Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-04-06
Remarks of Hon. NJ. L. Bonham.


political matters of tho day and in short tino
tho Court House was thronged.
General BoNHAM said that he found pleasure in
being aLlo thus early to comply with call that
had boon made upon him to address the people.
lIe responded readily and cheerfully. Tho events
Of the past Session of Congress were of great mo-
mcnt to the country, and he deeply regretted that
the Indications were of that inauspicious character
which prevented his replying with hopsfulnoss to
the inquiry addressed to him as one of their senti
asls-" Watchman, what ofthe night7" He could
not say, with the sentry bis lonely round, CATS
cell" Duty compelled him to declare that 1t w"s
not time Of security with but that to the reverse
Tho rights and interests of the South have never
been in more peril or in greater danger Nine
years ago Mr. CALHOUN predicted with his accus-
toned forecast, that if this slavery agitation were
not arrested m its mad progress, it would end in
dissolution of the Uniou. Wore he now alive, ho
would find but too much cause to realize the foreo
of his prediction-to be convinced in fact that the
events he furesaw in the distance were almost i'm
mediatey at hand
There were many matters Of interest before Con-
sre,s at its recent Session, hut that which lowered
in magnitude above the rest was still this ceascless
question of slavery. Reference to the later do
bates of the Session will indicate with sufficient
cloarncss what We are to expect in this connection
from the Federal Congress.
General BoSHAN then reviewed the progress OF
tho anti.slavcry agitation and its repeated en-
croachmcnts upon the South. He spoke of the
legislation of Congress begun rs far back rs 1854
Of the famous ordinance of 1857, by which Slave
States ccded to tho anti-slavery demand extensive
and invaluable territory; Of the Compromise OF
| 1920 and it's adverse effects upon the power anu
well-being of the Slave States; of the California
swindle, by which territory purchased largely BY
Southern treasure and Southern blood was yielded
10 the craving appetite of rapacious anti-saVery
majority. 1t had been said that to compensate
for these frauds, repeal Of the odious Missouri
| Compromise had been effected. But what will be
the value of that repeal if the dangerous positions
Of Senator DOUGLAS arc to exercise controlling
influence in tho direction of affairs? It will prove
to be but phantom to ailay Southern indignation
and instead of resulting in her benefit, its advan-
:ages will rather accrue to the North, opening to
her citizens yet more available means Of occupying
even the Southern territories and of banishing
slavery from their borders.
The speaker next proceeded to combat the dan
.crous views of tho Illinois Senator. Tho mischief
began with roal OF affected Misunderstanding Of
the Kansas Nebraska Act
BY the intervention of Congress, no more nor
less was ever meant than this that Congress should
uot Lesislate slavery into or out of Territory.
Abolitionists said Congress had that right. Both
wings of the Democratic party denied this. The
Southern wing maintained that the question Of
slavery or no slavery, is to be decided by the Con-
fenton called (whcncvcr the number of tho in
iabitants justified i;) to form tho Constitution of
he new State, preparatory TO admission into the
Gunfedcracy Of States, aud not before. Squattcr
| Sovereignty, whilst it admits the right Of the
STAKEHOLDER to gu with his slaves into the Terrific
iics, says, that tho power to determine whether
slavery shall or shall not exist in the Territories
is in the Territorial Legislature; and if the Leg
islaturc, as has been done in Kansas say slavery
shall not exist in the Territory, although it admits
tho action Of that Legislature must DO subordinate
to tho Constitution and the Supreme Court, still it
further says, Congress, not interfere to enforce
the rights of the slave holder in the Territory. II
this doctrine be true, it is as bad rs the Wilmot
Proviso, and renders the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise dead letter. 1t is the idlcst inockc-
~ to tell the Shareholder, YOU have much right
to take your slarcs into the Territories, as the
northern man his horse, but if the Territorial Leg
islature, backed by handful of Sguatters, say
slavery shall not exist, that there is no remedy.
Wherever there is right, there is q remedy.
The Kansas Territorial Legislature has under
taken to prohibit slavery This sets Mt naught the
Constitution and tho decision of the supreme Court Of
The United States, and whenever case arises Of Il
| slave holder being deprived Of the enjoyment OF
MS property by such Legislation, it will be tho du-
ty of Congress to pass such laws as will carry in
to effect the true intent and meaning of the Con-
| .titutiou Any other doctrine will prove destruc-
tive of the rights of the Southern psaple in the
common Territories. The creature can not be
10 Lcgislate slavery into or out of u Territory.
Can its mere creatures do it? But Congress has
passed fugitive slave law, to carry out the pro-
visions of tho Constitution even in Sovereign
States. How much more then is it competent for
Congress-ay, its duty, to pass necessary Laws to
protect tho rights Of the citizen in the Territories
when the mere creatures of Congress not only re-
usc that protection, but lesislate adversely.
No ether view than this was entertained any.
where. or nj least not ,:clarc Until Mr. DOUGLASS.
ia,liE; it necessary to hi. .sca in the United
States Senate. pronlulgcd Iii. erroneous viows nf
Sguattcr Sovrci.nty,-vicws at once antaganistic
to the Kansa. Ncbra Ska. Act and ut variance with
the democratic platform announced by the Ciucin-
ltti Convention, which Mr. DOUGLASS is understood
| TO have cordially approved. But he has gone
against us, as tho declarations Of his Frecport
speech Enthusiastically provo. His new-acdgcd
principle is dangerous to our republican system,
and especially detrimental to the interests Of the
Southern people. 1t prepares in our territories an
inviting resort for the 1ocks Of emigrants daily
arriving ut Northern ports, and for tho surplus
lrawn from the vcst purlieus Of tbeir cities. In
its operation, it presents the surtling spectacle Of
few thousand such settlers gifted with the extra
ordinary power Of excluding eight millions Of
freemcn from the common property Of the people Of
these States. In tho late Congressional debate,
Seniors, MASON, DAVIS, BROWN, and othors, met
this view Of the Illinois Senator with the doclara-
ton that his doctrine is not, not, and cannot
be the doctrine of the South. But for this danger
Gus developement by ono who has occupied SO
prominent aposition in the democratic ranks there
ground for hope that our territorial organiza-
tions might have proceeded peacefully in tho fu-
turc; but now that Kansas has undertaken to
abolish slavery in her borders, now that this doc
trine of squattcr sovereignty is being embraced
openly by the North, n:,d 1T least by the DOUGLAS
faction Of the democracy, the question is upon us