The eastern clarion., 1859-04-13
sanatnr nnnrlan.


In the very title page Of the pamphlet
Mr.. pouglas resortsto a Yankee trick Of
which We had not supposed him capable.
The title reads Nos IsrERyESTIoS-Por-
rtAR SovEREiGNrr. Speech Of Hon. ;. A.
Douglas Of illinois, in the Senate OF the
United Stntcs, February %, 1899, IN
reply 60 Hon. - Brown, Of Missis-
sippi, in oppo~ition'to to the passage Of
code Of law. by Congress, to protect slave
rv in the territories, &c. The uninform-
ed reader would naturally suppose from
this that a code Of laws for the protection
Of slavery in the territories had been ac-
tually introduced into Congress; that SEN
aior Brown was advocating It's passage,
and Mr.. Douglass opposing il. We need
scarcely remark that such was not the case.
The debate arose on a motion of Mr. Hale,
10 ahrogate the existing law requiring
Kansas 10 have sufficient population to
cntitle her to one representative in Con-
gress. before she can come into the Union.
This brought up Mr. Douglas squatter
sovereign doctrine, aud il was clearly the
object Of GOV. Brown 10 avail himself Of
the occasion 10 debate the Constitutional
principle involved. and to compare notes
with Mr.. Douglas and the other Northern
Senators, that the two sections might un-
derstand each others position on the sub
icct. Mr. Douglass knew this perfectly
well when he fixed up the title page to his
pamphlet. and what motive he could have
had in making il convey a siggcsto tlls,
we cannot see unless II were to inhame
Northern preudioes against the South,
and strengthen the party that upholds
him in his hcrcsies The contrivance is
more worthy Of patent freedom shriek-
/ er" like sumner or Wilson. than Of ''the
little giant" towhom hii ends are wont
10 attribute 50 much boldncss and candor.
Itwas important that Mr.. Douglas should
define his position. and that the Northern
and Southern democracy should come to
an understanding as to the ground on
which they stood. The position he took
during the Illinois canvass was an equiyo-
cal one. and those who were friendly dis
posed towards him in the South, (Gov.
among the number were dispose 70 give
him the benefit Of all the doubts watch a
liberal charity could suggest. They ques-
toned the consR~cAon put upon his Free
port speech, which made it a pronuncia-
mento in favor Of the right Of territorial
legislatures to exclude slavery, and con-
tended, or rather hoped, that he meant
only to convey the idea that they had the
poircr under existing Federal legislation
but not that that power appertained to
them under the constitution, or that they
ought to venture upon its exercise, either
indirectly, by unfriendly legislation-re-
fusing 10 pays laws for the protection Of
slave property--or by positive enactment
iorbidding the migration Of slaves into the
/ territory. But in the recent debate, the
/ Illinois Senator has removed all doubt as
to where he stands, and has avowed him
self openly upon the broadest platform Of
squatter sovereignty, in its most offensive
sense contending that the power to ex-
clude slavery from territory Of the Union
belongs Of right to the territorial legisla-
turc and that the will Of the squatters
whom they represent Is the only legiti-
mate guide to their action. Right here,
he and those at the South who have been
disposed to palliatc his conduct and bear
with his errors, part company. The South
will never yield the principle that a terri
torial legislature, the mere creature of
Congress, can be invested by Congress with
powers which that body itself does not
possc.s-that the first settlers in terrific
~ shall he accorded the power and the
right, if 70 disposed, to pass laws to pro-
hibit the people Of fifteen States Of this
Union from going there with their proper.
~. In striving to maintain his position
on this question, Alr. Douglas, with al his
ability and ingenuity, has entangled him.
self in a net work Of sophistry which lie.
not even in his power TO straighten out
lie Acknowledges the binding force Of the
Drcd Scott decision, declaring that the
Constitution Of the United States gives the
right 10 carry and hold slaves in the terri.
tories. but says the right can be rendeFed
valueless by the action Of the territorial
legislature, acting within the limits Of il
legitimate authority. What kind Of logic
is thisf Can backwoods territorial leg.
stature be invested with the right TO null
lify a provision Of the Federal Constitu
tion, the paramount law Of the land, which
rcstrains the action Of Congress itself and
Of the sovereign States Of this Confeder
acy. As an abstract right. says Mr.. Dou
slas, he admits the rights Of the South il
the territories but Congress has parted
with its power to enforce those rights by
Legislation, in the terms Of the Kansas
Nebraska law. The answer is. that 40 ar,
all rights secured by the constitution ab
stu,ct rights. until rendered practical anc
available by proper legislation on the par
Of Congrcss-the very purpose for which
the Congress was instituted-and il Con
gress parted with its right 20 legislate 70
the protection Of slave property in tn
territories, il transcribed its own power
in 20 doing. and the South has the abstrac
right 10 demand that 30 much Of the Kan
sas-Nebraska law as admits Of that con
struction be repealed or regarded as a nul
lity. The propriety Of her seeking to en-
force that right, in view Of the agitation
il would engender, is another question
but she is not prepared to yield the prin
Ciple.
. Mr.. Douglas in his speech does no
meet the arguments. nor touch the pos
tions OF Gov. Brown; and Col. Davis
I who had the reply ON him, exposed tn
absurdity Of his views most successfully
. II would be well it the speeches of a
three Senators could have been printe
under one cover and distributed through
out the country. We do not suppos
? there is democrat south of Mason an
Dixon's line prepared 10 sustain Mr.. Dot
glas in his present position, or who is di
posed 10 go any further in his defence
since he has cleared up the unccrtaint
which hung around his Freeport speecl
and placed himself before the country q
the champion Of uuadulterated squatto
sovereignty.
TuiRb DsrRiCr.-The Democracy Of tn
Third Congressional District are to NEE