The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-10
THE DRIED SCOTT DECISION REpUDIATED.

Will the Times answer MS Does the constitution
carry slavery anywhere That is more patent to the
case than the words of any decision. Journal
No slavery exists in several of the States under the
constitution. Other States and Territories may under
the constitution establish slavery but slavery exists
where is it carried anywhere, by nyfue oerodoa OF
the constitution.
We clip the above paragraph from the Chicago
Times to indicate the danger into which some Of
friends are drifting by abandoning the democratic
position of the administration upon popular sover-
eighty. A few months ago, and the inaugural Of
President Buchanan, followed as it was by the de.
cison of the Supreme Court in the bred Scott case,
was hailed with one acclaim from end Of this
Union to the other imbodying the doctrine of the
democratic party the slavery question. It
the first time in the history of the agitation of the
question where and when the North and the South
stood upon common platform, rendered impregna
BILE from the fact that it had received the sanction Of
the Legislative, the executive, and the judiciary de-
parments Of the government.
II seems, however, that when the practical opera
ton of the principle is brought before the country
either from timidity other cause, some few
disposed to hesitate; the result of which is
seen in the total abandonment of principle which
supposed and had hoped no democrat would
ever deny. How inconsistent is the position Of tho
Times with the deserved compliments that every
democratic journal in the Union paid to President
Buchanan's letter to the clergymen of Connecticut!
These reflections givenmore in than anger,
for as certain az the shines the reputation OF
the doctrine to which have referred will land the
dissenters in the ranks of the opposition. Our only
security as political organization is to maintain the
principles Of the party at all and every hazard,
whether the working of the offends the preiu-
dices Of this that section. Having vindicated our
principles fearlessy and boldly, we need have no
fears as to the verdict of the people.
On the reading Of the Presidents message, day be-
fore yesterday, Colonel Jefferson Davis replied brief
ly but very forcby, to the remarks of Judge Doug
las upon the position of the President in relation to
the Kansas convention. Onr reporter being seated
in the gallery he heard very imperfectly what the
senator from Mississippi said, and therefore made
very imperfect report of his remarks. We hasten,
however, to publish these remarks as we find them
in the Globe of yesterday, whose reporter, having
position better adapted to hearing, has doubtless
given them correctly:
"Mr. DAVIS. Mr. President, think il Is premature
TO discuss the message. do not propose TO do The
remarks of the two honorable senators my right seem
to be directed entirely to the action Of the convention
and to the phrase about the people being left free to form
their institutions In their own way could scarcely in
sttute argument proposition plain that the
people may act either by popular vote through their
delegates and it is denial of sovereignty to the people
To say they have not the power 10 elect their delegates
and TO invest them with authority to form instrument
which shall be binding the body polite They might
If they chose by popular vote settle the whole question
They did choose to have delegates in convention They
might If they had chosen have directed those dele
gates TO refer the question back and might the
body polite direct the legislature to submit every act tos
popular vote II rests them TO decide way the
other do not understand the doctrine to the extent OF
the remarks that are made -