Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-10
political.
from the Washington Union Of the l4th instl
A MOST PERTINENT AND slGNIFI
CANT ARTICLE.

We observe an article in the Richmond
Enquirer so very pertinent to the attitude of
| politics at this moment that we copy lengthy
extract from it into our editorial columns
But, while counselling unity and hormo-
l ny, Virginia is not yet unmindful Of the great
questions that arc yet unsettled with regard 90
slavery in the Territories Virginia secs that
though the constitution recognises and the
Supreme Court sustans, her right to carry
slaves into territory, yet she also remembers
what Judge Douglas so pointodly brought to
light in Illinois, that this right may be rem
dered null and void by the non-action of the
territorial legislature While Virginia re-
cognises no power that compcs territorial
legislature to enact those laws necessary to
protect the constitutional right Of slayehold-
ers, yet she docs hold that Congress has the
right and is duly bound to protect slavery in
the territories until the people of territory,
when on the eve Of forming State govern
mont, may decide the question finally for the
future State.
This question is one above the platforms Of
parties, and must be met and decided, consti-
tutionally in favor of protection, oonstitu-
tionally against il. 1t cannot and must not be
compromised if the Cincinnati platform does
not provide for this question it must be made
TO meet TINS issue
Inns question OF protection to slavery IN
the territories VIII have to be met, and the
south VIII demand her constitutional rights
these rights are recognized in the constitu-
ton asserted in the Knsas-Nebraska bill, adj
mitted by the Cincinnati platform, and have
been sanctioned and adiudicatcd by the SUI
preme Court and with this array Of authori-
V' the south Will demand the legislation
necessary 20 render valid the rights so amply
recognized by thc party the country the
congress the supreme Court and the Con-
sutuuon'
he right 70 reclaim fugitive slaves was
gwen by the constitution the Northern States
refused TO legislaie for the enforcement of this
constitutional right, and Congress was com
PEELED to provide the legislation necessary TO
the usefulness of this provision. So is it in
regard 90 slavery IN the Territories. There
is no power to cocrco territorial legislature
to do its constitutional duty, and Congress
must supply the legislation withheld by the
uoIe'lc' territory
t,i nriao;,io ,,.;,I, ,,, So,a, .15 - ~.
lo,to, -, go ,.ll c-or, O.. w. ,i',.
,bo c,iI,;n,, So, c.,.,,, H. riI;,a;. -.
pro,oo,;e-, :, ,Lo .ar.i,,.ia, a,l -.
,,Lcrc ooil r,,,ts ~ ,orsos a,,d f ,,ronorty
-, ...,..l,,,,, al ,t,a .i..t,s Ncn.r e.,
and NJ the econst;tn,ion laus of tho 1-njon
Uoro ,hcr r,,,. bo f,,,nd V;rgin;o,s d.clsra.
ti,,,, ,r;,t. - ., -. T., ,la ,r,.-;,o,;.
70 ,t;s'.t, is .,,,-.;,,'.;a,..il,. ar.;.la1 SL.
al. - ,.... .'.,JJ ,,,f..5 J-,,
We had sn,rosod ir,b. Fr,lish lor,,,,,,,.
,yore dosi,noi r. o,,ro.s and ,o, 70 ,,,,c,,l
;doas tbof tho pos;,ion' of Tnd,o nor,,las on
the noints s,,,,cstodh ~, tho Foo,,,r,. Va nor
foc,y ,rolI ,seorts;r.J Trbo h,s hoor a.;
nbotic in onnor,cin, his rc.itior on ,rg o,,os-
ton il b,s boo, +, Jonoinci,,, am, inioryo,-
tiop h,, Co,,,ros j., ,orr;tnr;.i ,r.;rs ,.bo,bar
for the nurno.o of r,o,ccting slavc ,roncrt,
mr. otbcr n,,r,oso ,,t t,,,,,or A, tvoorort 10
asserted the r;oh ol tho territorial legislatprc
to exclude SLAVERY IN he ..,,,5erf and comn,cte
urdcr the Nchrosl,o Kansos hin " and docIar-
ed that he had .aryued the Nebraska Kansas
bin on that pripoipie' throughout the State of
Illinois in 1888. And when afterwards. Mr.
Lincoln put the question catcrorically to him.
whether In case territorial legislature should
attempt 20 exercise the power of excluding
slavery. he would advocate an interference by
Congress for the purpose Of protec,iaq the in
stitutions-hc answered emphaticall, that he
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