Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-04

N'~N 10y ~-~~~-~3 ~--~J
doRe in some cases in establishing Territorial
Governments, the Territorial Legislature from
issuing charters to banks OF circulation
Would they allow the inhabitants ola Territory
the right to institute any other than republican
institutions
This clamor about selCgoyernment in Terri
tories is designed to mislead the People from
the true Issue involved in this controversy. Mr..
Douglas does not believe that the People OF
Territory have the absolute right to govern
themselves: nor do We He holds that Con-
gress has the right to give them form Of Gov
eminent; to impose certain restrictions upon
them to apply to them such laws Of the Uni
ted States as may be applicable to their cond-
ton 40 do we. He holds that the People OF Q
Territory, through Legislature, the constitu-
tion of which Congress has prescribed, may
leeislate, within these restrictions and these
laws, upon their internal affairs: 80 do we
The only question is, not whether they have
this limited right Of self government, but wheth-
er among the restrictions imposed BY Congress,
that prohibiting them from establishing Slave
~, is legitimate one. We say that il is; and
then he cries out, 20, you deny the principle
Of self government--ice are willing to trust the
People, Why not then, trust the People with
tho establishment Of their own form Of Govern
ment, and the election Of their Governor,
Judges and other officers Why impose upon
their Legislative power any restriction
We said the other day, that this doctrine Of
Non Intervention, AZ il is called, has two very
different meanings. At the North, the disciples
OF Gen Cass claim that it implies the right OF
the People Of Territory to legislate for the
exclusion or recognition Of Slavery; at the
South, their political associates insist that it
implies the absence Of power in Congress- Or in
the Territorial Legislature to legislate against
the introduction of Slavery into q Territory.
And vet this two-faced, contradictory doc
trine is to be held up as the creed Of the De-
mocracy, the sound, constitutional principle,
for the settlement Of the Slavery Question
We recollect well, when General Cass was ar
raigued in the Senate for his doctrine Of
@Sqnatter Sovereignty" as Mr.. Calhoun con-
temptuously styled it, and when Senator Da
Wis (now Secretary Of War and other distin-
guished Southern Senator'S secuted the doc
trine that the People Of a Territory had the
right to legislate as they pleased on the subject
Of Slavery The South has not changed it's
opinion, but Southern and Northern Democrats
unite in lauding the doctrine OF Non-Interven-
ton, as the only one truly Democratic; sound,
constitutional, benefccnt the key to the settle
ment Of this dangerous question of Slavery
10 the Territories-and yet they know that
they mean precisely different things! Honor
able union! Who is to be the gamer in this
game Of deception We can tell the North
ern Democracy that, whatever may be your
purpose, establish this principle Of Non-lnter-
vention, as you call it as the policy Of the
Government in regard to Territories, and you
will find yourselves just where you have always
been--in the grasp under the heel, Of the
Slave Power, which will compel you, should
the People of Territory undertake to exclude
Slavery, to override their action.
We have done with the argument Of Judge
Douglas The simple question submitted to
Congress is--WiH you, or wiH you NOT, repeal
the Missouri Compromise
If you repeal it, Nebraska is thrown open to
Slavery, and you virtually nationalize it in all
Territories Of the United States.
If you repeal il, you leave Slavery in posses
sion Of all it gained by the bargain or CON-
pact Of 1920, and surrender all that Freedom
then gained, with the exception Of Iowa and
Minnesota.
If you repeal it, you make concession to
the Slave Interest, which it did not dream Of
demanding in 1850, but one which il has been
emboldened to demand by the pusillanimous
conduct Of the North at that time.
If you repeal it You invest it with Power
which will scorn all restraints, and kindle in il
an ambition that viii be Satisfied with nothing
short Of the seizure Of Cuba, the absorption Of
all the portions Of Mexico fit for slave tillage,
and the recognition Of the claim Of tho Slave
holder to carry his slaves with him into every
section Of the Union, and hold them there, in
disregard Of whatever adverse local laws.
All these consequences will follow, unless
indeed, the Northern People, provoked beyond
all endurance, should at last shake of their
lethargy, break asunder the bands Of Party
rise in their full might and, trampling upon
all compromised oil timc-serving expedicnts
all trickstcrs and traitors rally as one man, in
defence Of Freedom, Free Labor, Free Institu-
tions, and through their overwhelming MAORI
ty at the Ballot Box, assume tho reins Of Gov
ernmont, and put Slavery under the ban as the
Slave Interest now threatens TO put Freedom
under the ban.
70 The Report Of the Treasury Depart
mont for tho quarter just ended, shows little
amount Of nearly twcnty.tur millions now
subject TO draft in the Treasury. This, at six
per centum, would yield $i,44o,ooo per an
mum.