The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-09-23

WAsHINGroN, SEPT. 7, 1859.
Every one knows that Mr.. Douglas, the SEN
ator from Illinois, has written and printed an
elaborate essay, comprising thrty-eIght columns
Of HarpeIs Magazine, in which he has under
taken TO point ont the "dividlng line between
federal and local authority" Very many pei
sons have glanced over its paragraphs TO catch
the leading ideas without loss of time, and some
few have probably read It with care.
Those who dissent from the doctrines OF this
paper owe to its author, il not to his arguments,
a most respectful answer. Mr.. Douglas is not
the man to be treated with disdainful silence.
His ability is fact unqueslIoned his public
career, in the face OF many disadvantages, has
been uncommonlv successful and he has been
for many years working, struggling candidate
for the Presidency. He is, moreover, the CO.
rvpheus OF his political seCt-the tounuer Oh a
new school-and his disciples naturally believe
in the iu(allibie verify OF his words as part OF
their ialtb
The stvle Of the article is, in some respects,
highly comElendable. It is entirely free from
the vulgar clap-trapot the stump; and has no
vain ado.utncnt oil classical scholarship; but 1t
shows no sign Of the eloquent Senator II Is e.
ven without the logic Of the great debater.-
MANY portions OF il are very obscure. 1t seems
TO be an unsuccessful effort at legal precision !;
ike the writing of Judge, who IS trying in
vain to give good reasons for wrong decision
on a question of law which he has not quite
mastered.
With the help of Messrs. Seward and Lin
coin. he has defined accurately enough The plat
form ofthe so-caled Repu5 lican party and ne
does not attempt 10 conceal his conviction that
their doctrines are, in the last degree, danger
ous They are, most asSuTedIy, full OF EVIL
and saturated with mischief. The ''irrepreSsl-
ble conflicts" which they speak OF with so
much pleasure between the "oPPosng and en-
during forces of the Northern and Southern
States, will be fatal, not merely TO the peace OF
the country, but to the existence OF the Govern
mppt itself MIR. Douglas knows this, and he
knows, also, that the Democratic party Is the
only power which is, or can be, organized TO
resist the Republican forces or oppose their hos
tile march upon the canita. He who divides
and weakens the friends of the country at such
crisis in her fortunes, assumes a very grave
responsibility.
Mr.. Douglas separates the Democratic party
INTO three classes, and describes them as loi'
lows:
Of the United States neither establishes or prohibits
slavery in the States or Territories beyond the pow
erof the people legally TO control 1t, but, 'ieaVe
the peopIe thereof perfectly free 10 form and Iegu
late their domestic institutions IN their own way
subject only TO the Constitution Of the United
States.''
DSso,aR: Those who believe that the Constitution
establishes slavery in the Territories, and wlhhoid
from Congress and the Territorial Legislature th
power TO control IT, and who insist that, IN the e
vent the Territorial Legislature fails to enact tho
requisite laws for its protection, 1t becomes the I'm
peratiye duty OF Congress 10 lnteTpose lis authority
ana furnish such protection. .
,tTHiri Those who, wnile protesting to belIev
that the Constitution establishes slavery IN the ef
rtories beyond the power of Congress or the leifl
torial Legislature to control it, a. the same tim
protest agains; the duty of Congress to interfere 10
It's protection hut insist that II IS the duty OF tn
judiciary to maintain slavery in the Ierrtoue
without any law upon the subject"
We give Mr.. Douglas the full benett OF nj
own statement. This is his mode OF exPresSln
those differences, which, he says, disturb tn
harmony, and threaten the integrity, OF the A
merican Democracy. These passages shoul'
therefore, be most carefully considered.
The first class Is the one 20 which he hlmse
belongs, and to both the others he IS equall
opposed. He has no right TO come betWee
the second and third class. If the different
which he speaks OF does exist among hiS opp
nents it is their business, not his, to settle II
fight it out We shall therefore contlne ou
selves to the dispute between Mr.. Douglas al
bis followers on the one hand, and the rest
the Democratic party on the other, presumI'
that he will be willing to observe the Prime