The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-06-21
Fer the Free Trader.
Fer the Free Trduef.
The position OF the Democratic party ON
Slavery.

Mr.. Editor-The fusion papers abound
with misrepresentation of the position of
our party on the subject of slavery. They
undertake to fortify their statements from
the "Richmond Enquirer" whose Editor
writes more like one non con,pos mentas than
like sober rejecting man. That Editor is
not considered true exponent OF the views
of our party, either at the north or south.
1t is clear to me, that the position of the
party, as laid down in the Cincinnati plat
form, Is substantially this: They declare
that the people of a territory, when they
form a Constitution preparatory to admis-
sion as state, may provide therein for the
existence or exclusion Of slavery and in
either event shall be entitled to admission.
This would be state equality-this would be
admitting new state on an equal footing
with the other states admitted-They do
not either expressly or infcrentially declare
that the Constitution Of the U. 5. sanctions
and protects slavery in the territories, or
that slavery can exist there in the absence
of positive law, or that the people have not
a right to exclude it or lcgislate about it be-
1 fore the formation of their constitution, al
though il is admitted that there is some di-
versty Of opinion on these subjects between
( the individual members of the party both
north and south. The views of Gen. Cass
on these subjects are well known, and ap-
prehend that at least nine tenths OF the par
ty in the northern states coincide with him,
while majority of the party in the south
entertain different views.
! The pla form expressly endorses the Kan
sas and Nebraska act, wherein is clause to
this effect: sit is the true intent and mean
ing of this act not to legislate slavery into
or exclude it from the territories, but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way, subject only to the prori-
sions Of the Constitution Of the United
States.
Thus, neither in the above act, nor in tse
Cincinnati platform, is it declared that the
people of a territory have the ALSO ute right
either to prohibit or establish slavery prior
to the formation Of their constitution. lis
u qualif d right. being subject to the Con
stituton Of the Uuited States.
Now, practically, it is a matter Of very
little importance what may be the opinion
of the individual citizens in regard TO slave
ry in the territories, for, after all, whether
Congress has the power to establish or ex'
clude it, whether the people Of the territory
have such power, whether it legally exists
there in the absence of positive law, are
questions to be determined by the courts
especially the L. S. Supreme Court; and
the decision Of that cour: must be consider
ed final, or else disregarded; and if the lat
ter course is adopted, any Of its decisions
may be disreGarded, and we shall find our
selves in a government without law, and in
a state Of anarchy and civil war, involving
consequences thousand times more bane
ful than even the spread Of negro slavery
throughout the land.
The democratic party are willing to abide
by the decision of that court--they are vii
ling to abide b. the constitution as interpre
ted by the proper tribunal. They mean t.
uphold and defend the constitution in all 1t:
provisions and also the Union of the States
They mean to frown down all disregard o
law, everything leading to anarchy and CIV
war, and in conclusion, let me say, they
mean to, and will, triumphantly elect Blu
chanan and Breckenridge. n.