The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-10-02
Police Regulations 10 favor OF slavery lii
TfrritarieS.

EoIToE LITTLE G!AN4.-ii has been said
by" Long Abe, a.! some OF his petty fol-
lowers here. that IIgsDuch as TIE Dred
Scott case has decided that slaves are prop
eriy and that savebo!ier has the right
10 take his slaves into Kansas, therefore the
members OF the Kansas Legislature (who
are sworn 20 support the Constitution Of the
L. S are boyad 10 eu&C: police regulations
favorable to slavery.
Now, tina, case Geci0ei no such thing
But suppose it cid 50 cec.d-, are the mem-
oers vi ihat legislature taus bound? (3y
the way, there = TO power which can COM
pei them TO act against their viii
II slaves are property when taken iato
Kansas, their owners certainly gan have no
higher claim for such enactment than os-
ners Of other property there, have for isgis-
iaton favorable 10 tie possession, use &c,
OF their property.
1t docs not follow, that because \ man
may have constitutional right to take any
species Of property into Kansas, that there.
fore, the legislature are bound to legisiate
in such manner ss viii protect him ia the
use and d!spos.. OF suco property IN any
manner he may see ti,, without regard to
the Inconvenience, detriment and safety Of
the people there. Other people, besides
operdized or destroyed, without the enact
ment of stringent regulations in regard to
the government and contract, &c, oi slaves;
and it is the duty Of the legislature TO pro-
tect those rights, even if thereby slave abor
should, incidentally be made less profitable,
or il slave holders should be deferred from
migrating to Kansas with tner slaves
Importers or others have the co7sttu-
,ionaI right to take liquors, gambling i,apii.
Iaents, or other property into Kansas, the
presence of which may result in gres, evil
to the people. Is the Legislature therefore,
bound to legi.ate in such ! manner IS to
encou age au1 protect !ntcmPc-ancc, Sa:al-
ling, &o.?
Ii free ncgroe; and pauperS have the con-
stitu.onal ris hit TO locate IN Kansas, has not
the legislature also an equal right to adopt
such stringent regulations as will prevent
them frsm becoming a pubic charge. even
il thereby it shall result incidentally in
checking the emigration Of such persons to
Kansas,
Gunpowder may, coAstitutionaily, be iIu-
ported, kept and sold, bat who doubts the
power and duty Of the legislature to adopt
such regulations in regard to its sale. use
ard storage, as will render the people safe,
even if the profits of the dealers in the ar
tice are thereby incidentally lessonod or re-
duced to nothing?
And is one piece Of property entitled to
more favorable consideration than another?
Are the rights of the slave holders more sa-
cred than the liquor dealer or owner of gun.
powder? The republicans seem to think
SO but do not.
In speaking on this subject, some repub-
licans say that " the members of the Kan
sas legislature as much bound 20 lsgislatc
for slavery, as congress was, to pass fugi-
tive slave law" One answer to this is, that
tho constitution of the United States, ex
presslv requires fugitive slaves to be dciv-
cred up, but neither the constitution nor
any decision OF any court in letter or spirit
requires territorial legislature to protect
slavery. Congress has no right to enact a
slave code for Kansas, and if congress had
that right, the democratic party are opposed
to the exercise Of it. Douglas in his Jones'
boro speech boldly proclaims his opposition
to the exercise Of such power. X.