Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-08-27
PLYMOUTH, IND.
Thursday .MOAling, August 9th, 1851.
Territories, and the Power
Of Congress.


One Of the prominen. issues between
the Democratic and Republican parties for
the last year, has been ii reference to the
power of Congress to establish or prohibit
slavery in the Territories. The Democrats
contend that Congress has no constitution
al power to legislate ON the subject; while
on the other hand, the Republicans argue
hat Congress las the power to prohibit or
testablisArit in all the Territories belonging
to the United States, and that it shall ex-
ercise that right in prohibiting slavery from
these Territories until they make their
own organic laws.
The late elections show conclusivcly
that the Democrats will have from 10 to
25 of a majority in the next Congress,
which will be amply sufficient for all prac-
teal purposes
The Republican papers have charged
the Democratic party as being Shareholders
in principle, and as being in favor of ex-
tending slavery into all the new Territories,
and the very few slections that they have
carried of late have been done by misrep-
resenting the princieles held BY the Demo
crrts. But their power to mislead the
masses on ibis subject is gone--the wind
is out of their sails.
If the Democrats are in favor of the ex-
tension of slavery (as charged by the Re-
publicaps )and Congress has the power to
establish it in the Territories, as held by
the Republicans, and the Democrats hay
ing "a decided majority, we may expect sla-
very to be established in all the Territories
before the next session of Congress closes,
and if such is not the case, it will prove
that the Democratic party entertain no such
views as the Republicans charge them as
holding.
1t occurs to us that we will not hear so
much about the power of Congress on the
slavery question for the next twelve months
as we have for that time past. The doc
trine suited their purpose as long as they
had the majority in Congress, but since
the" spectre has departed they will not
urge the matter quite SO strongly as form
erly. As the Democrats have the Presi
dent, Vice President, and a majority ii
both houses Of Congress; and of course car
carry any measure entertained by the party
We conclude that unless slavery is estab
hshed in the Territories by an act of Con
gress, that there will be all the evidence
afforded that could be required in any case
to prove that the position of the party wa.
Intentionally misrepresented for the fur
therance of a sinking cause.
It's now eighty years since our indie
pendence was declared; since that time the
Democrats have administered the govern
ment some three fourths Of the time o.
more. Since then we as a people have
grown from a mere handful, comparativel,
speaking. to nation numbering % or q
millions. Never has nation on eartl
been more prosperous than our own. PEG
pie have the inestimable privilege of "wor
Shipping under their own vine and fig tree
and none dare modest them;" W have IA,
taxes to pay for the support of any relig
ION only at our option: we are protected II
our character and property--labor receive
fair reward; the earth yields an abun
dance TO supply our necessary wants, an,
there are millions of uncutiyated lands il
the west where those of small means cal
procure home.
In view of all these things We conclud
that there is sufficient evidence to satisf
the most incredulous, that there is no rsl
to run by supporting the party that has il
the main, been instrumental in bringin.
about our present prosperous and happ,
condition.