The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-09-09


We believe that no other County in tho
State. is doing so much for the Agricultural
interests of the people, as Geaugn County
We intend that our ontcrprising and pro-
grcssivo spirit, in this respect, shall DO ox'
cclcd by nothing, save our enlightenment
as a people, and our devotion to Repub-
licNn principles.
We commend the following article, from
tho Richmond (Va) Enquirer, to tho care
ful consideration of our readers. Tho En-.
qurjer is one of tho ablcst journals in
tho Southern States, and tho Calm Retro
spect" it takes, is worthy Of our notice. We
do not sec how those Democrats at tho
North, who havo laborcd so hard to secure
to their Southern brethren tho privilege
of taking their slaves into the Territories,
can escape the conclusions of tho Enquirer:
A Calm Retrospect.
An extraordinary spectacle is presented
in the conflicting views manifested in regard
to II doctrine which has long been regarded
as tho basis of justice and equality among
tho States. Can any ono doubt that the
samo protection should be extended to
every species of property carried into the
Territories, whether from the sunny south
or the fiigid North As President Bu-
chanan well said in his famous Sillinan
letter to the fanatical Connecticut clergy
men:
"If a confederation Of sovereign States
acquire O new territory at tho expense OF
their common blood and treasure. surely
one set of partners can have no right to OK.
cludo the other from its enjoyment by
prohibiting them from taking into it whatso-
ever is recognized to be property by the
common Constitution.
But, further Tho Constitution has re.
cognizod slaves to bo property, standing on
exactly the same footing as other property
and therefore, entitled to tho samo prOtcc
ton against untriendly legislation in the
territories which, themselves, arc in a state
of mere pupilagc. Is it not monstrous tina
any party should favor the proposition o
"squattcr sOvcroignty, by which u handtu
of floating settlers, while fully enjoying thcil
own species of property, would 10 enabled
to degrade the citizens of large portion o
tho confedcracv and rob them of property
which has been fully recognized by the Con
StitutlOn OF tho UnltCu states
For sinister purpOscs,it has beer attempt
cd to involve tho whole question in obscu
rity, and the raw-hcad and bloody bones o
"a slave code" has been paradod to frightcr
conservative men out of their proprlety.-
But the point is not now ono. Its JuslcC
has long been acknowledged, and its reiter
alton has only been necessary by tho faIst
Coloring that has been given to the CIncln
natl platform under tho glare of moderr
new lights. 1t is due to tho rights anc
equality of tho Southern States, and to the
honest name and solid and pcrmanon
success os tho Democratic party, that The
mist of CQuivocaion should be cleared away
and that tho doctrine of protection OF over!
species of property should be enounccd, 81
as to allow no further Cquivocation. Recen
constructions have mado it n matter OF vita
/ necessity, that voice, should DO given to tn
simple and truthful expoundng of tho Con
stitutiOn, upon SO grave question.
| Without going further back, we ma
point TO tho clear and uncquivocal dcclara
alton of tho doctrine in tho United State
Senate, on the 23d of February last, b
nearly all tho Southern Senators, and by a
least ono Northern Senator. Our reador
arc familiar with tho strong language EN-
plOycd by our own Senators. Thor position
was fortified by the concurrent declaration
of others. Mr.. Brown, Of Mississippi, avowe
| his determination mot to cheat nor to b
cheated" and therefore demanded that tn
truo doctrine be enuunced. Mr.. Green {
Missouri, said "Tho doctrine of moi
intorferoco by Congress with slavery in IL
territories, means, and can only mean, thu
Congress should neither establish nor pr
hiJitL That is all. Leave these question
to the Constitution and tho Courts. B'
whatever rights individuals have in Il
Territories, may demand, and, when d
mandod, must hare adequate protection y
Even Senator Biglor, of Pennsylvania, o,
IDENTIFY foroshadowed his recognition of Il
correctness of Senator Green's views, witt
he said:
. "lt is for tho courts, and not Congress,
I decide all loyal questions that may arise
to the rights of slave property in tho Ter
tories; that is tho Democratic policy, but
is not Ctcdr that a Necessity WtH nerer ar
q for the interference IF Congress TO erec"te
right decree Of The courts"