Daily national Democrat., 1859-04-10
Don't agree with Douglas.

DON'T agree WIN OOHS-
We give the Democratic Standard credit
for an intention 10 deal fairly--at least it has
exhibited such an inclination thus tar-with
the principles of its opponents. We think it
would not Intentionally misrepresent the
views ofan antagonistic party, and this quail
nv is a rare one indeed with the Lecompton
i ,1rnals of this State. For this reason, we
would notice the Democratic Standard and
its position, when we would not many other
journals on the same side as itself Of the po-
litical questions of the day. Heretical and
anti Democratic as its notions may be, if it is
honest in the faith which it holds, and digni-
fed and manly in the arguments with which
it attempts to sustain its positions, it is enti-
tied to the respectful consideration of those
opposing journals whose capital is not shall
low. frothy misrepresentation and cowardly
personal abuse.
The Democratic Standard has given what
it thinks is the full scope and meaning of the
recent debate in the Senate of the United
States on the 23d of February, in small
space. 1t has defined in brief compass what
it thinks is the position of each Of the leading
speakers in that discussion. 1t thus defines
Mr.. Douglas position:
"Mr. Douglas admits that the people Of Ter
ritory must look to the organic law OF Congress
for the political power ey possess he hoids
that there are circumstances under which that
power NAV be withdrawn by repeal OF the law
creating the Territorial Government but he as
serts that in the Kansas-Nebraska bill, 1t was
agreed, and virtually declared, that Congress
should not exercise that power on the SUBJECT oi
slavery. but that that question should be lett
wholly and solely 10 the Supreme Court; that the
ou.stiop has been submitted, and 1t has been de-
cided that there is no power IN the Territorial
Government 10 exclude slavery, and that the Ter
ritor,es are under moral obligation to conform
their action to this decision; but that there is no
authority in Congress, according to the Cincinna-
Ii platform, to legislate directly or indirectly,
upon the subject"
The position of Mr. Douglas would have
been little more accurately defined, had
the Standard said that it was the understand
ing of the Illinois Senator that all questions
arising under the operation of the Territorial
laws should be referred to the Supreme
Court and not to Congress, and that the en-
tire legislative power of Congress was for
erer given to the Territorial Legislature by
the Kansas Nebraska bill His position is,
not that, now that the Supreme Court has
decided that there is no power in the Terri
torial Government to exclude slavery, non
Intervention on the part Of Congress is at an
end and Congress may intervene to supply
any defects in the Territorial Legislature, but
that the intention of the Kansas.N n ebraska
bill is that the Supreme Court shall continue
to decide all constitutional questions in the
Territories, and that Congress shall not un-
dertake to legislate for the Territories at all.
This he says is the meaning of the Kansas
Nebraska bill as we'll as of the Cincinnati
Platform.
But, we merely wish to show our readers
what the doctrine of the Lecompton party in
this State is, and we will not quarrel with
the Standard as to anything that may be
wanting in its definition of Douglas position |
It says at any rate, truly. that Douglas de
MES that Congress has any authority, accord
ing to the Cincinnati Platform (and it should |
have added the Kansas Nebraska bilD to leg |
islate directly or indirectly on the subject of
slavery. Very well-now how does the
Standard regard this position? Take its own
language for an answer:
at follows, then, that Congress possesses the
power to compel the Territory to do what Mr.
douglas says she is morally bound to do. Why
should not the power be exercised? Pugh may
be right; Davis may be right but Douglas cam
not be-.
We don't know as Mr.. Douglas has ever
said, yet, that the Territory was "morally
bound" to legislate for the protection of
slavery We would like to see the declara-
tion to that effect in any of his speeches.
But, the point we are arriving at is this ::
The Standard says, that Congress, notwith-
standing the Cincinnati Platform and not
withstanding the Kansas Nebraska bill. pos.
sesses tn power to legslate for the protection
of slavery in the Territories, and asks:
"why should not the power be exercised
Pugh may be right; Davis may be right; but
/ DOUgtdS cannot BE-"
Well this is plainly spoken, and the peo-
| pie will know now where to iud the Lecomp-
ton party of this State Their central organ
at Sacramento has spoken, and emphatically
repudiated the doctrines of Douglas. The
great trouble has heretofore been, that the
Lecompton party claimed Douglas on their
side, and undertook to make honest Demo.
Gratis believe that they had nothing against
him. We find the organs of that party now
from the Washington Union down, denounc-
ing his position. We are glad that they have
at last thrown off the mask and come forth
in their true character We shall now fight
them as the avuwed champions of a Con.
| gressional slave code for the Territories and
avowed enemies of the non Intervention
principles Of Stephen A. Douglas and the
Democratic party.
EAGLE BIRD BY CHANCE-It would seem
from mountain correspondent Of the Ex-
press, who signs himself Jonas" that he ha,
] al D. / a.