Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-11-26
Mistrllantons.

New lssuc--Ncxt Demand of slavery.
The very important article taken from
tho Richmond Enquirer, paper that has
sympathized with Douglas in tho Illinois
contest, has been copied Into and endorsed
by the Washington Union. 1t sets up tho
demand on the part on the Shareholders,
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 largo n ma
jority Of the people may be opposed to the
admission of the institution of human sla-
very. To admit and protect it there, in ti-
rect defiance of "popular sovereignty is
the new demand Of the South; and Doug
las and tho Douglas organs of tho North
will submit to this requirement in order TO
find favor with their slavo-mastcrs Of the
Charleston Convention. Mark the predc-
ton.
The first step has already been taktn.-
Mr.. Douglas used his Frceport platform de-
claring that he believed tho Territorial
Legislature to possess the right to exclude
slavery before becoming State, and that
unfriendly legislation was right belong
ing to the people if they chose to exercise
it, just long enough to answer his purpose
in securing frec-soil votes in Illinois. 1t
was on this platform and this alone that
hc vindicated tho consistency of the doc
trinc of popular sovereignty. 1t is well
known that tho Chicago Times is the
mouth piece of Mr.. Douglas. Its editor
ials on matters of doctrine involving his
wing Of the party, are the dictation Of
Douglas himself. Here is what tho Time.
now says of him and the partisans who fol-
low his lead:
They support the decision of tho SUI
prcme Court in the Dred Scott case, in the
sense that it guarantees to the holders OF
slave property an equality with the holder:
Of other property in introducing it into the
Territories; contending, also that as slave
property is thus pacel on an equal footing
with other property, it, like all other prop.
erty, must be subject to all such local laws
Of tho Territory as do not infringe upon the
Constitution Of the United States; that
slave property being thus placed on an
equality with other property, if it require
higher and further legislation and security
than is afforded to other property, and the
Legislature of the Territory should decide
not to discriminate in its favor to that ex
tent, then the failure to obtain that higher
protection than is afforded to other proper.
ty, is misfortune attending that descrip.
tion Of property for which the Democratic
party have no remedy and are not respon
sible.
Tho Frceport platform, and the Dred
Scott decision, comments the Missouri Dem
ocrat were irreconcilablc. Mr.. Douglas ac-
cordingly steps off from tho Frceport plat
form, and ascends cautiously that Of the
Drsd Scott decision. He now says that
the Constitution of tho United States car.
rics slavery into a Territory, that it stands
there on the footing of other property, that
tho people may refuse its higher guarantees
but they cannot detract from its security
or aanu its eristence, as that aoould be q
"loedl laV Infringing upon the Constitution
of the United STATES" Thus at n single
supplemental exposition he wipes away the
last vestigs of popular sovereignty on tho
subject of slavery in tho Territories. The
people or the Assembly may abandon the
right to legislate favorable to slavery; but
they cannot legislate adversely.
The Now York Herald says:-"AH Mt
leading Democratic organs Of the South
inform us that the decree recognizing sla
very makes it tho constitutional duty o.
Congress to pass special codo of laws for
the protection of slavery in all tho Terri
tories. This IS the issue Which must be SET
tied, oithOr for or against Mr. Douglas, be.
fore we can pronounce him sufficiently
sound upon the goose question to enter
within tho sanctuary of the Charleston
Convention"
Read aud ponder tho new issue and de-
mand of Slavery as boldly proclaimed by
the Richmond Enquirer.--Lsddey.
q,
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