buchanan, our
own beloved Atchison, and q host of other abs
and talented Senators, cur Representatives, Hal,
Green, and others, and our late much loved
President, the lamented Polk, of the capacity and
honesty requisite to make even common Jurors.
o bOundless vanity, and impudence unparalleled
We turn with disgust from this TO his grgs-
nent ~ to sustain his fourth objection: TO
that clause Of the instructions which denied the
power Of Congress to legislate about the existence
of slavery in Observation-Disclosures slaves were
not named in that connection in the constitution
neither. says the Senator, ARE cattle or horses