The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-23

South has decided to cast her votes for the
Cincinnati nominees, whose past history and
present attitude show them to be thoroughly
reliable. What reason is there for the theory
that Buchanan is sectional candidate,
should the whole South go for him? He
STANDS UPON A PLATFORM OF THE EQUAL
lTY OF THE STATES, and of foil and
exact justice to every section of the Union.
The Platform and the candidates were adopt
ed by the vote of the united Democracy, rep
resenting every district of every State of the
Union. The Democratic party is the only
party that maintains THE SAME GROUND
IN ecery State an the Union. The GREAT
FEATURES of the Democratic PLAT
FORM, which James Buchanan has FULLY
AND soUARKLY ENDORSED, and of which he is
fair EMBODIMENT, are the EQUAL RIGHTS
OF ALL THE STATES and sections-the
quoting Of tie Anti SlaUery excitement, and
the guardianship of the honor and interest of
the nation"
Having shown that the doctrine of State
Equality is in the Cincinnati Platform, and
that Mr.. Buchanan fully and squarely endorses
it, proceed to show what it is, and that it
does, according to the statements of its own
friends, constitute the issue. / have said that
the South demands the right, under the Con-
stitutiOn, to carry their slaves wherever North
ern man may carry what is regarded property in
the Free States. Let me make that good.
quote now from a speech published in the
Charleston Mercury, Is. C.,) april l9, 1856,
and delivered in the House Of Representatives,
April 7, 1856, by the Hon. l.. NJ. Keitt, NJ. G.
from South Carolina. 1t may also be found
in the Congressional Globe of April 8. He is
speaking of the Presidential contest"
"Sir, the next contest will be momentous
one. 1t will turn upon the question of SLA-
VERY, and the constitutional rights Of the
South. The South should establish in the
Platform the principle, THAT THE RIGHT OF A
SOUTHERN MAN TO HIS SLAVE IS EQUAL IN
IT'S LENGTH AND BREADTH, IN THE RIGHT OF A
NORTHERN NAN TO HIS HORSE. She should
make the recognition of the rightsful, COM
plete, and indisputable."
This is what is meant by State Equality.
You perceive he says the South should estab-
lish this doctrine in the Platform. Does not the
South dictate what shall 20 into the Demo-
cratic Ptformsp Did it not do so at Cincin-
matt? Notice also that this "right" is claimed
under the Constitution. Apropos to this, 1
quote from an editorial in the Daily Union
and american, published at Nashville, Ten
nessee, May II, 1856. The writer is speak
ing of discussion had in the State Legisla
ture, q short time previous, on the Slavery
question. Hear him:
Messrs. Baily, Smith, and others, went SO
far as to assert, in effect, that Slavery could
only be carried ,ohere it is protected 6y local
legislation; which is in DIRECT DENIAL OF
THE DOCTRINE OF THE SOUTH, THAT THE CON.
STITUTlON OF THE UNITED STATES recog-
nises Slavery, and PROTECTS IT WHEREVER
THAT INSTRUMENT EXTENDS These are facts
hard, stubborn facts which no ingenuity can
evade, or sophistry pervert."
Does not "that instrument extend" over the
Free States, as well as over the Slave States
And, if so, does it not, according to this doc
trine, recognise" and "protect" Slavery as
well and as completely in Ohio, Massachu-
sets, or Pennsylvania, as it does in Virginia,
South Carolina, or Louisiana? Who can deny
it? Yet this is precisely what the advocates
of State Equality contend for. Yield to them
in their demands; establish the doctrine of
State Equality as the doctrine of the Constitu
ton and the policy of this Government, and
they will soon show you whether they cannot
bring their slaves into your midst, call their
roll in the shade of Bunker Hill Monument, or
lash them bleeding through the fields of Hi
nois! What of your State laws and Constitu
tons If they conflict" with the Constitu-
ton of the United States, you must alter them
There must be no "invidious" or "injurious
distinctions |" And this, you are told, is the
doctrine Of the South. How long, let me ask,
till it will be the doctrine" of the National
Democracy North and South
An extract now from the Great Dictator, on
The True Issue, in which the doctrine of State
Equality will be more clearly defined.
From the Richmond Enquirer of June 10, 1855
South, in the pending canvass, cannot rely on
the old grounds of apology and excuse for Sla-
very; for they seek not merely to retain 1t
,chere IL is, but to EXTEND 1T INTO REGIONS
WHERE 1T Is UNKNOWN. Much less can they
rely on the mere constitutional guarantees of
Slavery, for such reliance is pregnant with
the admission that Slavery is wrong, and, but
for the Constitution, should be abolished
Nor will it avail us aught to show that the
negro is most happy and best situated in the
condition of Slavery. Ii we stop there, we
weaken our cause by the very argument in
tended to advance it; for zoe propose to intro
duce into nep territory, human beings ,chons
,oe assert to be unfit for liberty, self:govern-
ment, and equal association with other men,
We must go step farther. We must show
that African Slavery is a MORAL, RELIGIOUS,
NATURAL, and probably, in the general,
NECESSARY INSTITUTION OF SOCIETY. This is
the only line Of argument that ,oM enable
SOutherners to maintain the doctrines of
STATE EQUALITY AND SLAVERY EX-
TENSION. For, if Slavery be not a legiti-
mate, useful, moral, and erpedient institution,
we cannot, without reproof of conscience and
the blush of shame, seek to ertend it, or as
sert our Equality with those States having
no such institution.
p" Oar Northern friends need not 90 thus far
8 They do not SEEK to ertend SIdrerv. but
only AGREE to ITS extension, as a matter of
right on our part. They may prefer their own
social system to ours--it is right that they
should. But, whilst they may prefer their own
social system, they ,cW haze to admit, IN THIS
CANVASS, that ours is also rightta and kgit-
innate, and sanctioned alike 5y the opinions
and msages Of mankind, and by the authority
and express injunctions Of Scripture They
cannot consistently maintain that Slavery is
immoral, inexpedient, and profane, and yet
continue to submit to its extension. We know
that we utter bold truths, but the time has
suppressed. THE TRUE ISSUE SHOULD
STAND OUT IN BOLD RELIEF, so THAT
NONE MAY MISTAKE IT."
Thus you have presented by the great leading
organ the TRUE ISSUE between the parties in this
canvass, and in unmistakable language. State
Equality and Slarery Extension, used as synony-
nous terms. And, mark: The Democrats Of
! the South, IN THIS CANVASS, seek not merely TO
retain Slarery nhere it is, bit to ertend 1t into
regions ,chere IL is unbaocn." Northern Dem
ocrdts need not go thus far" How very kind y
They do not seek to extend Slavery, but only
| agree to its extension, as a matter of right, on
the part of their Southern masters. But there is
one thing they have to do: They haze to ADMIT,
IN tbs canvass, that Slavery is rightful and
and usages of mankind, and by the authority