Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-07-03
THE TEST,

We uaNC sOuSut III variety vi
shapes TO draw an opinion from the
Banner, as 10 its present position on the
test question. The Metz opolitan af.
firms there is mo principle involved"
in the test-that il matters not what o
man believes asto the power Of Con-
gress over slavery in the territories, so
long as he stands on the Baltimore plat
form of non.intervenlion. The Ban.
ner man discarded the platform, and
would support no one who did not 60
farther, and deny the existence of the
power. We asked which was right,
in the following Words
"Does the Metropolitan represent the
views Of the Anti.Benton Democracy Of this
county, or is the position Dr.. Lowry, Gen.
Clark, and the Editor OF The Banner main
tanned with such seepless zeal last summer,
the true grounds"
To which no answer was gwen
The remarks following the question,
however, were commented on, as we
thought, with a view of evading the
question. We again put the question,
as follows:-
''What we want 10 know is simply,
whether or not the test is DEMOCRATIC"
To which the Banner replies,
1--WE did not apprehend tina, there was a
doubt Of our opinion on the subject here
mentioned"
And goes on TO state that, for our
qualification i, would try 10 give an
opinion that could be understood, and
gives US the following precious state,
meni:--
"We suppose that by test Of Democracy,
the Editor OF the Times means judgment or
trial OF mans democracy by his opinion
as 10 the powers Of Congress under the Fed
eral Constitution 10 prohibit slavery in the
Territories OF the United States, denying his
Democracy il he af1irms these powers, and
affirming his Democracy il he denies them,
at least so far as this question can qualify
Democracy. We wish it understood that
we require something more than a right
opinion in regard 10 this question 10 const
tute man democrat. With this qualif
cation we will state for the information OF
the editor OF the Times, that ne do, so far
as pe are concerned, deny the po,oerof Con.
gress TO pass the Wilmot prouiso, and that
,oe shall whenever The questions inuolred
therein can By any possibility form an is
sue before the country, or be inuOlUed in Fed
cral or State Legislation, make mans
opinions thereon A TEST Of his political or
Modoay. This we speak for ourselves
clone, and without any intention to indicate
the opinions Of Others"
Now, in the name Of common sense,
what does all this amount to. We did
not ask whether it required something
more 10 make democrat, than right
opinion on the question involved-but
whether the opposite of wha, is demon
mated fright opinion" would I'm.
democrat man. We did not ask
legal opinion from the Editor on the
subject of the power of Congress I'm.
der the Federal consiitution-bul
whether men could not hold different
opinions on given point, and still be
patriots. Are we TO understand that the
Editor makes il test when it is con.
uenient, and when it is not convenient,
or there is no chance 10 form an issue"
that he would support man for office
who conceded the power, but was in
favor Of non.iniervention. lie has 10,
tally failed TO answer our inquiry, and
we cannot consent TO be impaled, upon
other questions, until the present is dis
posed Of
Now, 10 conclusion we want 10
know, if, on the test, the Metropolitan
or the Banner, represents The views Of
The Anti>Benton democracy.
"Was it true, friend Times, as we have
heard intimated, that you participated in
cOaclGues. held in remote, uafre,
7uented, and secret places Without lights TO
1evise the ways and means OF elecling an
EXCELLENT Test Democrsot. Banner.
Not true. And were it true, we