Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-11-04
THE CANVASS IN MICHIGAN.


If the distant reader could see all that is going
on out West among the politicians he would be
amused as well as surprised at their perplexities
In Michigan and Illinois, for instance, the Wing
candidates for Congress were first reviled as Adolf
tionsts, and as being opposed to the right Of the
people to regulate their own Institutions. Then,
as the canvass advanced, it was urged that Wing
opposition to the Nebraska bill was opposition to
the SPREAD OF FREEDOM. This magical measure,
it was said, would not only make Kansas and Ne
braska Free States but would forever destroy the
idea of another Slave State even if territory were
acquired to the Isthmus of Darien. Other grounds
assumed by the Democracy are, that the Nebraska
bill does not open the Territory to slavery, that
slavery cannot exist without positive law, and that
slavery has never advanced step into free territory
These views are zealously enforced in Michigan by
Mr.. STUART, at present a Democratic Representa-
tive in Congress and candidate for reelection.
In recent discussion from the stump" between
him and Mr.. HOWARD, his Wing competitor, Mr.
STUART said:
We purchased this free territory by the admission Of
Missouri slave State and that admission you say was
wrong. Then the bargain was void in law You sold
you? We're you guilty of that But it is said
this bill 1.-THE Nebraska bill makes ta5ua rasa We say
1t does and slavery cannot there without positive law
All this talk about ambuatory power in the Constu-
ton which rots round these Territories carrying slavery
behind it. is nonsense and sophistry heard of it
until the other day."
Mr.. HOWARD, in reply said did not assert slavery
could exist unless created by municipal law So all the
gentemans absolute authority is only reiteraon Of
what every body admits Neither did say any thing
about the Constitution rotting round with slavery be-
hind 1t has no need to trot round the Territories it
spreads all over them. said that it neither created
slavery abolished it. but when created it recognised
that creation the prerogatve of popular State soye
regnty until the sovereignty Of other State abolish
it. There are numerous decisions to this import not
only in this nation, but in others whose sympathes set
strongly the other way Great Britain has Unidentified
the Of slaves free in the West Indies through
the demand Of the United States Government according
to the provisions of this Constitution. The Supreme
Court of the United States has decided this to be the
doctrine; and If of what avail is the gentlemans
scrap book?'
Mr. STUART reoined: g" shall address myself without
circumlocuton, with view to concluding the conro-
versy was attempting to shoe thai slauery could go
ntoJr territory whom positive Law Suppose should
carry slave to Kansas will the gentleman point me to
that article Of the Constitution that defines which of
is the slave? Where is the law determining it? May
the slaue set for himself and claim The his save?
The Constitution says person shall be deprived Of his
property except by due process Of law Very true but
assert there is properly in slave except positive
|
whole argument is sophstica All legal decisions go
establish the point that there be property in slaves
except by positive law and the gentleman cannot
the man who has taken the contrary yew except John c.
Calhoun NTH whose school of Scessionists the AJolions
and Dsunionss sympahise In this he joins with the
IRENE Notification party Of the South"
The Chief Justice Of Kansas is said to carry slaves
with him. The Chief Justice of Kansas was clerk in
Washington scarcely owning himself, much less any
negroes"
1t will be remembered that the Nebraska act
contains provision for carrying the fugitive slave
law into the new Territories and for enforcing its
provisions. Mr.. STUART says he voted for the bill,
yet he strangely enough asks
"Where is the power to carry the fugitive slave law
into Territories? The Supreme Court had decided that
Congress was bound to apply it to Territories. Yet
have private opinion of my own which may be some
times publicly expressed is that Congress has right
TO pass such ap The fugitive save as believe it to
be the duty of the respective States provide for carry
| ing out that provision Of the Constitution
"Does not the gentleman convict himself Of extending
slavery south of the line Of $50 30 when he says that
this compromise by which the North secured
to freedom? Time was, in the history of the Govern
ment when greater latitude in the Interpretation of the
Constitution could be allowed. Then the country was
comparatively small and its interests identical Now it
extended from East to West from ocean to ocean, 1t
would be washed North and South by two oceans
OF vast extent and varied interests, nothing will
its safety but rigid adherence to the strict letter Of the
Constitution. The flag of country is destined to rare
oper Aerco, and the free people Of this country shall settle it,
And in the future the time will come when there shall be
no more Slave Territories and no Slave States"
From the drift Of all this it will be seen that the
Democrats have headed " the Wings on this mea-
sure and are likely to make it very popular in the
West, on the ground that !" IT is BILL FOR FREE
DOM" and that "the time will come when there
shall be no more Slave Territories and no more
Slave States ~