The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-09
HoIlfIrgl,
6iSyery ia ino gerritaclSs.
!Fran the Easi,agtoi: Caio..


tude a p.tiitios at this u.oment, that We
. COPS lengthy extract from IL into oQl
editsyial ceiqmQs:
" But while eounseiing unity aud har
mony. Virginia IS not unuindful OF the
great questions that are get 1ytscftted with
regard 70 Siayery IN The Territories. II
sinii secs that though the constitution
recpgui.es, aud the buPreme Court sus-
tanr, her right to carry slaves INTO Ter
ritrry, vet she also remembers what udgc
Douclgs 80 pointed!y brought 10 light N
Illinois, that this right may be regarded
pull and yoid BY the uon-actioa Of the
Territorial Legislature. While Virginia
7ecosAizco 10 power that can compel Il
Terr;tarial Legislature to enact those LAYS
necessary to protect the constitutional
rights OF 4yeholders, yet she does hold
that Congress has the rignr, and is in du-
ty b,uGd 10 protect Slavery IN the Terri
tories until the Eeople Of 4 Territory, when
ou the eYa Of forming State Govern
meu,, may decide he question tiually for
the future State.
aa This question Is one above the plat
forula ri paroles, and must be met and de
clded colstitutioually IN favor % protcc
ton, az uacJnsLtutiorally against il. Il
cannot ao,d mast nat be compromised. If
the Cincinnati platform does not provide
for this question, 1t NUT be made TO meet
this Issue
This question Of protection to Slave
r. IN the Territories viii nave To be met,
sul the South vii demand her eonstitu
tional rights; these rights arc recognized
IN the Constitution, asserted in tue Kan
E4s-Nebraska bi.i, admitted by the Ciu-
cinna;l platform. aud have been sanction
ed and ddju1leateI by the Supreme Court;
au1. with th,s array Of authority, the
South will demand tue Legislation ncces-
sary to render valid the rights 70 amply
recognized by the party, the c)patry, the
Congress, tho Supreme Court, aal the
Constitution.
Tho right to reclaim fugiJ;vo slaves
was given by the Constitution the North
ern States refused to egia!ute for tae prac-
.ticl enforcement Of this constitutional
right, and Congress vas compelled to pro-
vide the Legislation necessary to the use
funess OF this provision. 80 1t is with
regard to Slavery in rha Ierritories.-
There is no power to ooerce territorial
Legislature to % It's constitutional duty,
aud Congress must supply the Legislation
withheld BY the derelict Territory.
Invention ior protection Is funda.
mental principle with the South, and 4
wiser or better remark never fell from
Governor Wise than the following extract
from his ILLINOIS letter:
Protection "a he Territories and everyuAers
to al rights Q: prysoI AMI Of property, n sc
so,dluc5 with tae rights Of tie States, and of
til Constitution ali Laws ot tie Union
Here, then, may be found Virginia s
declaration with regard 10 Slavery il the
TER tories. 70 th,s sne Is constitution
ally entitled. Sic asks no more size ri!
take no less"
We had supposed, if the English Ian
guage were designed TO express and not
- copcea! ideas, that the position Of judge
Doug as On the points suggested by the
Enquirer was perfectly well sustained.
II he has been emphatic IN announcing
his position Oh any ques ion, II has beau
in dcnouuciug any intervention hy Con
gress 10 territorial affairs, whether for the
purpose OF protecting slave property, Or
other purposes whatever. At Freepnrt
he asserted the rqlt Of the Territorial
Legislature TO exclude Slavery to be
"pertec. and complete under the Nebras-
ka-kans4s bill" and declared that he had
"argued the Nebraska- kans9@ bill on hat
principle Throughout the State Of Hi
nois IL 1855. And when afterwara, Nr.
Liucoln put the question oategoricaiy to
him, whether, in case Il Territorial Leg
.slature should attempt to exercise the
power Of excluding Slavery, he would ai-
vocatc Al interference by Congress for
the purpose If protecting the institution,
he answered. cn.pAatiCaIly that he would
not but that he stood forever upon the
principle Of nou-intcrysption by C0nsces5
in the 4iEai:s ot the territories.
It IS possible, however, taat Mr. Doug
jas did not moan what he said, OF that he
id not say what he is reported to have
said. It is emincut!y proper, therefore,
that there should be clear understanding
ofhis position on this subject by the whuIc
country; and hence We say that the ar,i-
clc of the ElqRircr is most impairment
ard important. The Erqprer evidently
discredttS tho idea lnat Judge Douglas
holds the opinions on this subject which
we have attributed 10 him, Otherwise VIC
should Judge from the foregoing article
taat is editor, who has been copying Tor
some time the pranks Of the hero of Dou-
nybrook Fair, waa endeavoring TO pick
quarrel with the 'Little Giant"