The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-24
CVeo1tFVtteT EttN111t1 !.
M I u d L, y b u r Y:
WEDN ESDAY, NOV. "a, 1858.
Democratic Difficulties.

= Vh"N JViiiSu III Wculock, anu ITOln
which alliance it has cherished such ex.
.travagant expectations, seems determined
to work the ruin Of both the welded pair,
and doubtless will if the present relations
continue a great length of time. Never
were tolls more perfectly drawn, never
were exactions moro extravagant or more
vigorously exacted. But it is not yet Ger.
tain that Slavery, or the Democrat, party
are to receive permanent benefit from the
extraordinary course which has been pur.
sued for a few years past. The passage
Of the Fugitive Slave Bill was thought to
be q great triumph 10 the South, but it
does not yet appear that Slavery has de.
rived any real advantage from it indeed
it is hardly to he doubted that Southern
supremacy then received its first great
check. The repeal Of the Missouri Comprc-
mise was another triumph of the same
kind, which has recoiled most fearfu1ly
upon the South, and the bred Scott Dc.
cision is n still more fatal triumph, if we
read Alright the signs Of the times. By
this last achievement it was deemed Ger.
tain that Slavery was made free TO enter
any Of the Territories, but it has recently
been discovered hat slavery is 4 creature
Of positive law, aud cannot exist in a
State or Territory without positive en-.
actments in its favor, that it is %impossi.
Bile to hoM slaves in q Territory unless the
holder is upheld by the powers which be,
in the Territory. lie may in1esd take his
property into the Territories, but is power.
less to hoG it unless said property shall
prefer to remain in his possession. 1t
seems probable that the Territories gener.
ally will not come to the aid of the slave.
holder, and therefore we have a lew de.
mand, that the institution be protected in
the Territories by Fede,ai io,0. We find
the demand thus distinctly stated in the
Richmond E0qUner, which is supposed
to speak the mind Of the Administration
and the propagandists:
But, while counselling unity and har.
mony, Virginia is rot unmindful IF the
great questions that are yet unsettled with
regard to Slavery in the Territories. Vir.
ginia sees that though the Constitution
recognizes and the Supreme Court sus.
totns, her right to curry SI0rcS 1uto q
TfrruorY, yet she also remembers what
Judge Douglas SO pointedly brought to
light in Illinois. that this act may be ren.
dered null and void by the non.action of
the Territorial Legislature. While vir.
ginia recognizes no power that can compel
a Territorial Legislature to enact those
laws necessary to protect the constitution.
al rights oil the Shareholders, yet she docs
hold that Congress has The rj2ht. and
IS IN du'y 6ou"f, IN project S2orerV in
The TsTnr'es until the people Of a Ter.
ritory, when IN the eve of forming a
State government, may decide the ques-
ton finally for the future State.
This question is one above the plat
forms Of parties and mist be met and de.
cided, co1stitutionally in favor of protec.
tion; or unconsiitutionally against it. 1t
ca"not ami must mt be ~conpfomised;
If tn Cincinnati platform docs not pro.
vide for the question it must be made to
meet this issue.
This question of protection to Slave.
ry in the Territories will have to he met.
and the South will demqnd her constitu.
tional rights; these rights are recognized
in the Constitution asserted in the Kansas.
Nebraska bill, admitted by the Cincinnati
Platform, and have been sanctioned and
adjudicated by the Supreme Court; and,
with this array Of authority, he .South
WtH dema"d Me /~egtShytion necessary
to''"der rahd HE rights SO amply re.
coenieed by the party, the country, the
Con2ress,thc Supreme Court and the Con.
siitution.
"Tac right to reclaim fugitive slaves
was given by the Constitution; the North.
ern States refused to legisIatc for the prac.
teal enforcement Of this constitutional
right, and Congress was compelled to pre-.
vide the legislation necessary to the use.
fulness Of this provision. So is it with
regard to Slavery in the Territories.
There 10 no powef to coerce a Territorial
Legislature 10 do its constitutional duty,
and Congress mu,t app/u HE legislation
withheld BY the direlict Territory"
Such is the new demand of the
South. supported by the Administration
party, but it is nearly certain that they
will not be sustained BY the Northern
wing Of the party which follows the lead.
ershir of Douglas. In the Chicago Times,
his organ, is given the platform of the
Douglas party, one plank of which is as
follows:
~. They support tho decision Of the
Supreme Court in the bred Scott case, in
the sense that it guarantees 10 the owner,
ct slave property al equality with the
owners OF other property in introducing
IL into the T.rritOrias. oontan1;oo -