Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-02
n1tbmo''o enquirer.
-, .,rca1n DuNNAvANT. TYLER WISE.
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..,,D,Y MORNING., SEPTEMBER 2.
~ pous,ss' Essay on Territorial Government.

The want ~ pieC'Sioii HiaiiiIeSteu III ScllatoI
ponglas' essay, frequently renders its sense
doubtful. if not ambiguous prominent ex-
ample of this is found in his statement Of the
differences Of opinion Oh the slavery question
which have arisen among members of the
Democratic party, viz:
fOs-Tho,c who believe ;!i:,l ,l'c Constitution OF
;he United Stale, neither establishes nor lr"hipi's
slavery ia the States Territories he! oid tne power
vi the people legally to control IT, but LEAVES the
p,onl. lL.rrot perfectly Tree to form and regulate
ihcir domestic ir,, tuiclS in their own way, subject
only 10 the Constitution Of the United States.
: o7i Those NlIo believe that the Constitution
c>,ai,|i,hy, slavery in the Territories and wit!lold>
from ,o.gr,s, and the territorial legislature tnc
l.r to control j. and who INSIST that, III the event
t territorial legislature fails 10 cUact the requisite
law, tor il protection, il becomes The imperative
li,y O: Co'l=r>ss /" err0sc II, 'r;'ori'; AMI i'f-
,.i>h eucl. protection.
Id;rI Those who, while p.v:y.,in. 70 believe
;.; The Constitution establishes shaver! III tic tern
to.ioS beg The power 81 Congress ar the territorial
legislature 70 control il. al t:.c same time protest
against the !ntv Of congress i" incr:yrc i"r il, pro-
tocon. h,, :ns>, that It j the du'v 81! it IndicIry
10 protect and maintain slavery !" t.c territories
without all! LAW upon TIE >Hhiee
We submit that this statement fails short Of
an accurate aud precise definition. Nothing is
easier than to state the matter in such form as
Ito preclude the possibility Of iaiSapprehenSion.
We, therefore take the liberty to amend the
above. aS follows
/ ME DOUGLAS ii.".
The Constitution of the United States in 10
manner guarantees to Shareholders the right to
introduce or 20 hold slaves in any territory o
the Union. The question o: the maintenance
or prohibition of slavery il any organized ter
,itory mus, be decided only By the residents oil
such territory acting through their own local
territorial authorities. And in case such terri
Serial authorities shall prohibit the intro.
,lucton or holding Of slaves in such territory,
no STAKEHOLDER is rightiully entitled TO p:o,ec
ton against such prohibition; nor can the Con
gross, the Executive, or the Judiciary of the
Union intervene to provide such protection
Also, that the foreSon: has heretofore been
and ought to b. the cosai,>l doctrine Of the
Democratic party Of the Union.
Tma OPPOSITE viEw MAINTAINED ~ MiJoGI-
rY or TIg DEMOCRATIC SENATORS, ~ a LARGE
4
\ LAEG:: BODY OF CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS
Al THE NO!:yM.
That the citizens o. each State are entitled
70 equal rights with the citizens Of every other
State, in Tc:r:;orc- co"inon 20 al the States;
t!a, every citizen may Lawfully hold, on the
soil Of such territories. any species OF property
recognized by the Laws Of ANY Of the States;
that this nacnaj.c rghi ought no; t. be ae-
elected or inlrngcl by reason of the action or
inaction Of local territorial authorities: and
t.a, j; is lie imperative tiuly OF the general
government, and 0! every department thereof,
in case OF need, 10 provide adequate protection
t, Al; the rights o: persons o. of property, nj
;acs.;ng TO citizens residing in te coni';"n ter
r,oric. Tha: such has ever been, and ought
still to continuc The fully recognized doctrine
0! the Democratic party Of the union.
TIE CoNpEoIl>r ,i:w VI. l.
! That the Constitution Of the United stats
does guarantee to shareholders tie rich; 10 III
troduce ard TO hold slaves in the Territories Of
the Union; nevertheless, in case this right
shall be infinged by the local territorial autho-
rites, or otherwise, /; will BE- iinpoi;:c CT in!-
proper 10 insist on Congressional protection; but
the duty Of protection should bc LEFT 10 the judi
ciary, without any law on the subject That the
Democratic party has never recognised either
this, or the foregoing doctrines and it is polite
and proper that the party should continue 10
tolerate difference Of opinion OIL The question q
slavery in the territories permitting its inen.-
bers TO a!iix di:!,,ci: aud irlcconcilab,c inter
pro;ations 70 tie party platform, i'll such manner
as to rally to the aid of the party men holding
( to each variety OF opinion.
! TIT coa,WoYI>E VIEW, W. II.
iI.a; tie residents ci each territory afe en-
,,,;,1 IN hold Slaves IN SiIc, territory fln.