The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-07


summer.
The men engaged IN this plot, are before
the people Of Minnesota today, seeking a
political endorsement. II is for the voter TO
say whether they are worthy Of whether
treason should he rewarded by political pro-
motion, or the traitors punished, by being
doomed to political insignificance.
''Seontor Douglas and the bred scott
Dseisiou."
We hold it to be an absolute right inal.
ienabe and indestructible, guaranteed by the
Constitution OF the United States and OF
the State OF Minnesota, that every citizen Of
the same, being Of lawful age, may make an
ass Of himself ut his own free will and pleas
ure, and that none shall molest him nor make
him afraid. We don't propose to infringe
upon this guaranty Of personal liberty, nor
to modest Mr. NJ. II. ABBOTT, Land Officer
at Saltwater, in his efforts at asinine sue
cess. But We do propose to show that il
the infringement were ever allowable. bis
case furnishes an instance, and that its ap-
plcati0n to him, if not lawful, would have
been at least merciful.
Mr. NJ. II. ABBOTT, at Saltwater, on
the 9th day of September, 1888, made a
discovery. lie discovered that Judge
0orGGAs, on the 27,h day of August. 1858,
just precisely one month previous, at Free
port, Illinois uttered the sentiment that,
in bis opinion, the people OF Territory can,
by lawful means, exclude slavery from their
limits prior to the formation of state Con
stitution." Whereat, Mr.. ABHorr is shock.
ed at the depravity of Judge DorGLAs, and
announces in his communication that " it il
with feelings the most profound regret that,
by his own act, he has compelled me him
to part company
We need not reprint the statements OF our
article of yesterday, showing that the sen,i-
ments of Judge DouGLAs, touching the pow
er OF the people of Territories, as expressed
in his Freeport speech, are identical with
those uttered by such Southern Statesmen as
Orr and STEPHENS more than two years
ago. They both conceded with him, that
from the very nature OF the institution OF
slavery the constitutional right to hold slaves
in a Territory was practically worthless,
unless it was sustained by the local legisla-
ton Of the people aud that. in the language
Of Mr.. Orr, il the ajority of the people
are opposed to the institution, and il they
do not desire 1t engraited upon their Terri
tory, all they have TO do is to simply decline
To pass laws in the Territorial legislature for
its protection, and then it is as well excluded
as il the power was invested in the Terrific.
rial legislature. and exercised by them, to
prohibit it" This proposition is 50 plain,
that no well informed man can dispute its
correctness. Nor is there anything novel
in the sentiment IL has been uttered in
Congress aud out. by Judge DovGtAs and
scores of other prominent Democrats both
before and since the rendition of the pred
Scott decision. In a speech delivered by
Judge DorGtAs at Springfield. Illinois. on
the 18th OF June 1851 he uttered precisely
the same doctrine lie then said
The act Of the 9Th Of March, lsgo, common
eaeS ,hS n,s nI ro,d hsgoy. sy was
ed by the Nebraska Act, and consequently il
w, "S, .hu ,s ,Sbt 70 h. .ys IN