New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-21
TIE DGuOlHATIC PLATEORu.


TIE DGuO(EATIC PLATFORu
Hitherto, IN the National Conventions Of tia
Democratic party 70 nominate for the Proficiency,
ard in the discussions preliminary to their assem-
bling, The construction of ap1Ity platform has been
very secondary sfair. While the selection of a
candidate hiss exercised all beads ana has interested
all hearts the putting together Of the platform has
been turned over TO some obscure committee, who
have easily disposed Of all questions of dangerous
or delicate character by az ambiguity Of phrase
which has admitted in different sections Of the
country OF the most diverse and even contradictory
expeditions. 1t would seem at present as il, at the
approaching Ch.Tlrston Convention, this method of
pr, ceedDs is to BE- reversed. Little comparatively,
is SAID as to the claims Of This or that candidate.
The question of the platform has precedence ard
is discussed with great esserness, as !nScing not
merely the selection Of ctnodatc, but the very
existence Of the party.
The topic as yet principally brought forward is
that of the position of Slavery in the Territories.
Nj Dougas and the NOrttern Demonstrations
OF them at least who have any hope, expectation ar
desire of retaining any hod upon the popular mind
Of their own Statfs-stll cling to tho doctrine Of
Popular Sovereignty as set forth 10 the Kansas
Nebraska bill aud as Incorporated into the Ciucin
uati platform. Though they admit that under the
bred Scott decision, shareholders have right to
come with their slaves into sll tie Territories of
the United States, they DEFY that the Territorial
Legislatures are thereby placed under any Obliga-
ton to enact laws specially for the protection of
81 rtt Vet Vlf
property in slaves must stand upon very preca
rious footing. Whatever Ereten:ions may De set up
that under tie Constitution &C the 0ted States
slaves are mucb property rs horses, II 10 never
th-lcss an undculabic fact that the common law
does Lot look at hem ia hpt light. With regard to
other Kinds of property, the common aw recog
MES the existence OF such n crime as theft. but
not so in the case of slave property To punish
nan for steshng a slave il would be necessary 10
have a special ensctment for that purpose. Ia
truth property in slaves is OF so peculiar chsrac.
ter that IL has been found necessary IN all the
States ID which 1t exists 10 have series OF
enactments specially devoted TO its protection.
Now, Mr. Douglas aud his parlissns hold that, not
vt6standng the Died Scott decision the people Of
Territory, though they cannot absolutely exclude
slaves, may yet show their rcpuEnance e. the ns.l-
tuition, and may discourage its Introduction among
them by refusing 70 enact Any Of these special laws
for its protection. Nay, they 90 further, and main
tam that, while stopping srort of tho absolute ex
cluson Of slaves, the Territorial Legislatures may
enact laNs-tax laws, FOR iustsncc-designed and
intended to discourage the introduction OF slaves.
] l.. 81, 80,
| seems to have a certain analogy to tia,
| taken in colonial times By some Of the col
| onics ON the subject Of the introduction Ct
slnycs from Africa As the African slavstrade
Was carried on under acts of y ,rliament, and pru
cipally by British merchants the Home Govern
mcnt, by sort of Died Scott decision apple able
TO tha, Gaze denied tie right of toe Colonial Legis
lsturss absolutely 10 prohibit the importation Of
Africans Theieupon the colonies, which looked
with l.rm and dislike upoo the increase of the
negro population. resorted TO the expcdien. Of dis
coursging the traffic by laying Il tax upon all n =
groes imported Upon this point pretty sharp
struggle occurred between the Colonial Legisla.
tur.s and the English Board Of Trade: bat at last
the English Authorities 30 far yielded as to admit
tbs; the Colonial legislatures mis- lay such t.1,
provided they made ii payable not by the Enclish
merchants, who carried the Africans to the colo
Mes, but BY the colonal purchasers. In Ike man.
rer Mr.. Douglas, though obliged by the bred Scott
decision to admit the tight 70 bring slaves into the
Territories, yet claims for the Territorial Legisla-
tues TIE rigat 10 decide for themselves 10 whst
extent if al sll they will encourage the introduc.
ton OF such property, and even indirectly the right
10 discourage It's Introduction.
Against this view of the case q great cutlery j.
raised a, the South and il is loudly demanded thst
the doctrine shsll be incorporated into the Demo
cratic platform of right aud duty tue part of
Congress 10 interfere not only To preyeut any legs
la,ion in the Territories unf,y0rable - Slavery, but
for the direct ana positive enactment OF all such
statutes as may be needed for ia secure and con-
Sehiert enjoyment
The organ cf The Administration a. Warrington,
while affecting 70 repudiste the doctrine of
Squatter Sovereignty, has come forward with the
proposal of compromise, which Yields one iani,
practically. altogether the most important oue) of
| the ronts ior which Nc Douglas contends while i