The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-23
XXXVIth Congress--First Session.
WASHINGTON. Dec.

Mississippi, a resolution was adopted ap-
pointing committe to wait on the Presl-
dent and inform him that the Senate is
ready to receive communications In order
that he may have an opportunity to send
nominations and executive business to the
Senate previous to the organization of the
House.
On motion of Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi,
it was resolved to proceed to the election of
chaplain on Thursday next.
Mr.. 1verson of Georgia, said he had been
misunderstood by the Constitution newspa-
per in a remark made by him the other day
about the Democratic party, wherein he said
he believed the Democratic party, il not
corrupt, at least corruptible.
He did not mean to accuse them of
completely or sympathy with John Brown,
but simply to say that on the question of
the territorial rights of the Southern people,
a great portion of the Northern Democracy
is unsound. This was vital question to the
rights and interests of the South, and on
this question he believed large portion, if
not the whole, Northern Democracy is I'm.
sound. He believes, and Southern people
believe, that they had the right, under the
Constitution to emigrate to any OF the ter
ritories with their slave property, and when
there they have the right to the protection
of the law in the enjoyment of their property
and Congress has the power to give that
protection, and it is its duty to do it.
1t canrot be disputed that this is not the
position of the Northern Democracy, at least
that portion who follow Douglas. They
deny the power of Congress over the sub
ject, and deny that Congress can exercise
Jurisdiction so as to give that protection.
They say the power belongs to the people
of the territories themselves, in a territorial
form, and when sufficient number OF peO.
pie 90 into territory to form political
community they have complete right to
regulate the subject of slavery as they
please, and neither Congress nor any human
tribunal has the power to interfere. Now
he contended that position was as unsound
as the WilmOt ProvisO. When he said the
Democratic party were at least corruptible,
he did not allude to them in moral sense,
but spoke in political sense, thinking the
time was fast coming when they would be
so under the pressure of a strong and over
whelming sentiment at the North, if they
had not already become Abolitonized they
would become so.
Mr.. Bigler was surprised to hear the re-
marks of the Senator the other day. He
thought he did the Democratic party at the
North great injustice, for he certainly used
strong language, and went on at some
length to prove they were as rotten and cor
rupt on this subject as the Republican
party. MIR. B. would tell him that such de-
claration had no foundation. Net only have
no portion of the Democratic party sympa-
thized with Brown in his atrocious onslaught
upon Virginia, but as little do they sympa-
thize with abolitionisn. He was grati6ed
with the Senator's disclaimer as far as it
went, but justice required him to declare
that the Northern Democracy had labored
day after day, in season and out of season,
in defence of the rights O. the South.
Mr.. Iverson-I said that very thing in
my remarks, but in the other case referred
to that portion Of the Democratic party
under the lead of Douglas, which has denied
the rights of the Southern people,
Mr.. Bigler said the Senator from Ca.
could hardly realize how the expression
''rcttenncss of the Democratic party" fell
on his ears. At the North Democrats were
called doughfaces because they stood up fol-
the rights of the South. There were differ
ent opinions among Democrats with regard
to the question of Territorial rights, aud be
would not say they all agreed with Mr.
Iverson but they had no sympathy with
the abolition party, and every Democratic
paper in the country has denounced Johr
Browns raid. His (Mr. B.'s) opinion Of
this question was this ave don't claim
that the Constitution establishes slavery OF
prohibits it; but the constitution most eX
pressly declares that the States are perfectly
equal, and provides that new States shall
come into the Union on terms of perfec,
equality with the old States. 1t is not de-
MED that the Territories are property of thu
States in common, and Congress is simply
their trustee. 1t is upon this principle o
perfect equality, equity and justice, tina
these common owners have equal rights tt
the occupancy and enjoyment of Territory
so long as its Territorial existence remains
He believes the common law would afford
all the protection in any Territory, whenever
it is alleged that d Territorial legislature
has transcribed its legitimate authority, to
luc uciTlilltHC vi ptlNdlC iiShIo' L udG lS I
question for the judiciary, and when the
judiciary give judgment in such case, thu
whole power of the federal government mus
be employed to carry out the law thus
defined. 1t is simply the broad doctrine
allowing the people of Territory to exer
else just that authority which they mey
exercise under the constitution and the'laW
when a dispute arises. Whenever they
transcend their authority that is question
not for Congress, but for the courts.
Holding that opinion, l do not believe ]
am an aboltionist, nor those whom repre-
sent. do not seek in any way to disturb
the rights of my Southern brethren from
the hour first came into political life to the
present day. believe ] have pever gont
through political campaign when thu
rights of the South was not leading issue
AT the North we have been constantly
assai!ed by tie Opposition. They arr
assailing the Democratic party every day
on the ground that we are subservient to thu
South, and are pro-slavery men. We say
we simply seek to maintain the constitutions
right of the Southern States. Our object il
to put down the spirit of elimination which
must ultimately lead to alienation and
separation between people who ought to be
friends and brethren