Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-02-25
SALEM CoLUMBIANA COUNTY OHIO SATURDAY 1854

shment at the boldness and audacity of the as
sumption. 1t appears to me that the movement is
but again applying the torch, for the purpose Of
rekindling the excitement upon the slavery ques-
ton, and this too by the same hands that four
years ago put forth such extraordinary cxertions
to quell the storm, and extinguish the flame, that
was then burning with such intensity in the public
mind. Can it be possible that it has become nee
essary to jcopardizo the Union once in four years
in order to afford statesmen opportunity to dis
play their patriotism, and their selfsacriicing
devotion to the Union, by stepping forth and saving
it from its impending fatc2
have always been nm active and jealous member
Of the Democratic party, and expect to continue
believing it to be the party that always has, and
will in the future, project and carry forward all
great political measures of REFORM having for their
object the general good of the great masses Of
mankind Yet never have and never can subscribe
to the doctrine that the General Government has no
right to exclude slavery by legislation, from the
territories. Tho Constitution provides that Con-
gross shall have power to dispose of nnd make all
needful rules and regulations respecting the terri
tory other property of the United States"
Congress assumesauthority to establish temporary
government for territory because it is "needful"
that it should be DONE Whatever may be noces-
sary for the present interest or "nceuful for the
future happiness and prosperity Of the people Of
any territory, before they are organized so as to
legslatc for themselves should be looked after and
attended to by Congress. Before territory is
settled, or before the people residing in it
ganized so as to cgisate for their protection,
it may become "neodiu" for Congress to make
certain 'rules and regulations respecting" it,
to prevent the introduction of evils, which if once
established, it would be difficult to eradicate. The
Constitution contemplates that Congress shall dc.
tcrmnc and "makc all needfu rules and regulations
respecting the territory" until the people thereof
are organized and prepared to egisate for them
selves In determining what "rules and regula-
tions" are "needlul' for territory, Congress
should take into consideration the fact that the
territory will soon become State, and be received
into the Union upon an equality with the other
States, and should be influenced only by desire to
do that which will Le most conducive to the future
happiness, growth and prosperity Of the people
that may inhabt the territory. The relation that
exists between Congress and the people that to
inhabit, and / may say to inherit territory, il
Q similar to that Of guardian and ward, or trusted
and beneficiary. The guardian trustee mus
manage the property of the ward, or beneficiary as
c will best promote their interest and surrender il
up to them when they are prepared to take charge
t of it themselves So too Congress, in making
rules and regulations" for a territory, until such
times the people thereof are prepared to assume
T. the control and management of their own affairs
! instead Of consulting the wishes and demands o
any State in the Union, section of the country
should act mainly with n view to promote the Lcs
interests of the people that are to inhabit the terri
I tory. | admit the doctrine that every community
t has the right to determine for itself what form o.
government il will have, and that every State il
t the Union has the right to manage for ITSELF and il
its own way, its internal municipal affairs. Th
doctrine does not conflict with the position tha
Congress may legislate for the territories as abov
claimed. 1t is "needful" that slavery should b.
i, excluded from territory, land who will deny i
in the case of Ncbrasko it is the duty of Congress
IS to make such "ruesand regulations" as will efIec
that object, until such time as the people of tn
1t territory prepared to assume the power Of leg
$. isatng for themselves.
1t The founders of our Government recognized AM
acted upon this doctrine in the passage of the cello
n brated ordinance of 1881 1t was also recognize
e by the adoption of this very Missouri Compromise
d and believe was never disputed by any one, unit
e the discussion incident to the compromise measure
N of 1850. 1t then discovered for the first time
y that the policy of the Government, in legslatin
l. for the territories, MS established by its founders
10 and recognized for sixty years. was all wron
and unconstitutional. 1t is now claimed that Cor
grcss has no legislative jurisdiction over the terr
4 tories. l have never myself been able to see tl
virtue or soundness Of this new doctrine, an
therefore have never assentod to it. The atteml
now made to declare tho Missouri Compromise r
pealed is not so much for the purpose Of lettr
slavery into Nebraska as it is to establish the pr
nc cpe that Congress has right to exclude SLAYER
le from any territory The friends of freedom ther
IN FORE should not only oppose the repeal of the Mi
pt souri, Compromise because it opens the door for Il
cd introduction of slavery into Nebraska, but becau
" the attempt is based upon the hypothesis that Co
d. gress had no right to exclude slavery from Il
to territory, and the object is to establish the old
ch place of the new doctrine upon this subject.
If In haste, am respectfully
on Yours, &C.,
It, j. NJ. GILMAN.
as To Hill Tollcrton Peter H. Boswell, Jacob Heato
HI Geo. b. Weaver, Emmor I. Weaver, Salem, Obi
ISL A xuopn M r01MEI TITc yuuTT Cp II