Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-03-03

no"eveE just, OF Wh"eoNeE sno ioS~A "oSo'
sity for Ito enactment, unless Congress
thinks proper to grant the boon: thus Prac-
tically DISTINGUISHING all who refuse to sing
peaus of glory to political, ::party hacks
at Washington, and bow with meekness at
the shrine of Abolitionism. No man there
would. or could in any practical sense. be
allowed to advocate views on the subject
of Slavery. different from what might from
time to time be promulgated by Republl-
can leaders in Congress; or those which
should emanate from corrupt, partisan,
political press in the States.
The Wilmot proviso principle, or in 9TH
er words, Congressional prohibition, pre-
cludes effectusly any man about to cast his
vote at territorial election, from SO cast
ing it. as to give an expression of opinion
in favor of any measure whatever. which
Congress chooses to prohibit. What
is this but arrant despotism? Is it not vir-
tually saying to the people of a territory.
Congress is much better able to Judge of
your necessities than you are; and as to
your wishes, it matters but little whether
they are grati6ed or not: ice raie--it is
yours to obey.
Such is the legitimate. logical result of
Republcanism if carried out in good faith;
and yet its partisans claim to be the only
true friends of freedom and equal rights,
in all the land.
Look at it, fellow citizens, especially
those of you who contemplate removal
to some of our new territories, and you
who have, OF perhaps soon will have
friends there; and say, is this the deliver
arcs from political oppression and desp't-
ism, for which your sires, and grand -sires,
in the days that tried mems souls, barred
their bosoms to British steel, and subjected
their necks to British halters? Was 1t for
this that the patriots of '76 endured the
taunts and reproaches OF mercenary sold
iery, and of traitorous friends. while faith
fully serving their country? The spirit OF
submission to such oppression and such
degradation. is worthy Judgment in the
hearts of serfs. but never. oh! never, let 1t
be said that freemen for moment tolerate
it.
Turn we now to the Democratic creed
on this subject. and how differently the
chords Of the human heart vibrate to the
music of freedom and equality! The doc
trine is this: "In all that pertains to the do
nestle, or internal affairs Of territory,
the people themselves are sovereign, and
Congress has no valid right to interfere
with this sovereignty; Congressional pow
er extending only to those territor al affairs
which are strictly either federal or foreign"
Here we have freedom for the inhabitants
of the territory, and they are placed upon
an equality with their brethren in the
States. No Congressional dictation, nc
political serfdom. and no bending the knee
at the shrine of political Gods, whether in
the Capitol at Washington. or upon the
tripod of an aboltionist newspaper press
in the States.
A plain, simple statement Of the Demo
cratic doctrine in relation to territories, Is
sufficient to commend it to the judgment
and heart of every believer in equal rights
and political Justice; hence, there is no ne
cessity to enter into a labored argument to
convince men of its entire superiority over
that taught by our opponents.
Friends of our common country. choose
We between the two, and act accordingly
ALEX.