The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-01
From the Augusta (Me.) Age.
The duty Of the Democratic Party on the
.ubject of slavery I'm the Terfitorie..

Inc experienced aud at'io 7diror vr Tire
Bay State, published at lynn, Massachu.
sets, is the author of the following article;
The question now comes up-and 1t can
be taken up without any fear of disractrng
the party, or charge Of want Of faith n sus-
tanning nominations or raising new issues
What is the duty of the Democratic party
on the subject Of slavery in the Territories
We answer-it should ego ,chere Demo
cratic principles lead" lit does not, il
ceases to be the Democratic party. Its ex-
istence in this State, and all the free States,
depend upon such course. We do not
wish to seethe Democrats Of this State, OF
the Democracy Of the free States, arrayed
against the Democracy Of the slave States,
the North against the South, or the East
against the West. No section should be
antagonistical to any other sections upon
sectional grounds. We live under a Con-
stitution that throws Its broad shield Of pro-
lection over the whole Union. Under that
Constitution and this glorious Union would
we live and die. South Carolina has a
right to enjoy her own "pecuiar institu-
tons" as well as Massachusetts; but We
do not believe that she has the right to
seize and imprison the citizens Of other
States, not charged with any offence against
the laws; or to carry her peculiar inst,:u-
tons into territory belonging to the people
of the Union, without their consent. The
power to keep slavery out Of the territories
is one Of the common powers conferred by
the Constitution upon Congress, and as
such has been exercised. The only ques-
ton is upon the expediency of doing so.
Does any Massachusetts Democrat believe
that slavery is republican or democratic
institution Does he not rather believe that
it is violation of the spirit Of our free in
stitutions-an outrage on humanity. and
an offence against Heavenl Mr.. Jefferson
thought so-the great apostle Of our faith
and the founder Of our political creed
And yet the circumstances under which
slavery exists in this country are so peculiar
that there are many extenuating circum-
stances attending it. The slave States
have the worst Of it. They need our sym.
patty and our charity. Were We in theiI
places, we should probably have somewhat
different views on the subject. We woult
entice no slave to leave his master, or inlurt
a HAIR of his head; and We have no sym
patty for the man or party that would en-
courage instruction and bloodshed. Still
slavery is an evil-an enormous evil-eve
rybody says so. Shall We increase thi
evil! Shall we extend the evil Of slavery
by allowing it to be carried into territor.
now free? But it is said that there is M
need Of legislation on the subject, for sla
very will never be tolerated in the terrific
ries we have acquired Of Mexico. Then
legislation can do no injury to the slav
States. But slavery has gone into Calilol
MIA, and actual sales have taken plac
there; hence the necessity Of prohibition
and we cannot conceive how any man Ca
claim to be Democrat, or any party I
be democratic, that does not exercise a
|, the powers which il has right to exercis
I under the Constitution, to stay its progress
As democratic, or as a nation extending h
, area of slavery, we are like recreant Franc
bombarding the city Of Rome. to put dow
!, republican institutions and the spirit Of d.
, mocracy which she herself had protested
, establish, and was the first European Pc
r pie to proclaim.
The history of slavery in the Unite
\ States need not be written. We kno
!. that Great Britain, who taunts US with j