Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1855-11-15
The Slavery Question-0ur Platform.

The Slavery Question-0ur Platform.
1t seems to us that to every intelligent gentle
man, who has been at all accustomed to watching
the working of our political SYSTEM it must pe quite
clear what ground the Democratic party, and in
deed the whole country, must henceforth occupy in
regard to the question of Slavery in the Terrific
rier. Men may differ, they do in fact differ
as Democrats at the time misunderstanding the
propriety of the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, but that has become gu uestion of the past.
The repeal has been consummated. That issue
has ceased to have any vitality except what grows
out of a desire in some quarters, to punish some
body for their action concerning it. The question
now is, not TO past, but future action. What
policy shall hereafter prevail in relation the SUBJ
ject of Slavery, in the organization and govern
ment of new Territories! Shall Congress under
take legislate for the Territories and determine
whether the relation of master and slave shall
therein be tolerated? Or shall the people of the
Territories be left free TO settle this matter for
themselves? These are the two alternatives pre-
scented for our selection and decision. Can any
well informed politician statesman entertain the
least doubt concerning the conclusion to which the
American people will arrive? Think what We may
of the past, agitate as demagogues may to gain
partizan advantage for the present, does any
fail clearly to perceive the line of policy which
the country will adopt for the future2 We pre-
sumo not We should impugn the intelligence of
the reader to suppose otherwise.
The great principle of non-interrenfion will pre-
vail Ii has already been established and is in ac-
tive operation. 1t is in entire harmony with
political system, which clusters around the central
government only such powers necessary to
maintain common nationality, and leaves to local
legislation the formation modification of domes
tic institutions and the general control of the in
terests and action of society and individuals, so far
as they the subjects of governmental regulation.
Slavery must follow the general rule, and the peo
pie of the Territories, do the people of the
States, must determine in view of their own inter
ests and responsibilities, whether it shall exist
mong them. Upon this broad principle the Demo
cratic party of the Union can stand. Ii furnishes
a platform upon which Democrats of the North
and Democrats of the South can meet in harmony
and unite in support of the great doctrines of re
publican government and in advocacy of measures
of national concern, leaving each free to act with
the people of his Territory State, according to
his views of its domestic government, in disposing
of the question Of slavery and all other local ques
tons arising therein.
! The idea Of restoration of the Missouri Com
promise is entirely speculative and visionary. There
is not the slightest probability of its accomplish
ment, and those politicians who attempt to main
tain such an issue, if they sincere, if indeed
they are more than mere demagogues seeking par
tizan or personal advantage at the expense of dan
gerous excitement, exhibit little discenment and
forecast as 10 the probable current of popular
opinion and little knowledge of the philosophy and
true theory of our institutions.
The idea, also, of refusing to admit new slave
States in case where after full and fair opportuni
ty for deberation and action, unawed by exter-
nal dictaton or control, the people of Territory
have unmistakably decided to tolerate slavery, IS
utterly untenable and there is not the slightest
probability that it will ever be carried into section
The people about to become a State have the same
right to shape this, as all other features of their
constitution, and if Congress rightiully control
this, it can all others. For ourselves stand,
and we hardly trench upon the ground of prophesy
in predicting the clearly foreshadowed result that
the Democratic party, and the country will stand
upon the broadest principle of submission of this
whole subject to the action of the people of the
States and Territories. Thus slavery becomes
local instead of national matter. Thus Congress
ceases to be the tribunal for its discussion; the
national government is divorced from it, and the
country is relieved from dangerous and other
wise constantly recurring agitation.
There are two extremes which meet in repudat
ing this wholesome doctrine of popular sovereignty
The one believes it is the duty of the national
: government to carry slavery into the Territories
and protect it there The other holds to the creed
that the same power should prohibit its entrance
and zealously exclude it. The very fact that these
theories are conflicting and necessarily bring the
sections of the Union into hostility TO each other
ought to raise the presumtion of their unsound-
ness, and that some other principle more in accor
dance with our political systemis applicable to the
question. The great preponderance of conservative
opinion among men both at the south and the north
will be to the harmonizng and democratic doctrine
of investing the people OF the States and Te.rito-
ries with the attribute of self government in res
pect to this, as well as all other domestic natter
! Such are the views which entertain upon this
subject, and which this journal, under its present
and former conductors has uniformly sustained
We believe they are approved by the great mass
of the democrats of the State, with steadily in
creasing unanimity and emphasis of opinion, and
upon them the Democrats of New York will be
content to stand side by side with their brethren
of the whole Union.-Albdny ARGUS
ANTI-SCRATCHING MACHINE.-The Yam
kee who invented the "Patent Hen Persua.