The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-12

Constitution must be construed strictly. II
can exist only by positive enactment, which
has no force beyond the jurisdiction of the
enacting power. Slaves entering free State,
by the action or consent of their masters, be-
come free. The Federal Constitution always
regards slaves as persons, not as property.
The Mexican laws abolishing Slavery, contin-
ued IN force in the Territories we acquired
from Mexico, after their acquisition The Con-
stltution confers upon Congress no power to
create or establish Slavery. Congress under
its police power may prohibit Slavery in the
Territories of the United States =
These are his doctrines, and we may add
that he sternly disapproved of the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, and, like the other gen.
tlemen named, condemns as sternly the out
RACES since perpetrated in Kansas by the Prop
uganda, under color of Federal authority.
So much in relation to the views and posi-.
tons of these available candidates, as the
Tribune would call them. If the Convention
intend to make its selection from them, it ought
to act with its eyes wide open.
A few remarks more, and they shall be brief,
for we confess discussion of this kind is not
in our line; but when a paper with the vast in
huence OF the Tribune undertakes In advance
to give bias to this Peoples Convention, we
feel bound to do what we can to relieve it from
such bias, and submit facts which have been
overlooked in its columns
Mr.. Buchanan will receive, we presume, the
whole electoral support Of the South, or one
hundred and twenty votes. Let US suppose
that the nominee of the Philadelphia Conven-
ton shall obtain the electoral votes ofs New
England, New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Wis
consin; the debatable States then will be,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois,
Iowa, and California. The advocates of Ere.
mont say that he could carry Illinois and Iowa,
and that he would stand as good chance for
Indiana as Judge Mclean; but, admitting this
for the sake of the calculation, what shred oil
evidence have they for the belief that he could
carry New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Califor.
MIA, against Buchanan? Recollect, there is
manitestly to be no decisive secession from the
Democratic Party. AS for carrying California
for the Republican candidate, the supposition
is wild. That State is Slavery-ridden - both
the Wing and Democratic Parties there have
always been distinguished by their subservience
to Slavery. We might as well hope for Mis-
souri,. In Pennsylvania, as against Fremont
Buchanan would in all probability command
the entire Democratic vote, and large portion
of the old, conservative Wing vote. Now, with
his one hundred and twenty votes, he would
need only Pennsylvania and New Jersey, OF
Pennsylvania and California: the last two
would raise his vote to $50, one more than
enough to elect.
The available candidate, as against Buchan
an, must be able to beat him in his own State
and carry New Jersey.
But, we repeat, this is kind of discussion
we dislike, and therefore cut it short with the
remark, that had political managers and the
Anti Nebraska Dailies of New York and Bos
| ton been as Industrious in intoxicating the duty
of bold, comprehensive scheme of policy
against the Slave Interest, and the necessity OF
| selecting a Presidential candidate from the
| ranks of eminent, well-tried statesmen, who have
been SCARED in the service of Freedom, as they
have been in hunting up and magnifying IN
known and untried men, it would not now be
accepted as an axiom, that the more signal q
mans services to Liberty, and the greater his
experience and capacity, the less his fitness as
| a Presidential candidate of freemen.
Let us not be misunderstood. While urging
our own views, we respect the convictions o.
others, and claim for ourselves no higher mo
tives than we concede to them. We hope the
proceedings of the Convention may be charac
terized by wisdom, and result in the greatest
good. Let no old party prejudices or personal
preferences or animosities disturb it's consulta
tons. The one purpose of all assembled there
will be, to deliver the country from the Despot
ism that now weighs upon it, threatening civil
and foreign war. The conclusions to which
they may arrive may not suit our judgment, but
| they must be worse than we now suppose pos
sible, before we can assume the responsibility
of doing anything that may tend to perpetuate
power in hands that have already been imbrued
in American blood