Daily American organ., 1856-04-16

ton. 1t is not my habit to interrupt gentlemen
and | should not do so now, but from the fact
that it is claimed in some places, and particu-
larly in our own State, that that twelfth sec
ton recognises the same principle which is
contained in the Kansas Nebraska act, and
that it recognises the right in the people of the
Territory of Kansas to prohibit or admit sla-
very while in Territorial condition, ask my
colleague if he so construes that seventh sec
ton
4 Mr.. ZOLLIC0FFER. Istated my position
a few moments since upon that precise point
placed it ON record when the Nebraska bill
was on its passage, and beg leave to say to
my colleague [Mr. JoNEsl that cannot now
properly consume more time in dwelling upon
it.
My colleague mr. SMrrHl objects to the plat
form adopted by the American party, because
it has not the word slavery" in it, and he ar
gues that thereby, and therefore, we ignore the
question of slavery. Mr.. Chairman, it is lit
tie remarkable that the very next gentleman
who followed my colleague in debate-the Re-
publican member from New York [Mr. GRAN
GER made an argument that slavery is ig-
nored by the Constitutions of the General and
State Governments because the ,oord slauery
is not to be found in the Constitution of the
United States, and was not to be found in the
constitutions of any Of the original thirteen
States. My colleague then bases his objection
to that section Of the platform upon the
precise line of argument which Repub-
licans and Abolitionists a. 7ume in denying the
legal existence of slayery-in denying that the
constitutions of the States, and the Constitution
of the United States have recognised the insti-
tuition, bccc.lse the oord "slauery" is not in
serted in them. Does he not see into what
fatal errors such as1ln ptions lead
My colleague expressed regret that had re-
marked, in debate here, that regarded men
who lived in the South, and believed in the
constitutionality of the Wilnot Proyiso, as
being, though not intending it, more danger
Gus to the South than Northern Abolitionists.
Here, again, my colleague does not present
correctly the sentiment which uttered. 1t
will be remembered that, on the 18th of Janu-
ary last q distinguished member from Georgia,
Mr.. STEPHENs,] seeing me reported in the
Globe of that day, somewhat as my colleague
now reports me, propor1ded questions which
enabled me promptly to state the idea wished
to be unde stood as expressing. | then stated
(see Appendix Congressional Globe, PIP. 81, 5s
59,) that what meant to say was, that the
theory of the constitutionality of the Wilmot
ioNiSo, Pdi iuCuidiiy Hclu Ny poutHeIH IHeIl,
was more dangerous, and had dore more dam
age, to the constitutional rights of the South
ern States than the open efforts of Northern
Abolitionists. | explained that did not mean
10 say that gentlemen who entertained that be-
lief were less patriotic than those who believed
as do, that the Federal Government has no
such constitutional power. did not say that
they were more dangerous than Northern
Abolitio1ists, but that that theory or DO
ttical doctrine was more dangerous, and had
done more damage to the South than the open
efforts Of Abolitionists. On the contrary, ex-
pressly stated that there were many patriotic,
national men who had fallen into that errone-
GUS theory. My colleagues vindication of their
patriotism, therefore, and his remark that he
would prefer to vote for such man than to
vote for an out-and-out Free-Soiler, would seem
to give rise (however intended) to an erroneous
inference as to what my actual position was.
Why do think that that theory OF the Con-
stitution is more dangerous than the open eff
forts Of avowed Abolitionists The open efforts
Of avowed Abolitionists are tmpotent for harm,
because the masses of the American people
stcrnly reprobate them as inimical to the
Constitution and to the stability Of the govern
ment; but when Southern statesmen, whose
patriotic purposes are not doubted, gravely de-
clare that they believe the Wilmot Proviso is
constitutional, the politicians and people of the
North are not slow to adopt this theory and
then the only question left with them is, is it
erpedient to enact the Wilmot Proviso? Be-
ieving, Is the masses in the North do, that
slavery is wrong, regarding it as obnoxious"
as leading Democrats do, whom my colleague
regards % sound and true statesmen, is it won
derful what demonstrations we have had in
the North IN favor of the Wilmot Proyiso af.
ter tie sssrreNder of the constitutional gues-
tion By those trusted at the SOUTH The let
ter OF Mr.. Buchanan Of the 26th of December
last, published in the newspapers Of this city
few do8s ego, is striking illustration of the
damage which that constitutional surrender
has done the South. Mr. Buchanan had been
an advocate Of the Missouri restriction he had
labofod to extend the line prohibiting slavery,
as marked out by Federal power, to the Paci-
&c ocean. He now agrees that i" the Missouri
Compromise" as he calls it, " is gone, and
gone forever" "But," he says, "no assault
should be made upon those Democrats who
maintained it" at is well known how / la
bored, in company NTH Southern men, to
have this line extended to the Pacific ocean"
Now, mark the palliation, an company
soith Southern me,., which this powerful and
trusted statesman feels constrained to make for
his departure from the true constitutional the
ory of the Government The Federal Govern
ment has no constitutional power toprohibit sla-
very in the Territories and the true theory is
now asserted in the American platform, that the
people Of the Territories, in forming their State
constitutions, have the right to determine this
question for themselves
But is it not little remarkable that the
same politicians and newspapers which but a
few weeks ago were assailing the American
party for pretermitting" this question in the
twelfth section of the June platform, now assail
me because assume that it was great error
for Southern men to concede that the Federal
Government had such powersY A few days
before the Philadelphia Convention met, in