The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-08-11
bower I'd lepislSte IN regard 10 the i'd


power to legislatc III regard 10 the i'd
stitutions of territory could not exist
in two places at the same time, it must
be either in the hands Of the people or
Of Congress, and as no delegation of the
power had yet been made to Congress.
it remained with the people. His op-
ponent had said that the Democratic
doctrine is that the Constitution carries
slavery into the territories. He knew
there was no such sentiment contained
in it. The Democratic doctrine was,
that the power to legislate upon the sub
ject belonging TO the people. That this
was no. opinion of his own. no fine the.
ory; but it was the principle which had
entered into the organization Of the
Territory of Iowa; that law had been
enacted by the Territorial Legislature Of
Iowa, to prevent the emigration of ne
groes to this State unless they brought
with them a certificate of freedom, and
would give bonds in $500 to keep the
peace and not become a county charge,
and in case they failed to procure the
certificate or bond they should be put
up at public auction and sold to the
highest bidder for the space of six
months. His friend had Better com
mence. here, to-day, in the free State Of
Iowa with his philanthropy, for that
statute to-day is the law of Iowa. He
has Republican Legislature, Republi-
can Courts, Republican Judges, Repub-
lican officers, and has every opportunity.
Let him commence at home. The peo-
pie of a territory to-day had the same
right to legislate upon the subject Of
slavery that the people of Iowa had to
enact the law to which he had referr-
ed.
In the commencement of the cam
paign his opponent had declared him
self in favor of the equality of the black
and white races. But when he (the
speaker had presented to him his own
little daughter side by side with negro
asking her hand he declared that he
would take it all back. His friend to
prove his position had gone back to tho
days of the revolution and the formation
of the Constitution but he believed
that this government was formed for
white men and that it was not the inten-
ton of the trainers Of the government
to place their negro slaves on An equal
ity with themselves, for all the States
were then slave states. Mr.. Letting
we'll then reviewed briefly the history Of
the acquisition Of the territory out of
which new states has been made and
from cases of the admission of Califor-
mia and Minnesota as free states and the
application of Oregon with free Con-
stitinn, proved the utter foolishness Of
the pretended fears of the Republican
leaders of the aggressions of the slave
power.
It might be necessary for him to give
his opinion upon question which had
recently agitated the country. If he
had been in Congress during the last
session, he aoould have voted against tAe
original Lecompton Bill, against the Eng
Hsh Bill, and for tie CriAsnden Mont
gonaery Bill as the only true exposition Of
Me Democratic principle Of popular sov-
ereignty. That question was not now
before Congress, it had gone to the peo-
pie for settlement. Whatever would BE
its fate it was settled, and when the poo
pie are prepared to try another constitu
ton representing and carrying with it
the will of the people, if in Congress.
the only question he will ask will be, is
it republican in its form?
Mr.. Leffingwell then proceeded TO
argue at some length the doctrine Of
State rights, showing the similarity of
Territorial rights. He then proceeded
to say. that his opponents doctrine Of
Congressional sovereignty wottld work
awkwardly if reversed. That if Con-
gress had the power to legislate slavery
out of a Territory, it had, as matter Of
course. right to legislate it in, the
same power TO enforce, as to restrict and
prohibit.
He then declared himself Ill favor of
the Improvement of Rivers and Har-
bors of a national character, subject to
the Contitution, and briefly reviewed
the Philadelphia Platform upon which
his opponent stood, showing up its
many contradictions aud inconsistent
cies.
He then quoted from the National
Era. and from republican paper pub
lished in Jones Co., articles declaring
in favor of the abolition of slavery, Con-
stitution or no Constitution.
Mr.. Lefangwell closed, his address
with most masterly defence of the
principles Of the democracy which in
culcate honor to the laws and obedience
to the judgements Of courts. He would
live and die by the Constitution and
when that man should approach to lop
off one single branch of thS tree, the
nation would rise up and cry
sMadman, spare that tree
Touch not a single bough,
In youth it sheltered me,
And IN protect it now"
Mr. Lefingwell then sat down amid
loud and continued applause.
Rail Roads.
A correspondent of Emery's Journal