The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-07-22

Judge Rsnney In Isas--Then in Favo
Of Congressional Intervention to Pro
hibit Slavery in the Territories, ans
in Favor of the Abolition Of SiavcrI
In the District Of Columbia.
WARREN, September 30, 1s4s.-
Dear Sir: Constant engagements il
Court give me but moments time
to answer your communication o
this date. hope. however, to be at
explicit as | am brief, in responding
to the important question PROFOUND
ed to me, | fully agree with yon as
to the importance of understanding
the position and principles Of all can
didates Tor public trusts. This is the
right OF every elector, indispensibly
necessary to be enforced to enable
him to act understandingly, and the
vital principles Of representative
Democracy. The corresponding du
ty of the candidate is to take his po.
sitions honestly, and to maintain
them openly. His "errors may be
safely tolerated while reason is left
rec to combat them"
am in favor Of maintaining the
freedom Of the territories Of New
Mexico and California in their whole
extent, and utterly opposed to au-
thorizing slavery or involuntary SER
vitude OF any kind within them, or
to any compromise which shall doom
any part OF them to the curse OF hu.
man bondage. do not stop to state
all the reasons which bring me to
this conclusion. Suffice it to say
the maintaining of their freedom is,
in my judgment, due 10 humanity,
republican principles, to our char
acter and interests as people, to
Mexico, and above all to the poor OF
our own and other lands, who shal!
90 there to find homes for themselves
and their families, and who would
be degraded and diSgraced by the
contact OF slaoe tabor. Entertaining
these views. ii elected, should sup.
port all such measures rs were cal
culat.d to maintain them, taking
care at all times not to overstep the
limits OF the National compact, or to
encroach upon the reserved rights of
the states. 1t is conceded that these
territories are now free. They must
remain so until changed by positive
law OF the sovereign power. No
question is better settled in this
country than that slavery exists IN
n state by virtue Of the local law
1T is clear that it can no more exist
in a territory without such law, than
n man can breathe without air.
Neither Congress nor u Territorial
legislature, in my opinion, possesses
the power to esfahlish !. IL can
. - - uohe 10y the people when
admitted as q state" "un 81 the gen.
eral principles Of the Constitution"
| have no doubt of the power of
Congress to erect territorial govern
nrnts, and to provide for the pro.
hibtion OF slavery within the rri-
tories, and ! am in favor OF and
would support such prohibition.
i do not think that ",he legal
principle against territorial slavery
would be made stronger by the pro-
but as 4 public and au
thoritative declaration by Congress OF
the tact that these territories are now
Tree and OF the determination OF the
American people to keep them so, it
may be important; at all events it is
open and fair dealing with all par
ties, and should be unwilling to
unit anything calculated to give Sc
cnritv to the principle - our flag
should never ilont over another foot
of slave territory. You ask what
| am in favor of, for main
tanning the freedom of those terrific
ries L have already stated those
which bear directly upon it-another
OF great Importance, indirectly,
would be to protect them, as well as
our public lands, from the blighting
curse of land monopo'y. Without
such monopoly slavery cam t exist.
| regard the public lands as Il trust
in the hands OF the government for
the benefit Of the people, and think
they should be freely granted in lin
tied quantities. to actual settlers on
ly. This, in my opinion, would set.
tie them with hardy and industri.
Gus population OF free men. In re-
gard to slavery In the District of
Columbia, | answer that more than
ten years ago had occasion to make
public my opinion of the duty of
Congress- to abolish slavery in the
District Of Columbia. The lapse
of time has only served to strengthen
that opinion, The question as to
the power OF Congress oyer the inter.
state slave trade has, believe, been
settled by the Supreme Court,
You ask, finally, for which of the
Presidential candidates intend to
vote at the coming Presidential
election. / had supposed that my
position was too we'll known to rem.
der such a question necessary; but
as | desire no concealnent and
would scorn to receive a voto OBJ
tanned through any misspprehension,
| will answer that intend to vote
for Lewis Cass.
| regard the Presidential contest as
lying between him and General Tay.
lor, and that Democratic votes
thrown for Mr.. Van Buren, can serve