The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-05
Sound Views from Georgia.

We confess to warm approval OF the
views declared in the following letter, albeit
they emanate from no less parsonage than
Hon. Warren Akin, the Opposition candidate
for Governor of Georgia We hail with an
irresistible emotion of pleasure, every indica-
ton of sound opinion and of harmonious
thought and action in the South. Mr.. Akin,
without equivocation, declares in favor of the
doctrine of protection to slavery III the terrific
| ries, and (probably not having seen the ex-
positions of Mr.. William c. Smedes) he is bold
| enough to cite the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States in support of his
position, to say nothing of the opinions of A.
H. Stephens and the late John NJ. Berrien.
1t is proper to mention that the State OPP
position Convention of Georgia, which assem-
bled on the 10th of July last, preceded Mr..
Akin in the enumeration of the sound views
contained in his letter--that body having de-
with slavery in the States, Territories, or the
District Of Columbia, does not, nor was it in
tended to conflict with the assertion Of the
power of Congress to protect the property OF
the citizens of the several States who may
choose to settle in the territories:'''
Your second question is in these words,
''do you interpret the Dred Scott decision to
go to the extent that it is the duty of Con-
gress to legislate for the protection of Slavery
in the Territories? Ifso, will you adopt this
as part Of your political platform, and
pledge your influence to maintain this doc
trine ?''
have the decision of the Supreme Court
in the Dred Scott case before me. The Court
shows clearly that there is no " difference
between property in a slave and other pro-
perty;'' and they state that the right of pro-
perty in a slave is distinctly affirmed in the
Constitution. The right to traffic in it, like
an ordinary article of merchandise and pro-
perty, was guaranteed to the citizens of the
United States, in every State that might de-
sire it.
And the Court then adds: "And no word
can be found in the Constitution which gives
Congress greater power over slave property,
or which entities property of that kind to less
protection than property of any other descrip-
ton. The onlg polUer conferred as the poacer
coupled NTH the DUTY of guarding and
PROTECTING the otciaer an his rights
This language is too plain to be mistaken.
But it maintains no new doctrine 1t was
contended for, some years since, by the Hon.
ID. A. Stephens, and | believe, the late Hon.
John M. BARREN. And surely may stand
in the path made by Stephens and BARREN,
and established by the Supreme Court of the
United States. Should you, citizens of Geor-
gia, remove to Territory, would not Con-
gress have the po,oer, and would it not be the
duty of Congress to protect your wives and
daughters from lawless Uiotence, should the
Territorial Legislature throw open the door
to it by untriendly legislation? Who will
answer this question in the negative? And
in my judgment Territorial Legislature has
no more right to destroy property, by "un-
friendly legislation" or otherwise, than it has
to turn over your wives and daughters, should
you 60 to a Territory, to the lust of the
hordes of yagabonds sent there by Emigrant
Aid Societies.
Mr., Douglas has said that Congress may
destroy Territorial Government, which
shows, conclusively, that it is the mere crea-
ture Of Congress and can exercise no power
but that given to it by Congress. The right
ofPTuate property, is one of the absolute rights
OF man, and sovereign poper alone can right
fully destroy it A Territory is in no sense
s1ksxss ". ff-cai.iiot dec,
ties, com money, nor regulate comnerca.
These points can alone be exercised BY So
vereignty. They cannot be exercised by the
States, because the States have delegated
them to the General Government. But the
Territories never had these powers to delegate
1t seems to me, therefore, mere folly to talk
about popular sovereignty in the Territories.
L therefore answer your second question,
that, IN my opinion, it is the duty of Congress
to leggislate for the protection of slavery in the
Territories whenever it may be necessary;
and | do adopt this as part of my political
creed, and pledge my influence to mainrain
this doctrine.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WARREN AKIN.
"a