The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-09-27

Hon. Stephen A. Douglas made speech at Col
umbus Ohio, on the 7th inst, in which he defines
his position. Below we give synopsis of his re-
marks:
The Senator said that the Republican party, in
their platform adopted at Philadelphia in 1856,
sert the power and declare it the duty of Congress
to prohibit slavery in all the Territories. The
Democratic party are pledged, on the other hand,
by their platform, to the doctrine of non-interven-
ton and popular sovereignty in the Territories.
New Mexico and Kansas, by the acts of their
Territorial Legislatures, present cases now for Con-
nressiona intervention with their domestic affairs,
which will put the advocates of Intervention and
non-intervention, North and South to the test
New Mexico, which refused for several years af-
ter the organization Of Territorial Government
to introduce or protect slavery, passed law in
1858 to recognize and protect slavery in that Ter
ritory. Kansas at the first session of the Terri
toria Legislature, in 1865, passed very stringent
law to punish offences against slave property,
by which slavery was introduced and " adequate
protection" given to it in that Territory. In 1858,
however, the slave code repealed by an act
passed February 9th, and all protection to slave
property withdrawn and denied. By this Gun
friendly legislation" slavery has been excluded
from the Territory of Kansas.
Now, the Northern interventionists pledged
by their Republican platform to repeal the slave
code in New Mexico, and prohibit slavery by act
of Congress. While the opposition in Kentucky
and the lnterventionists generally, are pledged by
their principles to intervene and protect slave
property in the territory of Kansas.
These issues must and will be met by the Demo-
cratic party Non-intervention and popular SOW
ereignty must be maintained as we'll in New Mex-
CO as in Kansas. If New Mexico wants slave
code, let her have it. If New Mexico has laws for
the protection of slave property, SO be it, If Kan
sas will not have slave code, nor slave property,
Congress must not force her people to accept
either.
Northern and Southern interventonists agree
that slavery in the territories rghtful subject
of Congressional legislation, but differ as to the
character of such legislation.
Each insist that Congress should intervene in
favor of their particular section, and against the
other section, in violation Of the rights Of the peo
pie interested to decide the question Of slav
cry for themselves According to the doctrine of
the interventionists, north and south, slavery is
not only ri ghtful subject Of Congressional egis-
latiOn, but dependent upon Federal authority for
its existence and projections and make it, conse-
quently, subject to federal regulation and control.
The Southern interventonists contend that the
whole power of the Federal Government should be
cxerted for the protection of slavery in the terri
tories, and the Northern interventionists that the
same power should be exercised for its destruction
The Democratic party, in opposition to the inter-
ventionsts of both sections, hold that slavery is
State institution, and that it exists in the slave
holding States 'under the laws thereof" and not
by virtue of the Constitution of the United States
That slavery, therefore, is beyond the reach
troll of federal authority, for good evil except in
the single Of fug tive slaves, who must be de-
livered up.
The Democratic party are sustained on these
principles by the decision of the Supreme Court in
the ''Dred Scott case. The Democratic party are
pledged to the principle of popular sovereignty
by which the people of the organized Territories
"like those of State, shall decide for themselves
whether slavery shall shall not exist within their
limits"
Those who insist that the first handful of set
tiers should not decide the slavery question in the
Territories, should vote against the organization of
Territories, until they have sufficient population
for a political community, capable Of selfgovern-
ment in all their domestic concerns No govern
ment should be established for any people who
not qualified by numbers and in all other re-
spects, to egisate for themselves on all rishtful
subjects Of legislation, subject only to the Consti
tuition of the United States When Territol ia
Governments are established the people will egis-
late for thenIselves-will form their own domestic
institutions, and if their legislation conflicts with
the Constitution, it will present judicial question
for the Courts to determine, to whose decision all
law-abiding citizens will and must submit"
The Territories must be open to settlement to
the people Of all the States slave States as well
free States. The system of emf grafton fostered
and encouraged by emigrant aid societies, for the
purpose OF controlling territorial legislation is
fraud upon the elective franchise, and designed to
subver and destroy the principles government
None but actual inhabitants who have abandoned
their citizenship and allegiance in their respective
States and settled in territory, in good faith to
make it their permanent home, have right to
voice vote in the legislation of the Territory
The doctrine of Mr. Stewards CHICHESTER Speech
with respect to the irrepressible conflict between
freedom and slavery, must be emphatically con-
demned
lie said-I denounce it here today, as
denounced it in the Senatorial canvass in Illinois,
when twas maintained by Mr. Lincoln, as subversive
of the princpl upon which the Union was founded
and must stand. Uniformity in the local laws and
domestic institutions othe several States is neither
desirable possible Variety of climate and
interests necessitate corresponding variety of local
legislation, which is and must be adapted to the
wants Of each particular community or State The
liberty and prosperity of the people depend upon
the inalicnable right Of selfgovernment in all the
States and Territories Of the United States
The surrender Of fugitive slaves is duty imposed
by the Constitution, and all who are for law and
for the Constitution must be faithful to that
constitutional obligation. The opposition and
resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act 10 the North
begot like opposition to, and violation in the
u