, 1855-06-01

ting the samcI We might quote the whg platform
itself to settle this question for the fifth resolution be-
gins thus "Resolr6d That we arc jealous ofthc rights
of sovereignty to which we as territory are enti.
tied" The wbigs say they are jealous Of Ike rights
Of sorcrcgnt yet when Congress gives to the terrific
rics the right held by state in determing the
character of their institution, Qor this is all the
Nebraska.Kansas bill does )-whai a contradiction
what miserable inccnsistency-how waltnnly insult
ing to good sense, and to their own proposition it is
for them to attempt to wrggle out by resort to sub
terfuges.
! Nov, we are disposed TO regard tie principles Of
sefgovernment Of too sacred character to be titus
twisted as nose of wax, TO suit the notions of an
hour and we contend that il is the privilege of terri
tories to declare for the rights Of soEGovCmmcnt so
far as they do not conflict with the spirit Of the con
stitution and ipjurioUsy biurc with the adminstra-
ton of the general government in relation to terrific
ries or otherwise is it not better at once to abandon
all such pIetenoa? In fact there is middle ground
that is tenable. The democracy contend that the peo
pie of the territories capable Of judging as to
what is to their interests as are TIE people of the
states that If they capable Of electing egisla
tive assembly to make laws for their local regulation
and well being, they equally competent TO elect
all other territorial officers not inconsistent with the
position Of a territory towards the general govern
ment, aud not inconsistent with the constitution and
laws of the United States and if thus endowed they
are as fully capable, and should be as righ;luy cnti
tied prescribe the character of their domestic nsti.
tltons. The only question is between selEgover-
ment and central dctation Are We afraid to trust
ourselves with our own concernsl Let the southern
tchgs as well as the democracy answer.
Again we say, We are no advocates of slavery, but,
unfortunately the Institution is older than const
tuition the African brought 10 Atlantic
shores long before the Formation Of the confcderacy-
it where requires to be csia jShed-it is erciuied
or abolished by the states territories where it is not
desirable where slave labor is uprpductive. Shall
those then who reside in slove.holding states have
right to emigne, tc hrir sldUos TO ucw territory,
and II in the majority shall they be debarred from doing
on soil belonging to the common confedcracy, what
We claim dearest privilege, the right 10 deter.
mine the municipal laws best adapted to their well be-
ing and progressl Let ask the question il not
iorolg for Congress to establish atitudinal line and
say TO the Shareholder II you emgrlte souii Of that
line you may take with you and retain certain proper
ty, (your slayes) but il you emigrate nOt Of that
line you forfeit that right?
In the states the feeoilers proper profess not to
be opposed To slavery-they not abolitionstsnot
they All they contend for, is, that slavery shall stay
where it is. They deplore the idea Of setting the
groes ree-they admit them unfit for selGgovemmon ut
for freedom but say they must stay Ia the states
where they now are and tester and rot in their
increase. Slavery, according to them therefore, is
right euough in South Carolina Georgia, but all
wrong in new territory II the settling Of territory
by shareholders made more slaves they might again
have some show of reason in their argument against
its extension, but not so. The slaves carried into
new territory arc slaves before they 60 there and
would have continued in all probability though they
should not emigrate.
If slavery be an evil leave those who have the in
stitution among them the privilege to find Il out and
correct II but we might a, we'll ask Congress to ell
act the AIaine Liquor Law for all future territories
because inlemperncS is an evil, and we think Con
gress would have the right to do So to pre-
scribe metes and bounds for slavery in territories,
4 And would not this be making the humating admis-
sion that central government has more discrimina-
ton and Judgment, and is made up of superior order
Of men than is to be found In terrtoresl In other
wonds would II not be an invasion Of those rights
Of which the whg platform processes to te so jeal-
Ousr But enough of this for the present. We have
said that there nothing whig about the platform
but the first two resolutions The third is borrow
ed plumage. Shades of john q Adams, Daniel Web
ster aud Henry Clay when did you ever teach the
doctrine OF acquisition Of territory. The eter-
sion Of the Of freedom has ever been favorte
doctrine with the democracy. We are glad to oar
whig friends becoming proselytes Of teachings
The sixth protests against imported talent. This Is
r stealing our thunder examination Of fe Of the
Pioneer & Dmocat will testify. But with what grace
and consstency could they thus decre when the res
outons embody the idea that the government at
washington--the members Of Congress, are better
qualified 70 judge for US on the subject of slavery than
we are ourselvesl This resolution concludes in these
words: ave have the means within ourselves for
selrVoyernment and the material 6 Of which to con.
the territory Now in sober seriousness, after fair
review Of this three cornered platforni-onc.third
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