The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-22

the Constitution! (Cheers.) l do not choose,
therefore to 60 into any argument with Mr..
Lincoln in reviewing the various decisions
which the Supreme Court has made, either
upon the bred Scott case, or any other.
have DO idea Of appealing from the decision
OF the Supreme Court upon Constitutional
question to the decision Of q tumultuOus
town meeting. fCheers)
am aware that once an eminent LAWYER
OF thus city, now no more, said that the State
OF Illinois had the most perfect judicial sys.
TEN in the world, subject TO but one excep-
ton, which could be cured by a slight
amendment, and that amendment was so TO
change the law as to allow an appeal
from the decisions Of the Supreme Court Of
Illinois, on all constitutional questions to
two justices Of the Peace. Great laughter
and applausc.) My friend Mr.. Lincoln,
who sits behind me, reminds me that that
proposition was made when | was Judge
Of the Supreme Court. BE that a. it may
! do not think that fact adds any greater
weight Of authority to the suggestion. IRE
newed laughter and appause.) 1t matters
not with me who was on the bench, whether
Mr.. Lincoln or myself, whether lockwood
or Smith, q fancy or Marshall the
decision OF the highest tribunal known TO
the Constitution Of the country must be final
until it has been reversed by an equally
high authority. (C'ies of bravo" and az
plause.)
Hence, | am opposed TO this doctrine of
Mr.. Lincoln, by which he proposes to take
an appeal from the decision of the Supreme
: nf ha init aI -
constitutional questions to Republican eau.
Gus sitting in the country. "A voice-"call
it Freesoil," and cheers. Yes, or to any
other caucus or town meeting, whether il be
Republican, American or Democratic
| resdect the decisions of that august tribu-
nal | shall always bow in Difference to
them. ! am law-abiding man. will
sustain the Constitution of my country as
our fathers have made it. will yield ODE
dience to the laws, whether like them or
not, as find them on the statute book.
will sustain the Judicial tribunals and con-
St tuted authorities IN all matters within the
pale Of their jurisdiction, as defined by the
Constitution. (Applause) But / am
equally free to say, that the reason assigned
by Mr.. Lincoln for resisting thu. decision Of
TIE Supreme Court in the bred Scott case
does not in itself meet my appreciation. He
objects TO it because that decision declared
that negro descended from African parents
who were brought here and sold az slaves is
not and cannot be, United States citizen.
He says it is wrong because it deprives the
negro OF the benefits of that clause of the
Constitution which says that citizens OF one
State shall enjoy all the privileges and i'm
munities OF citizens Of the several States ;
in other words, he thinks it is wrong because
it deprives the negro of the privileges, i'm.
munities, and rights of citizenship, which
pertain, according to that decision, only to
white men. am free to say to you, that
in my opinion, this government Of ours is
founded on white basis. (Great applause J
II was made by the white man, for the ben.
eft Of the white man, to be administered by
white men in such manner as they should
determine. (Checrs.) II is also true that
q negro, an Indian, or any other man of an
inferior race TO o white man, should be per.
mtted to enjoy and humanity requires that
he should have, all the rights, privileges and
immunities which he il capable of exercising
consistent with the safety of society !
would give him every right and every privi-
lege which his capacity would enable him to
enjoy, consistent with the good of the soci-
ETY. in which he lived. c'BravoD
But you may ask me what are these rights
and these privileges. My answer is that
each State must decide for itself the nature
and extent of these rights. f. Hear, hear,
and applause) Illinois has decided for her.
| calt Va hos, lalt hot 4 h. ,ban
not BE- slave, and we have at the same
time decided that he shall not vote, or serve
on juries, or enjoy political privileges. |
am content with that system OF policy which
VIC have adopted for ourselves. (Cheers.)
deny the right Of any other State to COM
plain of our policy in that respect, or to
attempt to change it. On the other hand,
the State OF Maine has decided that IN that
State negro may vote on an equality with
the white man. The sovereign power OF
Maine had the right to prescribe that rule
tor herself.
Illinois has no right to complain OF Name
for comforting the right upon negro suffrage,
nor has Maine any right to interfere with, or
complain Of Illinois because she has denied
negro suffrage. THAT'S 20. and cheers. y
The State of New York has decided by her
Consultation that negro may vote, provi-
dei that he owns $3.50 worth Of property,
but not otherwise. The rich negro can vote
hat the poor one cannot. (IAughter) Al
though that distinction does not commend IL
self to my Judgment, yet assert that the
sovereign power OF New York had right
TO prescribe that form Of the elective fran
chise. Kentucky, Virginia. and other
States. have provided that negroes, or GER
tain class OF them in those States shall be
slaves. having neither civil or political rights.
Without endorsing the wisdom Of that de-
cision, | assert that Virginia has the same
power by virtue OF her sovereignty to pro-
tect slavery within her limits as Illinois has
to Danish il forever from our own borders.
f. Hear, hear and applause.)
assert the right Of each State 10
decide for itself on all these QUESTIONS and