The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-12-18

mainly from savehodug states bringing their slave Il
property with them, the Territorial Legislature IN u
defiance of the celebrated Ordinance of 1881 cstab- ii
lished slavery in Illinois and main tanned il for years
They then abolished it, because from the crcnnSai -
Of our climate. soil and productions II was iouhu u
not to be profitable or conducive to orr welfare :
we had lived farther south in the districts when pro-
ducc sugar and cotton and rice we would have seen "
lust rs much virtue in slave labor you do IN louisa
ma And perhaps II some OF the more eNcltabc oil our
southern friends had happened to live among 'ne
granite hills of New Hampshire they could entertain
very different views from those they now hold Ihis
question of slavery is not question OF legislation ut
all but os climste. soil and self interest Nou can
establish slavery nowhere by any law of Congress or
a Territorial, legislature. bv any other power con-
trary to the will Of the people where 1t is TO exist
and In my opinion. you should never be permitted TO
force it down the ihroats Of an unwilling people.
Hence. ! say. that the people Of Illinois, finding
that slavery did not suit abolished it. | will state.
too that our kind friends over in Kentucky. when
their servants became old and valuclcss and tax Oh
their masters. showed their humanity by cnancipa'
ting and sending them into Illinois. This was also
the case in other slave states till Illinois was III da'
ger of becoming free negro colony when she lound
it necessary to provide for her own protection ny en-
acting that no more negroes should come '" inols
reside whether free or slave. since she haa deer.
mined not to have slavery she would not have free
negro colony for your benefit. In a word, she says
to the slave states take care Of your own negroes,
make Just such laws you choose and be responsible
to God and to your posterity.
Let US alone and we will let you alone That is the
policy of Illinois in regard TO slavery and the negro
question If you say that you do not like that il can
not be helped. Illinois, however, has Just as much
right to adopt her policy you in Louisiana have to
adopt different policy. We are prepared to make
this bargain with you. orrathcr to maintain involate
the bargain our fathers made in the Federal Const-
tuition, to mind your business and let Us mind ours
Under that principle this rnon can exist forever
divided into free and slave states each state having
the right TO preserve and maintain slavery as long as
it chooses and abolish it. whenever it pleas's--
4 hat tt,nh hYt, 1tif.
party is party devoted to State Rights and state
Soyerrignty in opposition to that other policy which
concentrates the liberties and rights Of the people in
the Federal Government.
Tln discussion Of this question in the North has so
far modified public opinion as to induce awllingness
10 acuicscc Ia lis application the states while the
Black Republicansdcny tic propricy ofappiylng 1t
to the Territories.
On this point hc Aboliiionsts assert The right of
Congress under the Constitution, to form and cstab-
lish for the people Of the Territories their domestic
institutions. without their consent The Democratic
party deny that Congress can rishfaly exercise any
such authority.
We saw that for Congress to say ia any people Won
shall or shall not have such or such Institutions Is {
violation Of the great principles oi our Federal Coy
.nrnnent In the discussion of these questions. some
times go hack 10 The history Of the revolution, ant
show that il involved the same principles when tn
British Government attempted to pass laws for tht
American colonies, without giving them represent
alton. in Parliament
said We will obey the laws Of Parliament. whicl
.arc imperial laws. and not local laws-hut we vii
not submit to local LAWS affecting Our domestic insti
tuition aud passed without giving us fair represen
tation in Parliament The Democratic party say
that Congress has right TO establish or to prohlh
slavery. We say that the Territories should be opei
to the ctizcns OF the United states TO 90 there witt
their property and subject alike TO the laws, whel
they arrive there Bat objection is raised by som
of our Southern friends and have been asked her
and et korae, what meant by the doctrine OF pop
lar sovereignty in the territories and whether "
abide by the Drcd Scott decision. In II discnsslo
With my opponent. Mr.. Lincoln. at Frecport. Illinois
the question put to me whether in the event thf
the people or Legislature Of territory were hostll
to slavery there any lawful means by which slov
nv could be excluded. | said yes, and proceeded
state the means. will state them here to You. u!
Democracy OF Illinois, in the first place. accepts "
decision Of the Supreme Court Of the United States
thc case of bred Scott. as an authoritative interprf
alton of the constitution In accordance with w;
decision we hold that slaves arc property. and hcnC
on an equality with all other kinds Of property, an
the owner of II slave has the same right to move nl
territory and carry his slave property VIII, nm
the owner Of any other property has to 80 there IN
carry his property Allcitizens Of the United State
no matter whether they come from the North Or u
ssuti. from free State or slave State, can enter
territory with their property ON an equal footing.
But apnreilcnd when you arrive there with yo
property Won are subject TO the local law of the Te
ritory How can your slave property be protect
without local law? The Constitution gives you
right to go into territory and carry your slave pro
.crty with you: but it does not punish any man #
stealing your slave, when You get there. 1t does n
punish a man for stealing any other property wh
you get there. Congress never yet passed law
punish crime or protect property in any organic
Territory.
Congress never yet passed criminal code for a.
organized Territory. 1t has simply organized T.
Territory and established Legislature that Lcg
lature being vested with legislative power over
rightful subjects Of legislation. subject only to Il
Constitution Of the United Slates. Hence, whaey
jurisdiction the Legislature possesses over other pr
pcrty il has over slave property, no more no le
Let me ask you, as southern men, can you hold sIav
anywhere unless protected by the local law: won
not the inaction Of the local Legislature It's reils
TO provide slave CODE or to punish offences again
that species Of property, exclude slavery Just Us
fecualy as a constitutional prohibition? Would
not have tllat effect in Louisiana aud every 9th
state? No one viii deny it. Then let me ask you,
the people OF territory refuse to pass slave cod
how are you going to make them oit? When "
give them power 10 esislate on all righttul slbjeC
oflegsation it becomesa subject for them to dccd
and mot for me.
If the local legislature imposes tax on horses,
any other kind OF property you may think il II bar
shin LEt hoiV going u help it? Just il