The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-09-23

|
ritorial Legislature should discriminate in it.
laws against slave property, either by omit
ting to afford it equal protection with al
other property, or by positive hostile enact
ments, it would be the duty of Congress
the common agent of all States, to atforl
that protection which its agent, the terrific
rial Legislature, had SO withheld, in violation
OF the constitution and the decision of the
Supreme Court. No other doctrine is com
patlble with the rights of the slave States in
the territories. And it is passing strange
how any one can support the Fugitive Slave
Law, which carries out the provisions of the
constitution in sovereign States, and deny
the power of Congress to pass laws to carry
out those provisions in the territories, the
common property of those sovereign States
These. according to my understanding
are the opposing constructions-squatte,
sovereignty and its opposite. On the for
mer platform Judge Douglas has announced
to the democratic party that they can take
him as their candidate for President in SEQ
or not at all. This is bold and decided, and
will, it is to be hoped, inspire like spirit
on the part Of The South.
The issue is thus distinctly rendered.
Can the South decline to meet it without
an abandonment of her rights? Can she
support Judge Douglas or any man hold
ing the same views on this question witlloul
being concluded? ? think not-'rhc issue
hcipg ten'lered, a failure to meet it subjects
The South to decree hy default, and new
territories will be hereafter closed. Her own
people would regard it AS adjudicated.
Nor ought the South now to ignore this
! issue aud support candidate who is un
commttcd.-The question is hrfore the
country. and even though it were but an
abstraction, the principle is none the less
important that there is no immediate ap-
pication. No one doubts that the Indian
or other territories suited to slave labor will
be acquired by the Governmcnt-how soon
no one knows? and there can DC no better
time than this to settle the question. In nv
humble judgement, it is the duty of the
South, laying aside all issues, the agitation
Of which will distract her councils wilhou,
producing present good, to demand of the
democratic party-not "slave codc" an
ugly name to make obnoxious great con-
stitutional ,ight-but distinct recognition
in the approaching Presidential contest, of
the right on the part of shareholders to con.
gressional legislation, whenever such legis-
la'ion may be needed, to protect their rights
against the unfriendly or hostile legislation
of any territory; and in default thereof, to
supportSfor her candidate some statesman,
who is sound upon that question as we'll as
others ofvital interest to the South. She
should eschew all compromise OF the ques-
ton Of slavery in all its bearings.
The compromise of the constitution,
whereby threefifths Of the labor Of the
South only is represented, was an error, but
1t IS a part Of that compact, and by that let
her abide. For the future the word com.
promise should be stricken from the south
ern political vocabulary. 1t is time she
had known whether that party-the bulk
OF which is in the South-wil risk itself
before the country advocating the conslitu,
tlonal rights of the South. If it will not,
the party should 60 down and healthier
organization take its place. 1t has been
The boast OF democrats that that party is
the only constitutional party of the country.
Now Is the time 10 make good that boast
1t is better far to suffer defeat on sound
constitutional principle. than to achieve
victory by its abandonment We are not
unmindful that we have true friends at the
North but If they cannot sustain them
selves at home on the principles Of the
constitution, the sooner the pc ople Of the
South are made to comprehend it the
better. For all practical purpose, the con
gressional Legislation of Mr.. Seward is no
worse than the squatter sovereignty Of Mr..
Douglas; and whilst there is wide differ
ence between them on many other impor-
tant questions, if the South is true to
herself, she need not be subjected to the
humiliation Of having to make choice be-.
tween two evils. Ifthe doctrine of either can
prevail, we can entertain no we'll founded
nope OF having the right guaranteed to us
under the constitution, AMI affirmed By the
supreme Court 'gparded and protected" "
in the Union. NIL. BoSuAm
Edge6eld, Sept. 9.
= DANIEL WEBSTER. Rev. Mr.. Dwight
officiating clergyman at the North Con.
gregational Church, in the course of b;u