Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-03


a Record
In our leader Of Wednesdays daily issue
we exhibited the absurdity Of the second and
third positions taken by the Richmond Enqui-
rer in It's issue of Thursday, 25th ult., and we
resume the subject now, to refute the first po-
stion taken by that press on that occasion,
which first position reads thus Mr.. Buch-
anan's position on slavery is impregnGble.-
He aeUsr deoiated a hairs breadth from the
straight Tine Of justice and constitutional
dsty."
The first inquiry which arises on this point
is, what positions on slavery are, in the oPin-
ion OF the Enquirer "impregnableT What
is the straight line Of justice and constitu-
tional duty " on the question of slavery p
We shall state the doctrine Of the South on
this subject, as we understand it now to be, to
wit. That Congress has no constitutional
power to exclude slavery from any Territory,
nor any constitutional right to refuse admission
TO new States because their constitutions may
recognise this institution: and that the people
Of Territory have no right to interfere with
this question, except at the timO OF framing
their constitution.
In other words, the South denies the right
Of Congressional intervention with slavery in
thu Territories, and equally denies the right, of
Territorisi legislation to interdct slavery.
They admit the right, and maintain it, that in
the formation Of a constitution for State gov
ernment the citizens of the United States who
are permanent citizens of Territory have the
right to decide the question Of slavery OF no
slavery" for themselves.
We understand the Enquirer also to main
tain the doctrines embraced in the above state
ment.
If. then, Mr. Buchanan maintains opinions
antagonistic to these doctrines, we may say
that his position on slavery is not "impregna-
BILE" and that he does deviate from the
straight line of justice and constitutional duty"
We think it demonstrable that Mr.. Buchsn-
ans position on slavery is in direct conflict
with the whole doctrine of the South. We
know of no opinion Of Mr. Buchanan, any
where on record, in common with the South,
upon any question having the remotest con-
nexion with slavery in the Territories and we
dety any living man to cite any such opinion
ever uttered by him.
The support given by Mr.. Buchanan to Mr..
Clay's amendment, which was adopted in the
place Of Mr. Calhoun's fifth resolution present
ed TO the Senate on the 9th December, 1887,
(see Calhoun's Works, vol 5, p. 14O,) falls far
short of coming up to the Southern doctrine,
as then and now maintained. Mr.. Clay's
amendment for which Mr.. Buchanan voted
contains a distinct admission Of that p0oer
Of Congress ocer the question Of slauery, which
the South denies Mr.. Buchanan simply voted
on that occasion, that, for saaadry reasons sta
ted in said resolution, Congress should not
abolish slavery in the Territories where it ex-
istedl" The very reasons assigned in Mr..
Clays amendment imply that power in Con-
gress, which the whole South resist And
here, on this point, we assert, that aever, in
any resolution, speech or letter, that is now
extant, did Mr. Buchanan deny the constitution
al polOer Of Congress to restrict slavery, or
even to abolish slavery in the Territories
neVer
But let us trace Mr. Buchanans avowed and
published opinions on this question.
On the 9th day of November, 1919, James
Hopkins, William Jenkins and James Buchan-
an as a committee, appointed at public meet
ing at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, reported reso-
lutions, which were then and there adopted,
and from which we select tsoo, as follows:
Resolved, As the opinion Of this meeting that,
a. the Legislature Of this State will shortly be in
session, 4 win be highly deserving their wisdom
and patriotism TO take into their early and most
serious consideration the propriety of instructng
our Representatives in the National Legislature 20
use the most jealous and strenuous erertions to
inhibt the existence OF slavery In any Of the Ter
itores or States, which may hereafter be created
by Congress; and that the members Of Assembly
from this county be requested 10 embrace the ear
best opportunity of bringing the subject before both
Houses Of the Legislators.
~ I" Resolped, That 10 the opinion of this meeting,
she members of Congress who, at the last session,
sustained the cause Of justice humanity, and pa
triotism, In opposing the Introduction OF slavery
into the State then endeavored 10 be formed out
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