The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-11-25

referred to. Andthe Enquirer holds
that code to protect Slavery in the
Territories must be passed. Congress
mast interfere. You cannot, they ad-
NIT, compel the people of Territory
to pass laws to protect an institution
they detest, but it must be protected,
at all events. Hence Congress must
interfere, although the party have pre-
tended that the policy of non-interven-
ton is their prime principle. If there
is any necessity for a code to protect
slavery whenthe body of the people
are opposed to it, slave code must be
passed by Congress to protect it.
Hence, popular soereignty, even when
exercised in the most remote ard in
direct manner, must be repudiated. A
code to protect slavery in the terrific
ries must be passed. The next candi-
date for the Presidency must be
pledged to sustain such code. The
Democratic party must endorse it,
fully, unequivocally. Even Douglas
must accept it as the dicta Of the
Southern leaders, if he wishes to Sc
cure the cooperation of the South.
And he must not only accept it, but he
must use his skill and firmness to carry
the slave code bill through Congress !;
as he had in 1854 carried through the
Kansas-Nebraska bill. If he does not
do this, the Enquirer says as plain as
can be, that he need not look for sup
port from the South. In its issue of
the 18th inst. it holds the following de-
cided and positive language ON the
subject of a code: ea ESQ
"But while counsoling unity and
harmony, Virginia is not unmindful of
the great questions that are yet u',set-
tied with regard to slavery in the Ter
ritories. Virginia sees, that though
the Constitution recognizes, and the
Supreme Court confirms the right to
carry SLAVES into a territory, yet she
also remembers what Judge Douglas
so pointedIy brought to light in Illinois,
that this right may be rendered null
and void by the non-action OF the Ter
ritorial Legislature. While Virginia
recognizes no power that can cempel a
Territorial Legislature to enact these
laws necessary to protect the constitu-
tional right of Shareholders yet she
does hold that Congress has the right,
and is IN duty bound to protect STAG
cry IN the Territories, until the peo-
pie of Territory, when on the eve of
forming a State government, may de-
eide the question finally for the future
State.
This question is one above the plat
forms of parties, and must be met and
decided, constitutionally in favor of
protection, orunconstitutionally against
it. 1t cannot, and mast not be COM
promised !; if the Cincinnati platform
does not provide for this question, IL
must be made to meet this issue.
This question ofprotection to slavery
in the Territories will have to be met,
and the South sciU demand her constitat-
tional rights ;. these rights are recog-
nized 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 ar
ray of authority, the South will de-
mand the Legislation necessary to rem
der valid the rights so amply recog-
nized by the party, the country, the
Congress, the Supreme Court and the
Constitution.
The right to reclaim fugitive slaves
was given by the Constitution; the
Northern States refused to legislate for
the practical enforcement of this Con-
stitutional right, and Congress was
compelled to provide the Legislation
necessary to the usefulness of this pro-
vision. So is it with regard to slavery
in the territories. There is no power
to coerce Territorial legislature to do
its constitutional duty, and Congress
must supply the Legislation withheld
by the derelict territory"