The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-30

admission oil N anstS uHQer the LecOmP
ton Constitution, and may regret th
circun stances which compels it, the,
will nevertheless firmly adhere to tn
party, suffer- g no q.estions of matters
of policy alone to separate them from
the great democratic family of the Union
but cordially meeting with us win man
fully s,rue gle to perpetuate democrati,
psiaciples aid preserve the Union.
have sa d this much, gentlemen, ex
plaDatory of the origin of the "instruc
tions, and to vindicate myself and fel
low democrats in the course which the
pressure If circuu auces has compelled
us to pursue. Iu relation to the resp
luton respecting the admission of Kan.
sss iu whatever light it may be regard
ed by others, | claim that It does not
prohibit our Senators and Represents
tives from voting for the measure, as
shall hereafter demonstrate; and were
a member from Ohio, l certainly
should vote for her immediate admission.
and justify the act under the resolutions
of instruction of the 0hio-Legislature
1t was cause of congratulation to the
democracy of the Union, that the prin
ciple of popular sovereignty, embodied
in the Kansas Nebraska act, and adopt
ed in the Cincinnati Platform. triumph
ed in the election of james Buchsnan
to the Presidency.
We well remember how bitterly that
issue was fought, by our Republican op
poneuts, aud what herculeap efforts were
made to defeat US in that contest. Blu.
firmly united 10 The great struggle, the
party of the nation were successful over
the party of section, ard the announce
meut of the fact caused tbs patriots
heart to beat more freely in the prospect
of the continuance of the brotherly bonds
of our national coufederacy which had
been seriously threatened by the devices
of a desperate opposition.
It will not be forgotten that the prin
cipal poll ical capital of our adversaries
was d. wn from the difficulties in Kan
sas These, indeed, were almost the
ouly elements of opposition, and while
he two platforms laid down their dis
riuctiye features as to the sovereignty OF
Congress and the sovereignty of the peo-
pie, yet, the real practical question was.
whether any more slave States should be
added to the Union.
The Democratic party asserted and
IN mainr aimed that the people eff the Terli-
tory were sovereign, and had the right
when framing their organic act. prepar
atory to ADMISSION into the Union as a
State, to fashion their institutions in
their own way, subject, only, to the con
stitution of the United States. That
they alone had the right to say whether
they would or would uot tolerate the re
latiou Of slavery, and that Congress had
10 power to exclude them by reason of
the adoption of either alternative. II
.he people of the Territory desired sla
very within its borders, there was moth
lug to prevent it from being Immediate
fy admitted as State recognizing the
institution, or rather let me say, the
relation" Of slavery. If on the other
.tano they chose to exclude slavery, they
we're equally entitled to admiss.ou aud
could not be denied By reason of any
particular action or particular opinions
of the people.
The Republicans, on the other hand,
coptended that '.Congyess has exclusive
power over the Territories. ard that it
rs heir duty to prohibit iu the Terrific.
rie's, those twin relics of barbarism, po.
ligamy aud slavery"
From the repeated assertions of their
leaders, both upon the stump aud the
halls of our National Legislature. there
is no doubt but it was, and is, the delib
craze policy and purpose of the Repub-
Iican party to resist the admission of any
more slave States into the Union. This
has been repeatedly asserted by many ol
them during their pvrsunaf daiiscuseions
upon the question. Feeling that the
power by her numerical strength is with
The north, they have invoked the aid of
Congress to further that purpose, and
by their inf .mmatory appeals to the pzs-
s ons and prejudices of the people, they
hope co succeed in their proscriptive auc
sectional designs.
But, gentleman, thanks to the good
sense and patriotic sentiment of the Dem
ocraEic party, the true principles of re-
pullman confederacy prevailed. We
came out of the contest victorious, aud
the doctrine of popular sovereignty re-
ceived an unqualified endorsement by a
majority of the States OF the Uoion.
We are rot here to day to re-argue
that question. Like all Others of kim
dred nature in the history of our gov
ernment, it has been de6nitively settled
in favor of the Democracy. Its bitter
est opponents at first, are now its wal m.
est advocates. aud the broadest ia itl
praise, are members of the Republican
party, who advocated the admission OF
Ksnss under the Topeka constitution,
which not only wanted the sanction Of
the people Of Kausas, but was subject
20 tbas saIferation a,,d ama,dnnapt of tha