New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-10-12

The Hon. Amasa J. Parker, now candidate for
Governor, following the example of Gerrit Smith,
has taken the stump in favor of his own election
We do not complain of this course, but We insist
that candidate for so exalted station should pay
some regard to the truth. That Mr.. Parker habit
ually violates this dictate of propriety we shall
proceed to show.
In bis speech at Utica-as we presume in his
speeches elsewhere-Mr. Parker asserts
l. That the party which has nominated him for
Governor is Identical in principle and character
with that which was formed and led by Thomas
Jefferson.
2. That the question now at issue between this
party and the Republican concerns the right Of
Self.Government-or, to quote Mr.. Parkers exact
words
at is but continuation of the same class of que.
tons that have always existed between the Democracy
and their opponents. 1t is question between power
and popular rights Ii is the same question that agi-
tsted the country at the time Of securing indepen-
dence. Ii is the question that has constantly existed
at different periods of our history, between power and
popular right. And am happy to say that the De-
nocracy has always been found upon the side OF popu-
lar right. Cheers They stand by the rights OF the
people. They hold that the people are capable OF
relfgoverpment, matter whether they live in
Territory or in State North or South that they
capable of governing themselves. That i is the man
that is capable of governing himself. That it does
not rest upon the mans possessing property-not
upon the question Of his living west of the Missis-
sippi-and is just as competent in Kansas as few
months before in Massachusetts, and emgratng few
months previous to the West That this depends on
no accident that the man. but is the right
of the man himself-the Heaven bestowed birthright
Of self-government. Our principles are
the same now as in the time of Jefferson"
Now, We meet these dishonest and libelous as
sertions of Mr.. Parker with an snnihilating fact
which he dare not deny-this, namely that
THOMAS JEFFERSON, whom he thus cites as the
founder of his party, ~as the original author and
adrocate Of that principle Of Congressional ere,u-
sion If Siarery from The Federal Territories, for
Nhieh the republicans contend, and which Mr.
Parker and his party reprdate. Here are Mr.. JEFF
ferson's words, contained in the ordinance drafted
and reported by him, March lst, 1884, for the gov.
eminent of all the Territories then ceded or to Be
coded by the States TO the confederated Republic:
s. That after the year 1900 of the Christian era,
there shall be neither Sidrery Involuntary serrtBds
IN am of the said States, otherwise than in punish
ment of crimes whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted TO have been personally guilty.
Here was an express provision of law reported
and voted for BY Mr. jefferson, excluding Slavery
after $500 from all the Federal Territories, even
though they should meantime have been erected
into States.
Having thus enlightened Mr.. Parker with
regard TO the original principles of Democracy
(Which Judge Il. says have never been changed
and shown that those principles affirmed and
secured Human Rights-the right Of every human
being, not criminal, 10 hmself-and not what the
Judge calls "Populsr Rights"-that is, the right
Of some men TO hold others in savery-we proceed
TO show that the Judge Is equally untruthful in
asserting that his (not JeEerson's) Democratic
party "hold that the People are capable of