The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-08-27
THE SLAVE CODE.


This phrase and catc FORD was first introduced
into use by Senator Douglas, in his speech in
the Senate last February
It was &c oanced at the tima, by Mr. Mason,
OF Virginia, as dangerous thing, and import
ling false insinuation The South demands nc
such thing as T" Slave Code" of Congress. We
demand only constitutional right, and it is an
act of baseness to attempt TO stigmatize such
right, by names designed to operate to its preju-
dice. In this connection, we introduce some we'll
timed remarks Of the Memphis Avalanche. Says
that journal:
The advocates Of Douglas have got up false,
aa caPtdndum clamor, against what they call the
" Slave Code" is asserted by them that the
South requires Congress to enact code for the
protection of slave trade. This charge is a fab
rication. II is made to cast odum upon slavery
by creating the impression that discrimination
| is desired in favor of slavery. The South, with
unanimity that We have never seen upon any
other subject, does maintain that the government
was created for the purpose of protecting all its
citizens in the enjoyment Of every species Of prop
erty, and that it is therefore the duty of Congress
to enforce the object for which the government
was created. THUS far the duty has been per-
formed in the Territories. If Congress can pro-
tect the citizens of the Territory from the ravages
| Of the Indian who murders him and steals his
horse, cannot Congress protect the same citizen
from the aggressions Of the Abcitlonsts who
steal his negro. The cry of Congressional
Slave Code" will not deter the South from main
tanning the power and duty of protection from
the government to which allegiance is due.
The opponents of Stephen A. Douglas are also
accused of desiring the Charleston Convention TO
adopt resolution endorsing and recommending
Congressional slave code. This is another false,
nd captandum, clamor, got up for the purpose of
facilitating the Presidel tial aspirations of the
Illinois Senator. Nobody desires such m express
sion on the part Of the Char sston Convention, as
the Democratic platform is already explicit upon
his subject. The fourth resolution of the plat
orm reads
Resolpcd, THAT EVERY CITIZEN
AND EVERY SECTION oE THE COUNTRY, HAS A
RIGHT TO DEMAND AND INSIST UPON AN EQUALITY
OF RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, AND TO COMPLETE AND
AMPLE BeT- PROTECTION @FsSH OF PERSONS
AND PROPERTY, FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
OR FOREIGN AGGRESSION"
This resolution distncly enunoiates ihedoetrine
# PROTECTION" of PROPERTY" and it would
be foolish and unwise for the Charleston Couven-
ton to pass another resolution on the same sub
ject.
We dissent from the concluding paragraph of
the above;
The resolution of the Platform alluded to- is not
in our opinion explicit enough "a right to de-
mand ample protection, Of persons and property in
the Territories, from Congress, if the same is not
afforded by the Territorial Legislature.
Let this be distinctly declared in the platform
at Charleston, 80 that there can be no room for
dcdging. If we have such right, there can be
no wrong in demanding that it be distinctly and
unequivocally affirmed Then as Gov. Brown
has declared, no one can suspect us of desire
to cheat or willingness to be cheated"
Douglas claims to stand on the Cincinnoti plat.
'orm and it is plain that he and his followers do
not construe the fourth resolution of that instru-
nent as does our able Memphis cotemporary. Even
heir construction Of that veryresoluton is radi-
ally diverse. We think, therefore, that the
present platform of the Democratic party is not
efficiently explicit on the subject of adequate :
rejection" by Congress, of persons aud property
q the Territories.