Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-03-25

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Suites. 1t would be wise to restore
the Missouri prohibition of Slavery in
Kanzas and Nebraska. There was
peace in the Territories and In the
States until that great statute of Free
dom was subverted. 1t is true that
there were frequent debates here on
the subject of Slavery. and that there
were profound sympathies among the
people, awakened by or responding to
those debates. But what was Con
gress instituted for but debate? What
makes the American people to differ
from all other Nations, but this,-that
while among them power enforces ST.
lence, here all public questions are re-
fcrred to debate, free debate in Con
gress? Do you tell me that the SUI
preme Court of the United States has
removed the foundations of that great
statute? l reply, that they have done
no such thing; they could not do it
They have rcmanded the negro man
Dred Scott to the custody of his mas
ter.
With that decree we have nothing
here, at least nothing now, to do
This is the extent of the judgement
rendered, the extent of any judgment
they could render. Already the pre-
tended further decision is subverted in
Kanzas So it will lie in every Free
State and every Free Territory of the
United States. The Supreme Court,
also, can reverse its spurious judgment
more easily than we could reconcile
the people to its usurpation. Sir, the
Supreme Court of the United States
attempts to command the people of
the Emitted States to accept the princi-
piles that one man can own other men,
and that they must guarantee the in
volatility of that false and pernicious
property. The people of the United
States never can, and they never will,
accept principles so unconstitutional
and so abhorrent. Never, never. Let
the Court recede. Whether it reoede
or not, we shall reorganize the Court,
and thus reform its political senti-
mcnts and practices, and bring them
into harmony with the Constitution
and with the laws of nature. In do
ing so we shall not only reassume our
own just authority, but we shall re-
store that high tribunal itself to the
position it ought to maintain, since SO
many inalienablc rights of citizens,
and even of States themselves, depend
upon its impartiality and its wisdom.
THE SOUTH WILL NOT RESIST.
Do You tell me that the Slave States
will not acquicsce, but will agitate?--
Think, first, whether the Free States
will acquiesce in decision that shall
not only be unjust but fraudulent. =
True, they will not menace the Re
public. They have an easy and sim
pie remedy, namely, to take the c Cov
ernment out of unjust and unfaithful
hands, and commit it to those which
will be just and faithful. They are
ready to do this now. They want
only little more harmony of purpose
and little more completeness of or
ganization. These will result from
only the least addition to the pressure
of Slavery upon them. You are lend
ing all that is necessary. and even
more, in this very act. But will the
Slave States agitate? Why? Be
cause they have lost at least battle
that they could not win, unwisely pro-
volled, fought with all the advantages
of strategy and intervention, and on
field chosen by themselves. What
would they gain? Can they compel
Kanzas to adopt Slavery against her
will? Would it be reasonable or just
to do it, if they could? Was negro
servitude ever forced 10y the sword on
any people that inherited the blood
which circulates in our veins, and the
sentiments which makes us a Free
People? If they will agitate on such
a ground as this, then how, or when,
by what concessions we can make,
will they ever be satisfied? To what
end would they agitate?
1t can now be only to divide the
Union. Will they not need some
fairer and more PLAUSIBLE excuse for
proposition so desperate? How would
they improve their condition, by draw
ing down certain ruin upon them
selves? Would they gain any new
security for Slavery? Would they
not hazard securities that are invalua-
BILE? Sir, they who talk so idly, talk
what they do not know themselves
No man when cool can promise what
he will do when he shall be inhamed;
no man inhamed can speak for his ac-
tions when time and necessity shall
bring reflection. Much less can anv
one speak for States in such emergen-
cies.
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY THE ONLY RENE
DY NEEDED.
But / shall not insist now on so
radical measure as the restoration of
the Missouri Prohibition / know
how difficult it is for power to relin-
quish ever pernicious and suicidal
policy all at once. We may attain
the same result in this particular case
of Kanzas without going back so far
Go back only to the ground assumed
in 1S54-the ground of Popular Sow
ereignty. Happily for the authors of
that measure, the Jealous and energetic
resistance of abuses practiced under it
has so far been effected, that Popular
Sovereignty in kanzas may now be
made a fact, and Liberty there may be
rescued from danger through its free
exercise.
Popular Sovereignty is an epic of
two parts. Part the first presents
Freedom in kanzas lost Part the
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