Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-07-15


position of the party, and allow some
other organization to step forward and
save the country from those consequences
of sectionalsm which have so long threat
ened its peace and harmony, and from
which the democratic party up to this
hour has saved and preserved it. We
hold that there is common ground
one which, by the past history of the
party upon this question, ought to be
considered ms we'll settled, involving no
compromise of principle, no abandon
ment of policy, no concession of right
either upon the part of the North or of
the South; and we call upon democrats
of every section of the country to unite
with us in maintaining that common,
conservative, national ground.
That our position may be clearly and
distinctly understood, brief recurrence
to the past history of this question will
be necessary. In the early discussion of
the question of slavery in the Territories
there were two points upon which a diff
ference of opinion existed in the demo-
cratic party. 1t was early agreed BY all
that the question of slavery in the Ter
ritories should be decided by the people
of the Territories, who had deeper in
terest in the subject than those who lived
in other States and Territories, and were
not, therefore, personally to he affected
by the decision of the question, So far
we all stood agreed. But question
arose whether or not, under the Consti-
tuition of the United States, slavery ex-
listed in the Territories prior to the adop-
ton of any municipal law upon the sub
ject. Another question growing out Of
the one just stated also arose. 1t was
as to what time the people of the Terri
tories shall decide the question, whether
or not they would have slavery as one of
their domestic institutions; and differ
ence OF opinion upon these two points at
one time threatened seriously to disturb
the unity of the democratic party. Hap
PLY it was agreed as the best and only
mode for the settlement and decision of
this disturbing cause of difference that
these should be regarded as judicial qucs-
tons, and submitted to the highest judi
cial tribunal of our country for decision.
Northern and southern democrats COR
daily united in adopting this mode Of
settling this the only cause for serious
difficulty in our ranks.
1t was in conformity TO this idea that
the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed by
Congress, and provision made with espe-
cial reference to bringing these two ques-
tions before the Supreme Court of the
United States for adjudication. Suisse
quent 10 that tine beth these questions
have been before that high tribunal, ar
gued with great ability and earnestncss
by tho advocates of the respective theo-
ries to which we have alluded, solemnly
and seriously considered by the able men
who preside upon that bench, and the
decision has been pronounced and is ia
miliar to the country. That decision
announces, first, that under the Consti-
tuition of the United States slavery OK
lists in the Territories thereof; and, Sc
condly, that no power exists either in
Congress or the territorial legislature to
deprive the people of the South Of the
right of carrying their slaves into such
Territory during It's territorial existence,
but that the time for the decision of this
question by the people Of the Territories
is when they assemble in convention for
the purpose of forming State constitu
ton preparatory to admission into the
Union.
These questions having thus been set
tied in the very mode and manner con-
templated by the democratic party at the
time that they arose and created the d.
visions Of opinion to which VIC have al
luded, let them be considered by all true
democrats as settled questions. To our
judgment, this appears to be plain,
common ground, upon which all men of
all sections who are willing to abide by
the Constitution and laws can agree,
without sacrifice of opinion, feeling,
principle, or right. If SO, the doctrines
Of Judge Douglas and his friends stand
condemned, aid must be rcpudiated by
the national democratic party.
In reference 30 the demand Of Gov.
Wise and his friends, we call upon the
southern democracy to unite with us in
adhering to the Cincinnati platform and
the past pledges of the party, without
stopping to discuss the abstract question
of the right Of Congress to legislatc for
the protection of slavery in the Terrific
rics. IL should DO sufficient for all true
democrats all who dosire to main
tain the integrity of the party, for all
who are willing to live up in good faith
to the past pledges Of the party--to say
to the advocates of this doctrine that il
is vioiativc Of our long-established prin-
ciple of non-intcrvention. When the
North sought TO invoke the aid Of Con-
gress to abolish and TO prevent the insti-
tuition of slavery in the Territories Of the
United States, the democracy Of the
South united with their brethren Of the
North in declaring strict non-interven-
ton policy on the part Of Congress. In
accordance with the doctrine Of the Su-
premc Court in the bred Scott case,
slavery exists in the Territories under
the Constitution, and there IL no power,
either in Congress or the Territories, TO
nullify and destroy that provision of the
Constitution until the people assemble 10
10 adopt their State constitu-
ion. Until that time, the STAKEHOLDER,
ike all other property holders, must de-
pend upon the courts Of the country 70
protect him in the enjoyment Of bis legal
nd constitutional rights. II Congress
" a territorial legislature seek by uucon-