, 1859-11-25

OF State OF territory are IN cOhdluOl
to exercise itg
" The Constitution of Lhe-UHitsd State
leaves the people perfectly
free and subje1t onlV 10 n,
Constitution Of The Uaitcd States" Thi.
carries Us round full circle, and drops US
precisely at the place Of beginning. That
the Constitution leaves everybody subject
to the Constitution, is most true. We are
far from denying it. We never heard it
doubted, aud expect we never will. But the
statement o. L proves nothing, defines
nothing, and explains nothing. 1t merely
darkens the subject, as words without
meaning always do.
But Notwithstanding oil this circuty Of
expression and consequent opaqueness Of
meaning in the magazine article of Mr..
Douglas, we think we can guess what bis
opinions are or will be when be comes to
reconsider the subject. He will admit (at
least be will not undertake to deny) that
the status Of negro, whether Of servitude
or freedom, accompanies him wherever he
goes, and adberes TO him in every part Of
the Union until he meets with some local
law which changes it.
1t will also be agreed that the people Of
State, through their Legislature, and the
people Of q Territory, in the constitution
which they may frame preparatory to their
admission as State, can regulate and con-
troll the condition Of the subject black race
within their respective Jurisdiction, so as
to make them bond or free.
But we here come to the point at which
opinions dVerge. Some insist that no citi-
zen can be deprived Of his property in
slaves, or anything else, srcept by the pro-
visions Of State Constitution or by the
act Of State Legislature; while others
contend that an unlimited control over pri-
vate rights may be exercised by Terrific
rial Legislature as soon as the earliest set
Elements are made.
SO strong are the sentiments Of Mr..
Douglas ia favor Of the latter doctrine,
that il Il be not established he threatens
Us with Mr. Stewards " irrepressible con
Aict," which shall end only with the uniVer-
sal Abolition or the universal dominion Of
slavery. On the other hand, the President,
the judges Of the Supreme Court, nearly all
the Democratic members Of Congress, the
whole Of the party South, and very large
majority North, are penetrated with con
vietion that no such power is vested 10 a
Territorial Legislature, and that those who
desire 10 con6scate private property Of any
kind must wait until they get a constitu-
tional convention or the machinery Of a
State government into their hands. We
venture to give the following reasons for
believing that Mr., Douglas is in error:
The Supreme Court has decided that q
Territorial Legislature has not the power
which be claims for it. That alone ought
to be sufficient. There can be no law, or
der, or security for any mans rights unless
the judicial authority Of the country be up
held. Mr.. Douglas may do what be pleas
es with political conventions and party
platforms, but we trust be will give to the
Supreme Court at least that decent respect
which none but the most ultra Republicans
have yet withheld.
The right OF property is sacred, and the
first object Of all human governments is 10
make il secure. Life IS always unsafe
where property Is not fully protected. This
is the experience Of every people on earth,
ancient or modern. To secure private
property was q principal object Of Magma
Charia. Charles l. afterwards attempted
to violate 1t, bot the people rose upon him,
dragged him to the block, and severed his
head from bis body. At later period,
another monarch, for q kindred offence,
was driven out Of the country, and died a
fugitive aud an outcast. Our own ReVolu-
ton was provoked BY that slight invasion
upon the right Of property which consisted
in the exactiou Of q tnAing tax. There is
no government 10 the world, however abso-
lutte, which would not be disgraced and en-
dangered by wantonly sacrificing private
properly even TO a small extent. For cen.
turies past such outrages have ceased TO be
committed in times Of peace among civilized
/. nations.
Slaves are regarded as property in the
southern States. The people Of that sec
ton buy and sell and carry on all their
business, provide for their families, and
make their wills and divide their inherit
ances on that assumption. IL is manifest
to all who know them that no doubts ever
cross their minds about the rightfuIness OIL
holding such property. They believe they
have a direct warrant for it, not only 10
the examples Of the bost men that ever
lived, but in the precepts Of Divine reVela
ton itself and they are thoroughly salts
fed that the relation Of master and slave
is the only one which can possibly exist
there between the white and the black
race without running both. The people o
the North may differ from their fellow citi
zens Of the South on the whole subject, bu
knowing, as we oil do, that these senti
ments are sincerely and honestly enter
tained, we cannot wonder that they fee
the most unspeakable indignation whet
, any attempt is made to interfere with thei
rights. This sentiment results natural!
aud necessarily from their education anC
= habits Of thinking. They cannot help it
any more than an honest man in th
North eau avoid abhorring thief or house
breaker.