Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-08-12
Letter from Hon. s. A. Douglas.

Letter rem non. 8. a. Douglas.
Below we publish q letter from the Hon.
Stephen A. Douglas, Of Illinoss, addressed
to COL John L. Peyton, Of Stapnton. on
the subject of the N Naturalization laws called
forth by the LIE Clerc letter softhe Admin
istration, and the revival Of the Slave Trade.
Though we may differ with Mr.. Douglas as
regards the propriety or right Of the South
to abolish The tyrannical restriction Of Con-
gress, we cannot but admire the boldness
and frankness Of the writer in thus endeav-
oring't TO place himself fairly and squarely
before q epeople whose suffrages he may soon
request for the highest Office in their gift.
But we confess ourselves incompetent to
see the force Of the logic which can only re-
refer as near century back to certain in
harmonious passages, among the trainers
of the Federal Constitution, over this ques-
Ition, as good reason for the perpetuity -oi
an unrighteous law. As to the policy Of
importing African Slaves we will for the
present, pass that by, but until the South
consents to place her slaves on a foof1g
with all other property, the world may well
and properly condemn her. and swear that
she holds slaves in spite Of conscience.
Where Mr.. Douglas interprets the Com
promise into might and acou1d prohibit. .
&C., we are unable to comprehend him; the
"tuouzd' is not in the Constitution, and
makes no sense in the letter Hear the
Federal trainers themselves Article list,
Sec. 9th.) ~
The Migration or Importation Of such
Persons as any of the States now. existing
shall think proper to admit, shall not be
prohibited by the Congress prior to the
Year one thousand eight hundred and eight
but Tax or Duty may be imposed on such
Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for
each Person. ~
Now this 6 Compromise nowhere enjoins
Congress to psohi6ts the importation Of
slaves after certain date, bit rather sup
poses that only ample time was allowed our
farmers to supply themselves with negroes,
and that Congress might by law stop an ex-
cessiee influx, and of course when our me-
cessities required fresh supply, we were
expected to look to Congress for relief. AS
to Mr.. Douglas rather sounding period
about "blotting out the glories and bles-
sings of the revolution we would suggest
that id no way does It apply to the present
time, we are willing and able now to assert
and maintain our rights, then we were poor
and helpless. As to the Naturalization
question, Mr.. D. only follows in the track
of Mr.. Wise. As
WAsH1raroN, AUG. list 1859.
COL. JOHN L. PEYTON: iea
4 M Dear Si;r::-You do ME RIO more
than justice in your kind letter, for which.
accept my thanks, in ASSUMING that T do not.
concur with the administration in their views
the rights Of naturalized Citizens
as defined in the ''Le Clerk letter." which it
is proper to observe have been since mate
rally modified. - ri
~ Under our constitution there can be no
just distinction between the fight of native
born and naturalized Citizens, to claim the
protection Of our government at homo and
abroad. Unless naturalization releases the
person naturalized from all obligations
which he owed to his native Country, by
virtue of his allegiance it leaves him in the
sad predicament Of owing allegiance to two
Countries without receiving protection from
either-a dilemma in which no American
Citizen should ever be placed. rAl
Neither have you Inexperienced my
opinions in respect to the African Slave
trade. That question seriously disturbed
the harmony of the Convention which fra
med the Federal Constitution. Upon it the
delegates divided into two parties under cir
cumstances, which for time rendered har-
n1onious action hopeless. The one de-
manded the instant and unconditional pro-
hibition Of Che African Slave trade, on NOR
al and religious grounds. While the other
insisted that it Was a legitimate commerce
involving, no other consideration than a
sound public policy, which each State ought
to be permitted to determine for itself SO
long as it was sanctioned by its own laws.
Each party stood firmly and resolutely by
its own position until both became convin-
ced that this vexed question would break up
che Convention, destroy the Federal Union, ,
blot out the glories Of the Revolution and
throw away all its blessings TIL less some
fair and Just compromise could BE formed,
on che common ground Of such mutual con-
cessfons as were indispensable to the preser-
yation Of their liberties. Union and Inde-
pendenee. p y ',.sa .''.' ~ s.. Is
Such compromise was effected and In
corporated into the constitution by which it
was understood that the African Slave trade
might continue as legitimate commerce IN
those States whose laws sanctioned it until
the year 1908, from and after which. time
Congress might and would prohibit it for
ever throughout the dominion and limits of
the United States and pass all laws which
might become necessary to make such pro-
hibition efectual. p.4 i, res
The harmony of the Convention was re-
stored and the Union saved bv this Com
promise, without which the Constitution
could never have been made. 5 vss
4 [ stand firmly by this Compromise and
by all the other Compromises of the Gonsti-
tution, and shall use my best efforts to carry
each and all of them into faithfnf execution