The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-09-25
NO. 20.

and New Mexico, the South had gained any
real advantage, although it was expressly pro-
vided that, in coming into the Union, there
should be no-restriction in regard to slavery
If the people Of those Territories should be
friendly to slavery, they might and probably
would take eilcctual measures for its protection.
If, on the other hand, they should be hostile.
they would certainly not adopt such affirmative
legislation as would be necessary for the pro-
lection and security Of slave property.
II was therefore idle to say to us that We had
the right to take our slaves into the Territories.
when we would have no legal means of pres
erving or recamng them when there five
have Constitutional right to take our slaves
into those Territories ii becomes the duty Of
the Government to protect rs in the enjoyment
Of the right. 1t is for the very purpose Of Sc
curing and protecting such rights that govern
mcnts are instituted. IF the Territorial author
itics, animated by spirit of hostility to the
STAKEHOLDER, refuse TO fulfil this duty, then it
devolves upon the Federal Government itself
Now, we ask the Union whether this is not
a sound, logical doctrine The Supreme Court
has recognized the unqualified right of slave
holders 10 take their slave property into the
territories. Since the Union IL So apt at ask
ing questions, perhaps it will not object to an
swer d question ii turn. we therefore ask the
Union whether il will supporta proposition, if
introduced into Congress to pass laws for the
protection Of slave property in the Territories
of the United States. Without such laws, the
mere judicial assertion Of the right is barren
and useless IF the Union will support such
proposition, it must admit that the people of o
Territory may, in the absence of Federal inter-
vention, practically exclude slavery by refusing
to institute such regulations as may be reqiir-
ed for its protection because, otherwise, Con-
gressional legislation would be suucrfuous. If
il refuse to support the proposition, it virtual
ly conicsses that there is no longer any obliga-
ton resting upon the Federal Government to
protect Shareholders in those rights which are
admitted to be imprescrptible and inviolabe.
So far, then, from Douglas having repudia-
ted the Drcd Scott decision, he has said moth
ing which is not perfectly consistent with that
decision, and with the views expressed long ago
BY leading Southern statesmen Of tho most pro-
nonuced State-Rights opinions He did not
20 on 10 say that, III the event alluded to, it
would become the duty Of tho Federal Govern
mcnt to pass rcmcdia! laws for the protection
Of slave property in the territories. The eXi
gcnccs of the discussion did not require it, The
Supreme Court did not assert 1.-THE Union
itself has not yet admitted it Nevertheless.
| it is the conclusion which All lneyorabc logic
draws from the principles of the Dred Scott
decision, from the doctrines long maintained
| by Southern Democratic statesmen, and from
the legal proposition asserted by Senator Doug
las in his Freeport speech
The Union indicts Senator Douglas for her.
csy III stating that the original Kansas bill, "in
and by itself, gave to the people of the Terri
tory the full power and the full authority over
the subject Of slavery, negative and affirmative,
to introduce or exclude, so far as the Constitu-
tion of the United States would permit" This
is merely an amplilication Of the terms Of the
Kansas bill itself, and Of the Cincinnati plat
form--both Of which declare that the people
Of the Territories have the right TO regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way,
Subject only 70 the Constitution Of the United
States"
That i the precise limit of the authority OF
Congress, and it is the precise limit of the an.
; thorty which Congress has delegated to tho
; people Of the Territories. The assertion of q
power to admit is Of course superlluous Tho
= exclusion results negatively from the omission
/ to legslate, and not allirmatiyely from righ
to prohibit-a right which is not possessed by
= Congress, and therefore can not be delegated
: to the agent Of Congress
M