Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1856-01-29
3 0 Nh O. 0Hi
gy1IsI6 q. izllJAaT ] Z. isss.


~ - ~ ONO peDceseey ~ me eeNsns eaa'
~ = ths'r blsth sad have sspssesd me
pialon tbst they win b generally ac9nlesced
4 - hpiss the sssnlt q eoups om'ss. asa sp
)suseAihg = nearly to whas each indiNons'
aeiissd = could have besR reasonably expect
=. 70 svoid any possible n'sccnespaon
wAieh might arise either nom thb declsEst'on'
- nuu suy ooufse vhscn - may -. = wv
allsg 70 .punus In relation TO the hckes present
"a dby t6aa Coavention, orto the one wn'en msy
b psasnted byt The National Convenuon' con
"A ,,uptmble ii Cincinnati. We desire 70 slate
esp,icitly what We spprovs aud what vs as
.uu,sve In those resolutions.
We have slresdy expsesseaour full and hear.
a. 1oncurrencs In the condemnation. embraced
4 The sousth resolution. Of the Know Nothing
oejss, and tho sentiments OF religious intolet-
ance and national prejudice on which II u
bsped We believe that whatsoever evils ei'
ther political, social. moral, OF religious, may
cain in consequence Of the large 'nhux Of tor'
cign population which has heretofore nksn
place, would only be aggravated W the adop'
ton Of the proscrptive policy OF that ofder'
We slso spprove the sentiment Of the 'hi'd
,esclution, and hold that oil religious questions
should be excluded from the political sfena'
Politics has TO do with government ana gov
eminent has no concern Whatever WIN 'eH'
gion. except 10 protect each c'usen IN !ne ''ee
enjoyment Of Whatsoever form Of II nc msy
have embraced. s
We do not know that We have any parucu.s'
objection to The 9Th resolution, except 30 's'
q Il msy imply appreciation OF toe foregoing
ones; and except ais0, 'os' u mAy p'," s,
be construed % sugnsuI'"s an .ho " NV
subscribe 10 the doctnnes set 'o''" ~ ..'' p's'
form ~ "enemies Of Democracy. ana o. 'ne on-
ion and the Constitution Ftom ~! su'n
construction We certainly d'ssen'' We oehe's
nay We kncr-that tnefe arc many - ae'o'e'
friends OF all ss are 70 Dc 'ouna ~ INC
country, who refuse ana w'il' Peta'p' 'o"
tinue to refuse to stand on TINS plauoi-Ana
We never saw any use IN speas'"g Jes'e"''a'
certainly there is none in solemniy re'ss'"g H.
AZ to the sixth resolution we 90 no! KNOW
that We care to say much. refhsps" y wen
enough for the Democranc memoe" o. Coh'
gress to adhere to their nominee for speaker
hav,ng made il, but We thought at first, and we
think still, the nomination itself was very i'll.
advised one. II could be construed in no 9th.
er way than - indicating determination 10
involve the present interests "f the Democrallc
party inextricably with Inc poiicy Of 'he Aa'
ministrationon the slavery question: ana theie'
fore indicated, IN our Judgment more regard
6or the fortunes Of certain men, than LOT 'he
welfare either Of the party or OF the country.
Butt is in regard 70 the first and second res
olutions that we especially desire 10 be explicit
The declaration that Congress has power nel-
ther to legislate slavery into territory nor to
exclude il therefrom. is, In our judgment, ut
terly false. 1t Is false in view OF the great
principle Of law, so well established, and So
universally recognized, that the right to govern
territory follows its acquisition. 1t is false IN
view Of the Constitution Of the United States'
which has placed the territories under the leg
islative control Of Congress. 1t is false in view
OF The Nebraska Act itself, IN which Congress
assumes, mol merely ordinary legislative author
ity over the territories, but even the power to
prescribe for them the very framework Of Their
government. It's false oy the ADMISSION OF lhe
authnr OF the Kansas Nebraska ACT HIMSELF
whose followers seem not to perceive that IN
passing such resolves they are contradlctlng his
opinions, and pronouhcing censureS upon some
Of the most prominent acts Of his lie.
We protest, then. against this declaration
and We do so' not SIMPLY because II" untrue
but because We believe that' however II may
be, 30 long as our territorial possessions are
confined 70 their present limits, conjuncture
will soon arise, when the exercise BY Congress
Of the power thus DENIED. will be Of the most
vital importance to the interests of freedom.
II the declaration contained IN the second
resolution, "that the night OF the people Of each
psrticulsr territory to establish
their own constitution or form OF government !;
to choose snd regulate their own domestic in.
stitutions Of every kind, and to legslate for
themselves, il fundamental principle Of all
free government" is intended as an enuncia.
ton Of any principle gfowi9suout of the Con.
stitution Of the United States, or admissible
under it. we deny the doctrine in toto. If it