The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-28
From the Richmond Wal South, October
THE HRREsIEs OF DOUGLAS.

/ THE HEREsIEs OF DOUGLAS.
| We are not of those Who anticipate the result
of the present contest in Illinois with indif
ference. Limiting our view TO the Senatorial
representation of that State, we do not hesitate
70 ayow q preference for Douglas over the
nominee of the Aboliiionists. Nay, more aa
between the man to whom we are indebted for
the repeal of the Missouri restriction, and
Judge Breese, who united with the Black Re-.
pubhcans to defeat that measure, and who was
rewarded by them for his treachery to the
South, we incline rather to the election .oi
Senator Douglas. ,a i7as sse3z
But, while such is our position in respect of
she struggle in Illinois, we cannot forbesr an
expression of dissatisfaction with doctrine
which Judge Douglas has promulgated in the
progress of the canvass. We alude to the
declarationsthat Territorial Legislature may
lawfully prohibit the introduction of Slavery.
II ID true Judge Douglas maintains that such
an exclusion of Southern interests from the
common territory may be accomplished only
by the indirect expedient Of refusing the legal
suactments essential to the security of Slavery.
But the wrong is not mitigated by the mode of
| lis preparation. If the people of the South
have right to an equal enjoy ment of the com
mon territory, they have right to be protected
ia the privilege. II the Territorial authority is
Incompetent to repel Slavery by positive enact
rnent, is is just as much incompetent to repel
Slavery by an omission TO give it the security
Of legal guarantees. Every citizen has right
To the protection of his property by Govern
ment; hence results an obligation on the Ter
ritorial Legislature to secure immi grants from
the South in the quiet possession of their slaves.
| If this safeguard is denied them, it is no less
. wrong than if they we're excluded from the
| huo
fore, we deny, out and out, that Territorial
Legislature, which is instituted expressly for
the protection of the rights of person and prop.
erty, may constitutionally refuse the enactments
essential to the security of Slavery--the prop.
erty of the South.
The same conclusion was established in the
bred Scott decision, but by somewhat diff
ferent process of augmentation. In the first
place, the Supreme Court planted itself on the
position that Congress-the Federal Legisla.
ture--has no power under the Constitution to
interdct Slavery in the Territory.
This is the non.intervention doctrine of the
Democratic party But Territorial Govern
ment is the creature of Congress, and possesses
only such authority as is Communicated by its
principal. Wherefore the Legislature of Ter.
ritory is incompetent to exclude Slavery, either
by positive enactment or by an indire ct arti6ce.
-
ment may prohibit Slavery in the common do
main, the conclusion against the power of the
Territorial Legislature to accomplish the same
result is absolutely irresistible. No Southern
Democrat will pretend for q moment that Con-
gress can rightfully prohibit Slavery in the
| Territories.
| When, therefore, Judge Douglas was reported
| to have declared that the Territorial Legisla-
lures might lawfully exclude Slavery from the
Territories by denying it the protection to which
all property is entitled at the hands of Govern
ment, we repudiated the doctrine IS an absurd
and mschievous heresy. But his friends ven.
tured an apologize Interpretation of his Ian
guage; and before protesting against the prin
ciple which we understood him to promulgate,
we awaited his own construction of his speech.
We have it at last, and We are obliged to say
that it is very far from satisfactory to the
South.
The spologists of Judge Douglas represented
that in asserting the power of Territorial
Legislature to exclude Slavery by denying it
legal protection, he intended to impose the OBJ.
legation upon Congress. 10 other words, they
understood him to affirm it TO be the duty of
the Federal l. Hgislature to enact laws for the
security OF Slavery in the Territories. IL this
we're his meaning, we could not acquit him of
maintaining an erroneous opinion in regard to
the authority OF the Territorial Governments,
but we might applaud his soliciiude for the in.
ter SITS of the South.
Unfortunately Judge Douglas repudates the
friendly construction of his adherents. He
maintains the right of Territorial Legislature
to refuse the eDactments essential to the secu-
rity of Slavery, but he does not propose to repair
the deficiency by the protecting intervention of
Coz gress. On the contrary, he emphaticany
denies the power of Congress to legislate at all
in respect of Slavery in the Territories. True,
he involves himself in q palpable absurdity
for If Congress may not act upon Slavery in
the Territories, 80 neither can the Territorial
Legislature, which is but the creature of Con-
gress. Nevertheless, Judge Douglas does ex.
phcitly deny that Congress may interpose for
the protection of Slavery in default of Terrific.
rial legislation.
SAFETY OF OCEAN STEAMERs.-A writer in
the ~ Y. Courier and Enquirer, who is familiar
with the construction and management of
steamboats,, makes some important suggestions
for security against fire and other accidents
Danger from fire may be almost wholly obvi.
ated, by building the boats 6re-proof, with no
inHsmmable material on board except the fur
niture, bedding, and baggage of the passengers
In case OF tire occurring, 1T would then be read
lily extinguished or if the apartment 10 which
1t occurs were shut up, would soon go out of
itself. As security against other casualties
the vessels should be divided into water.tight
compartments, 80 that leaks in half the ship
would not cause it to sink. These two precau
tions would have prevented the terrible disas.
ters On the ocean steamers that have heretofore
destroyed hundreds of human lives, and brought
sorrow to thousands of human hearts. And it
is stated that the extra cost Of building vessels
in compartments, and fre.proof would not be
over $50 ton, or $50, 900 for steame,-less
than what is often spent in gliding and fancy
ornaments. The Losses of property on ocean
steamships, it is computed, would have made
ell those lost within the last ten years, and all
those now on the ocean, fire and water proof.
30 that economy, as we'll as regard to the safe
ty OF passengers, requires the adoption of these
precautions. This Is a matter that should re.
ceive the attention of Congress, as we'll as of
the owners of steamboat lines. When the
necessary precautions are 80 obvious, and are
30 readily nhfninahio, 1t 80 tho L;sA~st -riDa;.
Hality to neglect them. - /
Brown tells us a Vermont story which, be
SAYS, is as authentic as the best of the Post
anecdotes, and, certainly, nothing more can
be required. A respectable gentleman in
Windsor county, many years ago, bad an ambi-
ton to represent his town in the State Legisla-
ture. Though a man of good character, and
every way able enough for the Office he sought,
he happened, as Aunt Peggy used to say to
have "a great many winning ways to make
folks hate him." and was in fact the most un-
populsr man in town. Going to Squire x. :,
an influential man, who happened to be friend.
ly to him, he laid his case before him, and
asked hs influence saying that he didn't ex-