The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-13

transforming the acquired territory into States
Cuba is already what the Southerners would
have it, and they would be greatly encouraged
in their enterprises for the purchase of that
Island if the Republicans voluntarily pledge
themselves in advance to the policy of admit
ting States "with or without Slavery" as the
people may decide for themselves.
Shall we accept the Cincinnati Platform
What Republican in 1856 would have tolerated
the idea for moment? Yet the effect of
adopting the policy which has been recon-
mended by some of our friends, would be prac-
tically to place us on the Cincinnati Platform.
The following resolution was offered in the
House of Representatives a week or two since,
by Mr. Kellogg, of Illinois, Republican of un-
questioned loyalty of feeling. In commenting
upon it, and in endeavoring to show what
seems to us the serious error into which he has
fallen, we have not the slightest wish to cast
shadow of suspicion upon his integrity as
Republican, but we feel constrained at the same
time to protest against what seems to us
proposition to abandon the distinctive charac-
teristic of the Republican party;
i ResolUed, That the Committee on Terri
tories be instructed to report to this House a
bill that shall embrace all the organized Terri
tories of the United States, providing for the
election by the people Of all Territorial officers
now appointed by the President. Also, pro
viding for the donation of one hundred and
| sixty acres Of Government land to every actual
settler thereon within any Of said Territories.
under such regulations and instructions as shall
| Secure an actual and bona ftle occupation and
permanent improvement thereof the title there
of to be transferred to said occupant at such
time and on such conditions as the committee
may deem advisable to secure the permanent
settlement and Improvement of said lands and
that no person shall be entitled to receive from
the Government more than one donation of
land under the provisions of said BILL Also, pro-
viding that the inhabitants Of each Of said Ter
ritories shall provide for and pay the current
expenditures of said Territorial Government.
/ And, also, providing that the inhabitants of
said Territories shall remain in a Territorial
| form of government until the inhabitants of a
! Territory shall be equal to the number required
for one Representative under the ratio of Con-
! gressional representation and that the people
! of any of said Territories who NAV desire to
establish a State Government, having the re-
! quisite number of inhabitants, and having
forAed Constitution for such State Govern
ment, shall cause the same to be submitted to
a fair vote of the legal voters of such Territory
| for approval or rejection
| Ifthis policy should be accepted by the South
while Pro-Savery majority exists in both
branches of Congress, it would be utterly inn
practicable to resume, by a Republican Con-
gress the right of legislation for the Territories
Indeed, such is the force of Example and habit
that the practical abandonment of the right to
legislate for the Territories would be taken by
the masses of men as theoretcal admission
that no such right exists and the effect of the
measure would inevitably lead the party to the
adoption of the Cincinnati PLATFORM and train
the public mind to the idea ii lat, under any cir
cumstances, new States must lie admitted with
or without Slavery" as the first handful of in
hab'tants who enter the Territories may prefer
The rejection of the resolution, by Southern
and Pro-Slavery votes, would not mend the
matter, if the Republicans: vote for it, since they
will be committed to the policy of non-interven-
tion which the Slave Democracy have dis
carded.
/ The Republicans have for years battled for
the right of Congress to legisate for the exclu-
/ sion of Slavery from the Territories, and have
resisted and ridicued the dogma of Non Inter
/ yenton. At length, the Slave Democracy have
abandoned Non Intervention, and have ac-a
copied the Republican constitutional position
of Intervention-not, indeed with the object of
I excluding Slavery from the Territories, but in
order to protect it. Would it not be strange
| spectacle, to see the Republicans, in the day of
their triumph, fall back upon the exploded and
/ impracticabe idea which their opponents have
abandoned-which amounts only to a protest,
and has only negative value?
The position of the Republican party is iden-
| teal with that of the trainers of the Constitu-
ton. 1t is the position of Washington and JEFF.
/ ferson, and the party cannot abandon it with
out losing Its distinctive character. Slave
ry was treated at first by all parties, North
and South, with insignificant exceptions as a
/ great moral and political evil-a thing to be
discouraged and held in check and so hateful
was it, that at the suggestion of Mr.. Madison.
the words slave and slavery were carefully ex-
/ Guided from the Constitution. In order to effect
! this, circumlocutions and antiquities were re-
/ sorted to. 1t was prohibited, by an ordinance
/ drafted by Mr.. Jefferson, in all the Territories
over which Congress possessed unlimited CON
troll and this ordinance has been reenacted.
and It's Anti-Slavcry provisions have been re-
enforced under every Administration, from
General Washington to that of James X. Polk.
The constitutionality of Slavery restriction was
/ sanctioned by the Supreme Court in its best
days, when Marshall of Virginia was Chief Jus
/ tice and it is too late in the day for it to be
controverted successfully by excited and fanat.
zeal Pro-Slavery partisans
+ Whatever individuals may do, the mass of
the Republicans will never consent to the re-
nunciation of the right of Slavery restriction.
and could not do SO without disorganizing the
party. The step would be fatal and there would
be nothing leftto distinguish Republicans from
the Douglas Democrats, who profess not the
slightest concern for the cause of Freedom.
lHE MESSAGE ABRoAD.--The London Times.
in reference TO the Presidents views in regard
to Mexico and Central America, says:
1t is evident that the utter decrepitude of
the Spanish race, both north and south of the
lsthmus, is about to lead to the virtual suprem
acy of the Anglo-Americans in the whole oftbe
tropical regions.
/ There is no need Of affected moderation on
their part, and philanthropy which few will
credit. The fact is plain enough, that Mexico
and Central America, and the great Spanish
island, will soon be under their sway. direct or
indirect For our own part, we see little to re-
greet in the prospect except the extension and
perPetuation Of Slavery in Mexico and the