True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-08

for publication, they will be continued in until
they are ordered out. and charged by the square
The Ohio State Journal, which by the
way, is now one Of our best exchanges,
thus comments upon the new "Democra-
tic Test:
"The new southern claim of Congress.
sional Intervention in behalf of slavery in
the Territories threatens to interfere seri'
riously with the success of the overtures
now being made for re.uniting the Demo-
cratic party. The Washington Unio n
cordially accedes to the demand, and for
mally accepts it, as new issue. On the
other hand Mr.. Douglas and FOrney's
Press, without committing themselves,
manifest strong anxiety to postpone the
question until after the next Presidential
election. The Chicago Press and Tri
6une says that it was given out by the
friends of Mr.. Douglas, in advance Of his
speech on Wednesday last, that he would
define his position on this new issue; that
he would take ground against it, planting
himself upon the doctrine that the Terri,
torial Legislatures are supreme, and that
Congress has not the power under the
Constitution to enact slave code for the
Territories. But to the disappointment
of all, his speech avoided direct refer
ence to this subject. The Philadelphia
Press, in its issue OF the 18th inst, i'm.
plores the Southern Democracy not to
force upon their Northern brethren any
new lest; begs them to cease 10 "agitate
for mere political effect" and in return
promises that all agitation at the North
will die out. and that complete harmony
will be restored. The Press is cautious 10
utter no protest against the principle in
volved in the new party test. The Ro'
chester Union, however, boldly utIers its
determination 10 resist it. Says the
Union:
"The time has at length arrived when
we Northern Democrats must decide
whether we are willing virtually to ignore
or repudiate as subordinate, all other is
sues, and 60 into the campaign upon the
single, or at least, the paramount and only
practical issue, that the Federal Constitu.
tion, by its own proper vigor, carries
Slavery and the law of Slavery into all
the territories of the United States ant
that it is the sacred duty Of Congress Gr
default Of local proection) to pass law:
and TO constitute tribunals and officers il
the several territories, for the purpose o
maintaining, protecting and upholdnG
Slavery, and the rights of Shareholder
in each and all Of said territories:
= To give practical effect Il
these doctrines, the Federal Governmen
must itself become a Slave Government
as fully and unquali6edly as South Caro-
lima is Slave State. 1t must have it
Slave code as South Carolina has he
Slave code. 1t must have lis Slave po
lice as South Carolina has her Slave po
lice. Itmust have its Slave tribunals a
South Carolina has her Slave tribunals
Are we Northern Democrats ready to G
to our people on the affirmative of thi
doctrine aud these several propositions /!
The Cincinnati Enquirer also finds
adifficult matter to take the further ste
required Oft. Ithas managed to get on
the Dred Scott dictum, but hesitates
the illogical sequence" SO graphically po
trayed by its Democratic cotemporar
the Rochester Union, and SO strenuous
urged by tie Southern presses and poll
clans generally. The Enquirer den
"that the right and duty of Congress
enact Slave code for the protection
Slavery in the Territoties, is logic
sequence of the Dred Scctt decision."-
Whether the Enquirer be right or wrol
in this assertion is of very little cons
quence. The fact still remains, til
Congressional Intervention is demanded
and in relation to that demand, the Mort
ern Democracy must assume an unequiv
cal position, for or against it.
1t cannot be denied that the theory
the Dred Scott dictum only receives
practical embodiment in the Congressic
al legislation asked for by the Southe
Democracy. Such Legislation would or
crystalise legal abstraction into tam
BILE reality.
1t is very natural tina! many of tho
who have weakly yielded assent to an a
trocious theory, should shrink from
application. But the same weakne
which betrayed them into the commissi
of the primary error will paralyse The
efforts 10 escape its consequences, II
Southern body Of the Democracy "
probably persist in its demands and
Northern apendage will yield the point,
i. has always done, on similar occasion
Republicans can ask for no better iss
on which 10 rally the opposition to furth
Slavery entroachmen's. 1t will DO mo