Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-09-04

mifs the bred Scott Democracy to
Retire from Hlm--A Seventeen
Years Connection Severed.
The Democratic party, in conven-
ton, last Thursday, not only endors-
ed the bred Scott decision, but do
clared the concurrence Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, in the
doctrines with regard to the constitu-
tional powers and political rights Of
the States and Territories, which
have been maintained by the Demo
cratic party"
cannot believe that the body of
the Democratic voters can come TO
know and appreciate these things,
without alarm on the subject Of the
relations they sustain TO the party
known rs Democratic. For my own
part, / have been strongly attached
TO the Democratic party-too strong
ly TO abandon it from caprice or sell
fshness-too strongly 10 witness It's
gradual change, from the defense of
State Rights, TO centralism, without
vigorous efforts TO revive It's ancient
faith, and restore its ancient practice.
For years have seen the party ten
dency to Southernism and Centralism
and within the party organization,
| have faithfully assisted othor DEM
ocrats in the endeavor TO restrain this
tendency. l now give up the task as
hopeless. / am no abolitionist. /
am no fanatic. For quito seventeen
years, l have been in the active SER
vice of the Democratic party, and in
constant association with its WORTH
est members. The whole number of
influences to which / have been sub
ject has been unfavorable to the for
nation Of extreme opinions, intoler-
ant of slavery.
But / viii not allow my devotion
TO any party or interest in politics 10
keep me silent, when all tho whole
some rules of law, when oil its con-
structions in favor of liberty, are set
aside, to make room for perversion
Of the constitution in the interest Of
the property in man, and when this
perversion, instead of moving the in
dignation of the whole country, be-
comes matter Of addition to a creed of
that party, which / have labored to
render prosperous, and which i had
once hoped to find always worthy of
my devotion and regard. / will not
worship the new idol Of the Demo-
cratic party. / dare not allow my
respect for the good and true men
who remain with the party, to smoth-
err the sentiment of adherence with
which / regard the last addition to
the creed of that party. No more
Objectionable, no more vitality dan
gerous, no more entirely detestable
thing than is this, was ever APP
proved by party. / speak freely, as
the manner in which ] was taught to
speak by the Democratic party; truly,
as l have ever chosen to speak of the
matters relating TO the common veal.
The endorsement by great party
Of the dictum in the Dred Scott case,
declaring the want of power in Con-
gress, and in the Territorial Legisla-
ture alike, to prevent the introduction
Of slavery, gives that dictum the only
Importance that can be attributed to
IL That endorsement cuts the throat
of popular sovereignty in the terrific
ries, and stabs to the heart every
compromise made on the subject Of
slavery, not actually carried into the
Constitution of the United States.
In vain shall the intending Cover
nor, Mr.. Payne, affect, as he did in the
Convention when nominated, to re-
gard as ''immaterial" the reasoning Of
Judge fancy, leading him to declare
the unconstitutionality of the Mis-
souri, Compromise act. That partic-
ular act of Congress is pronounced
invalid only because all acts, either Of
Congress or in the territorial form,
are necessarily, according to the de-
cision, invalid, so far as they attempt
TO prevent the introduction of slave
property into any territory not COW
cred by State government. re-
peat, the Democratic party and the
South, in giving force and Importance
to this dictam, have put an end TO all
extra-constitutional compromises.
We are free to return to the simple
sovereign rights, as reserved when
the Union was formed. We are FREQ
to reduce the fugitive slave law TO its
proper Dimensions. We are free to
vindicate the dignity Of our Courts,
by compelling obedience to their pro-
cess, even b. so mighty parsonage
as Deputy Marshall of the United
States. We are free TO substitute for
the unwise and dangerous habeas
corpus act introduced by Rev. Mr..
Monroe, such laws, alike vigorous
and free from doubtful CONSTITUTIONAL
ity, as shall make it q sorry business
to despise, here in Ohio, the writ OF
liberty, even in the hands of the hum
blest citizen, ordered to serve it. We
are free, moreover, to insist that no
foot of territory invaded by slavery
under the detestable doctrines Of the
bred Scott decision, shall ever be adj.
ded to the Union, by the votes of men
fairly representing the great State Of
Ohio.
What we arc thus free to do, every
principle held sacred by States like
our own, requires US TO begin, and
shall embolden US TO consumate, even
"though the heavens fall" The sense
in which the North made all the extra
constitutional compromises, has been
rudely stripped of all practical recog'
milton and vitality.
Dear as the Union must be to every
true American heart, it ought not tc
be dearer than public faith, than the
rightsof States, than the conservation
of the constitution in the sense in
which it was accepted, when ratified
by the States. There will be no last
ing peace, till there come an end o
wrong, deception, and encroachment