The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-22
THE SLAVERY QUESTION


IGNORING THE SLAVERY QUEo lloN. |
(From the Augusta Chronicie)
We observe not without surprise, that the
Nashville "Banner," and "Gazctle," have
both counsced the American Party Of Ten
nessce, to ignore the slavery question, or in
other words, to repudiate the twelfth section
of the platform adopted at Philadelphia, by
thc National Convention of the American
Party. This, in our opinion, is not only I'm.
wise, but very bad counsel; and If pursued,
will result, as it ought, in the utter defeat and
prostration of the party III that State.
The twelfth section seeks only to secure
the constitutional rights of the South, and to
maintain the existing laws for the mninten-
ance of those rights; and any class OF men, in
any section of the Union, who will not vindi.
cate and sustain the principles of that section,
are wholly unworthy of the confidence of
Southern men, or of any political utilization
with. Repudiate that section, and the party
will be at once controlled and directed by
freesoers, and the constitutional rights Of
the South be placed at their mercy. Retain
il, and we may rear upon its base, sound,
conservative, constitutional, national party,
which will leave the vexed question where
the fathers of the Republic placed it, and
there keep it till fanaticism shall rule the
hour, which the good sense of the people will
certainly avert.
TO show that we do not over estimate the
value of this section, we append it, for the
careful study of every reader:
XlI-Thc American party having arisen
upon the ruins and in spite Ct the opposition
OF the Wing aud Democratic parties, cannot
be in any manner responsible for the obnox.
ious acts or violated pledges of either. And
the systematic agitation Of the slavery qucs.
tor by those parties having elevated section
/ al hostility into II positive element Of political
power, and brought our institutions into peril
1t has therefore become the imperative duty
of the American party to interpose for the
purpose of giving peace to the country and
perpctulty to the Union. And rs experience
has shown ii impossible TO reconcile opinions
so extreme as those which separate the dis
putants, and as there can be no dishonor In
submitting TO the laws, the National Counci
has deemed it the best guarantee of common
Justice and of future pence, TO abide by ano
maintain the existing laws upon the suffice
of slavery, as final and conclusive settleinen
Of that subject, in spirit and in substance.
And regarding it the highest duty TO avow
their opinions upon subject 81 important, il
distinct and unequivocal terms, it is hereby
declared rs the sense oil this National Counci
that Congress possesses no power, under TIL,
Constitution, to legislate upon the subject %
Slavery in the States where it does or may
exist, or to exclude any State from admission
into the Union, because its Constitution doe!
or does not recognize the institution q
Slavery rs part of its social system; and eX
pressly pretermtting any expression o
opinion upon the power of Congress to es
tablish or prohibit Slavery in any Territory
it is the sense of the National Council tha
Congress ought not TO legislatc upon til
subject of Slavery within the Territory of tn
United States, and that any interference b
Congress with Slavery AS it exists in the Di'
trct of Columbia, would he Il violation Of tn
spirit ana intention of the compact by whic
the State of Maryland cedcd the District
the United States, and Il breach of the N;
tional faith.
Although this section does not fully g:
press our sentiments; for we have nlwal
maintained that Congress could only legi'la
upon the subject of slavery in the Terrtori'
to protect it, while in a Territorial state; ye
we would never consent to see it repudiate
and will never act with any party that reius
to acknowledge its sound, constitution
principles, MS far as it goes. We hold til
Congress has no right TO establish or pr
libit slavery in the Territories, and that it C.
only intervene to protect it. The power
establish or prohibit it rests alone with t
people of the Territory, when they organi
II State Government. Till then, even t
Territorial legislature has no power over
subject, other than such rs may be exercs
by Congress, viz: its protection. This is 1
true, and the only true national and consti
tional doctrine. 1t gives to the people of
sovereign State the power to regulate tn
own internal domestic relations, and insti
tons, and to them alone it belongs, and {
of right lie exercised. ANY othe. doctrine
anti.republican and yiolative Of the spirit
the Constitution aud the rights of the peo
of the State. Let the American party of
South, then, beware how they heed 81
counsel us that given by the Nashville 10
nails; it is but another Trojan horse, and,
countenanccd, will overwhclm Thorn at OF
and forever, and it ought to do it.
NEW YORK, Feb. lG
The Washington correspondent OF
Journal of Commerce, telegraphs that Il
Qutman it is said declares he will never