Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-18
New Issue-Next Demand of Slavery.

The very important article taken from the
Richmond Enquirer, a paper that has sympa-
thized with Douglas in the Illinois contest, has
been copied into and endorsed by the Washing
ton Union. 1t sets up the demand on the part
of the slavehOlders, that legislation shall be had
by Congress to uphold and enforce their right
to hold slaves in any and every Territory of the
United States, no matter how large a majority
of the people may be opposed to the admission
of the institution of human slavery. To admit
and protect it there, in direct defiance of " pop
ular sovereignty" is the new demand of the
South and Douglas and the Douglas organs of
the North will submit to this requirement in or
der to find favor with their slave-masters of the
Charleston Convention. Mark the prediction.
The first step has slready been taken. Mr..
Douglas used his Freeport platform declaring
that he believed the Territorial Legislature to
possess the right to exclude slavery before be-
coming State, and that unfriendly legislation
was right belonging to the people if they
chose to exercise it, just long enough to answer
his purpose in securing free-so votes in Illinois
1t was on tits platform and this alone that he
vindicated the consistency of the doctrine of
popular sovereignty. 1t is well known that the
Chicago Times is the mouth piece of Mr.. Doug
las Its editorials on matters of doctrine in
Volving his wing of the party, are the dictation
of Douglas himself Here is what the Times
now says of him and the partisans who follow
his lead
They support the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Dred Scott case, in the sense that
it guarantees to the holders of slave property an
equality with the holders of other property in
Introducing it into the Territories contending,
also, that as slave property is thus placed Jn an
equal footing with other property, it, like all
other property, must oe subject to all such local
lava of the Territory as do not infringe upon the
Constitution of the United Stltes; that slave
property being thus placed on an equality with
other property, if it Tt quire higher and further
legis tton and security than Is afforded to other
property, and the Legislature of the Territory
should decide not to discriminate IN It's favor to
that extent, then the failure to obtain that
higher protection than is afforded to other
property, is misfortune attending that descrip-
tion of property for which the Democratic party
have no remedy and are not responsible.
The Freeport platform, and the Dred Scott
decision, comments the Missouri Democrat,
were irreconcilable. Mr.. Douglas accordingly
steps off from the FreepOrt platform, and as
csnds cautiously that of the Dred Scott de-
cision He now says that the Constitution of
the United States carries slavery into Terrific
~, that it stands there on the footing of other
property, that The people may refuse its higher
guarantees-but they cannot detrGct from its
ssezrty OF Gnnul itS existence, as that i0ouId be
a "loeaI lal0 Infringing upon the Constitution Of
the United States" Thds at a single supple
mental exposition he wipes away the last yes
tige of popular sovereignty on the subject of
slavery in the Territories. The people or the
Assembly may abandon the right to legislate
favoraby to slavery; but they cannot legislate
adversely.
The New York Herald ays:-"AH the lead
ing Democratic organs of the South inform US
that the decree recognizing slavery makes it |
the constitutional duty of Congress to pass
special code of laws for the protection of slave
ry in all the Territories. This is the issue
1ekiek must be settled, either for or against Mr..
Douglas, before we can undertake 20 pronounce
him sufficiently sound upon the goose ques-
ton to enter within the sanctuary of the
Charleston Convention"
Read and ponder the new issue and demand
of Slavery as boldly proclaimed by the Rich
mond Enquirer