Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-24
Nat,onaI Democratic rIeeting.

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where chosen, viz
President-BENJ. ANDREWS.
Vice Presidents-LEvI JOHNSON, Dr.. RoBER,
S. STRONG, RICHARD HUssEY, JOHN B. WIG
MAN, DR.. ]. J. CONLAN, WM. MIDDLETON.
Ezeeutiue Committee-WM. MELHINcH, R. A
DAVIDSON, WM. ABBEY, ALEX. N. WALTER, jon,
G. MACK, RoBr. REILLY, E. s. CARLETON
TreaSurer-CHARLEs WOODWARD.
Secretary-Dr. WV. H GAMER
Mr.. ANDREWS, upon being conducted to th'
Chair, remarked as follows
GENTLEMEN Il return you my acknowledge
ments for the honor you haze done me in elect
ing me to preside over your deliberations. It il
now several years since this Association was
first organized, and the circumstances under
which it came into existence, and the purpose:
for which 1t was instituted are well known tC
most of you now present 1t was instituted
gentlemen, for the purpose of advancing demo
cratic principles-sound, conservative and ma
tional in their character-principles may add
which rest for their foundation upon the Consti.
tuition of the United Stases. Principles such as
these, it was Justly conceived, we're adapted to
the wants, views and necessities of democrats
of every section OF our widely extended country;
and their general dissemination and adoption
were calculated, it was believed, to strengthen,
more than anything else, the bonds of this glori-
Gus Union, promote the happiness of the peo-
pie, aud render permanent and lasting our re-
publican form of government.
Our hopes and expectations, gentlemen, in
this respect, can never be gratiied or fully real
lied unless while we are enjoying our own rights,
privileges and immunities under the Constitu-
ton, we are willing, at the same time, to allow
our fellow citizens, residing in other sections of
the country, the privileges Of enjoying, unmo-
Tested, the rights and immunities to which they
also are entitled under the same Constitution
The Constitution itself, in the first instance,
was formed in the spirit of Cancellation. 1t was
the result of mutual concession, accommodation
and compromise. These Colonies, after they
had severed their relations with the mother
country, and before the adoption of the Consti-
tuition, were, to all intents and purposes, sove-
reign and Independent powers. They were just
as Independent of one another as this govern
ment is Independent of Great Britain They
came together for a special purpose-the pur-
pose of mutual safety and protection. They
agreed to form general government. To ac-
complish this it became necessary that each
should surrender small portion of its rights
and privileges 1t was done. The powers
granted were few, simply and well defined -
They are especially enumerated in that instru.
ment, which has justly become the pride and
glory of the country. All powers, not especially
surrendered, were reserUed to the States and to
the people thereof. Among others was the
right of the people of the different States ''to
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way" This power was never surrendered
1t is one of the inherent rights of the people
1t never will be surrendered as long as the peo-
pie are capable of self government.
While therefore we of Ohio are protected in
the enjoyment of this privilege, we should be
willing to accord the same to the citizens of
other States; and whether we are willing or not,
they will still be protected in the enjoyment of
their rights because they are secured to them
by the same high guarantees which protect and
secure our own.
Our willingness, therefore, as party to pro-
teet and defend our fellow citizens of other
States, and of every State, in the enjoyment of
all the rights and privileges to which they are
entitled under the Constitution is that which
pre- eminently distinguishes us from every other
party. Il is that, fellow-citizens which entities
US to the proud pre-eminence of being the only
National party in existence-which entities u.s.
in fine, to the name of the great Constitutional
party of the Union. All other parties are ne
cessarily sectional. They are SECTIONAL in their
limits sectional in their Objects sectional in
their character and sectional in their influence
and cannot therefore prevail. The principles of
The National Democracy are the same IN Maine
that they are in Louisiana, and the same in
Louisiana that they are in California. The Ma
,ional Democrat is everywhere, under the flag of
his country, contending for the separate, distinct
md equal rights of the people of the several |
States, and battling man ulIy for the great prin-
;iples of our common Constitution.
The relations and powers which subsist be.
ween the States and the general government |
ire pretty well settled, but those which subsist |
etween the latter and the Territories, are, by |
he terms of the Constitution, not so clearly de
med Hence the diversity of sentiment which
xists, even among National Democrats, upon
his subject; and the protracted discussion
which has grown out of the question. The
ramers of the Constitution, apprehend, at the
me of the adoption of that instrument, never
such an accession or enlargement
f the Territory of the United States as that
which has taken place during the first half of
he present century Hence no adequate pro-
ision was made for such an expansion of pow
r. The only clause having any reference to
he subject is that which provides that Congress
hall make all needful rules and regulations re-
pecting the Territory or other property of the
-nited States. By some individuals this is con-
trued into grant of power sufficient to pass
Il laws, of whatever kind, necessary for the reg
lation of the affairs of the people of the Terri
,ries. By Others it is eontended that this pow
Is limited in its exercise to the control and
isposition of the public lands, forts, drSenaLs.
nd other property belonging 10 the United
tates; and that the people, who are the source ,
all power in government like this, have :
ill, notwithstanding this provision, the power
regulate their domestic concerns in their own
ay. They further contend that Congress is
1t only limited in the manner above specified,
It thai it is restricted at best, to the passage
an act organizing the Territory and the ad-
ission of State, when she shall have applied
ith republican Constitution.
The uniform practice of the government, a
nee the adoption of the Constitution, has, with
e or two exceptions, been the passage of acts v
ganizing the Territories. The exceptions l
we been Michigan and California The peo-
e of these States, without waiting the action
Congress in the passage of organic acts, as A
med all the powers and functions of sove-
gnty, organized State Governments, applied V
d were admitted into the Union upon terms
perfect equality with the other States OF the n
Hence it has been argued, that,
the incipient stages at least, the necessity of
y Intervention upon the part of Congress
es not exist.
While it seems to be admitted by Democrats,
every section of the country, that the people :
the several States are permitted to remove
tn their property, or that which is consider (
property and recognized as such by the Con-
tuition and the laws of the different States, IN
o the Territories of the United States-which =
, the common property of all the States,
ere exists some diversity of sentiment in re- 7
rd to the powers and functions of the local
while it is yet Territory, in regu- II
ing and controlling the same. The power II
st rest somewhere. The Supreme Court th
We decided that Congress cannot interfere h
.h Slavery in the Territories; and hence it Sa
been commended that CoDuress havino M ri