Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-03-04


made Il unnecessary to ask him if he would
vote for a slave code for tho territories. He
had yet to learn that there was Northern
man who would at was well understood.
when the Kansas-Nebroska hill was passed.
that they gave the territorial legislature full
power to pass whatever laws it chose, and the
question of the constitutionality Of these
laws was to be settled by the Courts" Here
is a confession, by the author of the Kansas
Nebraska bill that squatter sovereignty was
not granted absolutely, but IN oljectiop 10 the
Fedcrai Courts and the reader will observe
that the pro-slavery men now found their ar
gument in favor Of Federal protection to
slavery, on the very ground provided for
them by Douglas in the Nebraska bill-that
is. on the decision Of the Court that slaves
are property, and as such must go into the
territories. Thus | find, next. that
"Mr. Clay lof Alabama, dem.) said The
Constitution gave the right to take slaves into
territories" this being the opinion Of the
Supreme Court "and tie territorial inhibition
was therefore inoperatiro and roid. because a
territory was not a sovereignty The terrific
ry had no power except what was derived
from the Constitution and the act of Con-
gress"
"NIr. Douglas said that by the organic act
the legislative power was extended to all
rghtu subjects of legislation, with these
exceptions, and slavery not excepted. They
had the same right to take and hold slaves in
the territories as other property. They could
hold no property without law for it. and
Congress would not interpose to protect
slaves any more than any other property The
doctrine Of the right Of Congress to make
laws for distant unreprcscntcd people was
the doctrine Of the Tories Of the Revolution"
49, and of such Wings and Democrats as JEFF
ferson, Washington, Adams, Monroe Nladi-
SON, 40. down to the days of Frank Pierce
and S A Douglas
"Mr Bigler of Pa, dem. asked If, in the
campaign Of 1856, the Democratic party had
not maintained. as he did everywhere. that
when the people go to the territories they
carry with them all the rights of American
citizens, uite or bqci r.
Mr. Douglas recognized no UaeL Ameri-
can citizens and trusted he never would 49,
che meant to maintain only such doctrines as
could be avowed wherever the American flag
wave" - that is. down South. where /, waves
over slavery Of course be cannot recognize
freedom, because the flag doe, not cover free
dom outside of the free States. "If the
people of territories wanted to have slavery.
they should have it. If gentlemen were go-
ing to abandon the doctrine Of non-interyen-
ton, they must step off from the Democratic
platform"
Mr.. Davis ,of Mississippi. DEM said
when the Constitution was formed the coun
ellis of the nation were guided by men who
stopped not to degrading controversy. Not
the breadth Of one hair would he follow tho
Senator from Illinois in the career he had
chosen The Senator had based his argu-
ment upon the idea that there was people
in the Territories There were inhabitants.
but not peop'e in the territories Inhabitants
waiting in the fulness Of time to be admitted
to the privileges Of citizenship. The past
history Of the country showed that Congress
had not hesitated to afford the protection to
slave property which it was bound to afford
by the Constitution. 4 mas The d,,ty of Com
g'ess 10 DISCRIMINATE FOR TIM pRorEcrtoN
OF THAT PROPERTY -. but Nh Davis holds
that IL is not its duty ''to discriminate for the
protection Of other property" being free
trader eff Congress attempted to grant
away its power in the Kansas Nebraska bin.
Congress exceeded its authority. It could
delegate but not grant away its legislative
trust The territorial legislature had no
power which was not delegated by Congress.
How, then could it get the power to inhibit
/, slavery Congress had not that power and
the Senator from Illinois himself argued that
all the power Of the territory was derived
from the Constitution Of the United States
and the organic act. They could assert their
power only by the right of Revolutionary
rising in rebellion against this government
and achieving their independence" This
signifies, | suppose, that the act Of any terri
WI - liNHl"4N4HH vi duollhNlNR slavery VIII
be resisted as treason by the pro-slavery de-
mooracy We remember that the free State
men of Kansas were called TRAITORS ave.
and indicted in Federal courts Mr..
Davis went on to say that he understood
the Cincinnati platform to be consistent with
these views, and concluded by SAYING that
"his vote could not be had for any man who
stood upon a platform adverse to the South.
They were not to be cheated with their eyes
open.
Mr.. Mason lof Va, dem has thought that
the Kansas-Nebraska bill would forever Quiet
the slavery controversy; but he had been
mistaken, not to say mislcd "H ,oas intend
ed byhot bill 10 remit the ololo question 10 the
.jud'ciary' So Mr.. Calhoun and the leading
Southern men agreed, but Congress did
not and so it was agreed in Is4s by the
New Mexico and Utah bill. 1.-The Kansas
Nebraska bill contained the same principle,