Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-09-06

- ' ~ wv ~ hoWeVcr relpcto,u
,.:. ''H' Vi acqnittsl
From the platform of the Republicor
ty deduce as the doctrines of tba. r1'
upon the slavery question, these coro,nI. y
First, that slavery is not recognized b. ~
Constitution of the United States, g.. I' -
that neither Congress nor territorial Isri,
lature can constitutionally establish sloyo.S
the territories Third that Congress bo. a y
power to prohibit it, and that the exero;. '1s
that power is duty enjoined by the co.D
tuition. AS to the character of tboso
there is and can be no cayilinr Tb.~
stated in language and terms at onco .,'' ~
and exceedingly comprehensive. Tber ="
not covered up with useless verbiare in,coI,,
to conceal their meaning No man can -.
understand them, and no party can icno.
them. They have been boldly made a..
must be as boldly met
To show how these issues are met br q
American party, quote entire tho s,r
enth section of the platform of that ro.
ty. 1t is as follows:
" The recognition of the right of the nativaho,.
and naturalIzed citizens of the United Sta, DViH
manently residing in any Territory thereof per-
frame their Constitution and laws, and re,a,.1
their domestic and social affairs in their our, %
subject only to the provisions of the Federal CS
tuition, with the right Of admission into tbe Tnia
whenever they have the requisite population fo.
Representative lin Congress. Provided ai,eqv, Tb.
none but those who are citizens of the United Sax,
under the Constitution and laws thereof ana NV
have fixed residence in any such Territorv 'a wa
to participate in the formation of the Constant
or in the enactment of laws for said Territory ~.
State
This is the sum total of what apneor, n
the platform upon the subject of slavery in
the territories. Giving to this section tbs
broadest construction that can possibly ts
claimed for it, it does not touch the question
Of the constitutional right of the people Of
the territories to legislate upon the subject
of slavery. 1t contains not one single aIu.
sion nor even the shadow of an alusion. to|
the question. The word slavery does not an
pear in the whole platform. The section Il
have quoted only asserts the right Of The
people of the territories to govern themselves
by constitutional laws. 1t points out no
subject upon which this right of Legislation
may be constitutionally exercised. Now The
right to legislate upon the subject of slayery
is the very question in dispute The Reput-
lican party asserts that the Constitution for
bids it-that neither Congress nor territorl
al Legislature can give any legal assistance
to slavery in the territories. The platform
OF the American party nowhere contains d
denial of this proposition. 1t establishes nd
contrayening principle. In short, it does uoa
meet the issue.
How different from this non-commttal pol \
icy has been the course of the Democrats
party. Recognizing the great importance d
the country OF permanent adjustment Of al
the issues involved in this vexed question
that party has taken high and bold ground
in opposition to all free-soil doctrines of tbd
Republican party. 1t has done more
has raised an issue co-extensive with the who'd
subject of slavery, upon the broad national
basis of non-interference by Congress boil
with the institution itself and with existing
laws upon the subject. The platform adopts
as the policy of the party, "the principles
contained in the organic laws establishing
the territories of Nebraska and Kansas
and considers them, "as embodying the oD
sound and safe solution of the slavery quesi
tion on which the great national idea Of tha
people of this whole country can repose ID
its determined conservative issue Of tha
Union and non-interferance by Congress WiI
slavery in the States or Territories ltaISd
recognizes, the right of the people Of alIn
Territories, including Kansas and NebrasSa
acting through the fairly expressed will Of
majority of actual residents, and wheneVe
the number Of their inhabitants justileS
to form a Constitution, Nth or roithoN
mestic slarery, and be admitted into the UnO1
upon terms of perfect equality withthe o'o'1
States"
| have now tested the political faith
each of these parties by the evidences ol
own platform. Upon these evidences lr'u
submit the question of the superiority Ol ="
respective claims of the Democratic ~
American parties TO the support oil all N'