The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-11-20

ing on the same platform then that do now,
that | was pretty good Democrat. Renew
cd applause. They now tell me that | am
not Il Democrat, because assert that the peo-
Pile of Territory, as well as those OF State
have the right to decide for themselves whcth.
cr slavery can or cannot exist in such Terrific
ry. Let me read what James Buchanan said
on that point when he accepted the Democrat
ic nomination for the Presidency in 1856. In
his letter of acceptance he used the following
language:
The recent legislation of Congress respecting do
nestle slavery. derived as IL has been from the orig
inal and pure fountain of legitimate political power,
the will of the majority, promises ere long to allny
the dangerous excitement This legislation is lonnd-
cd upon principles ancient rs free government H.
self aud in accordance with them has simply dcclar
ed that the people of Territory like those ola State
shall decide for themselves WHETHER SLAVERY SHALL.
or SHALL Nor EXIST WITHIN THEIR LIMITS
Dr. Hope will there find my answer to the
question he propounded to me before | COM
menced sp aking. Vociferous shonts of ap.
plause OF course no man will consider it an
answer, who is outside of the Democratic or
ganiaaion, blots Democratic nominations, and
indirectly aids to put AboItionists into power
over Democrats. But whether DR.. Hope con.
sdcrS it an answer or not every fair minded
man will see that James Buchanan has answer
ed the question: and has asserted that thepco.
pie Of a Territory, like those of State, shall
decide for themselves whether slavery shall or
shall not exist within their limits answer
specifically, if yon want Il further answer, and
say that while under the decision Of the Sll.
prcmc Court, as recorded in the opinion OF
Chief Justice fancy slaves are property like
all Other property and can be carried into ter
ritory OF the United States the same as any
other description Of property, yet when yon
get them there they are subject to the local
law of the territory just ike all other proper.
ty. You will find in recent speech delivered
by that able and eloquent statesman, Hon.
Jefferson Davis, ut Bangor,* Maine, that he
took the same view of this subject that did
in my Frceport speech. He there said
"If hc inhabitants Of any territory should refuse to
enact such laws and regulation would give srcuri-
ty to their property or to his it would be- rendered
moro or loss yaueless in proportion to the difficulties
Of holding il without such protection IN the case Of
properly in the labor Of man. what /, usually call
rd slave property. the Insecurity would be- great
that the owner could not ordinarily retain IT, There
fore. thongh the right would remain the remedy BE-.
| ing withheld il would follow that the owner Wou.d
br practically drbarrcd. BY the circumstances Of the
cue, from taking slave property nio territory
! whore the sense Of the inhabitants was opposed "a it.,
introduction. SO much for the Of repeated ial!acy
q forcing slavery upon any community
Youwl also find that the distinguished speak
er Of the present House OF Representatives
Hon James l.. Orr, constructed the Kansas
and Nebraska bill in this same way in $50
and also that great intellect of the South, Alex
IL ScphenS, pnt the same construction Epon
it in Congress that did in my Freeport speech
The whole South are ra!Iying to the support
of the doctrine that if the people Of territory
want slavery they have a right TO have it, and
If they do not want it, that 40 power on earth
can force it upon them. | hold that there is
30 principle on earth more sacred to all the
friends Of freedom than that which says that
DO institution, 10 law, 10 constitution, should
be forced on an unwilling people contrary to
their wishes: and | assert that the Kansas and
Nebraska bill contains that principle. 1t is
the great principle contained in that bill II
is the principle Oh which Jnmas Buchanan was
made President Without that principle he
never would hare been made President Of the
United States. ! will never violate or aban.
don that doctrine if have to stand alone
liurrah for Douglas. | have resisted the
threats of power on the one side, and seduction
Oh the other, and have stood immoynbly for
that principle, fighting forit when assaiIed by
Northern mobs, or threatened by Southern hos
tility. "That's the trnth," and cheers. !
have defended it against the North and the
South, and | will defend it against whoever
asSlils it, and will follow it wherever its To-
gcal conclusions lead me. $50 will we ALL"
hnrrah for Douglas say to yon that there
is but one hope, one safety for this country, and
that is to stand immoyably by thai principle
which declares the right of each State and
cacl erriiory to decide these questions for
then elves. Hear him, hear him This GOV
ernmcnt was founded on that principle, and
must be administered in the same sense in which
it was founded
But the Abolition party really think that
under the Declaration Of Independence, the
negro is equal to the white man, and that me-
gro equality is an nalienable right conferred
by the Almighty, and hence, that all human
laws in violation of it are null and void. With
such men it is no use for me to argue | hold
that the signers Of the Declaration of indie
pcudence had no reference to negroes at all,
when they declared all men to be created
equal, They did not mean negroes, nor the