Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-11-12
MIA. 81. Fur the standard
SENATOR DOUGLAS AND JUDGE BLACK.


mo. 2.
MR Enron: In our first communication VIC At
tempted to show that Judge Black asserted nothing
Int Tia truth when he charged the Senator with
MAINTAINING that 1.-THE territorial governments had
the night Of confscating private property, on the
terSund that those governments were sovereign"
When judge Black used the term Sovereign"
he did not intend to convey the idea that the Sena
tor had affirmed that there was no restriction or
limisatisa to the acts Of . territory.
By no means; he only meant that the Senator
coutended there was no limitation quo ad Aoc, and
even this be now atirms.
II then, rs to this, there be no limitation, We re-
spectfay ask, where is the feguard to the exer-
Che Of . ruinous and arbitrary discretion on the
part Of territorial legislature ?-cearly none, for
the Senator denies that Congress has either the
power to establish exclude or protect slave prop
true, be says that every distinct political commu
nity before it exercises the power claimed must be
I" loyal to the constitution and Union;" yet AZ he
denies and expressly disclaims, any restraining
extraneous influence the insertion to say the least
Of it. is unmeaning verbage unless one could be so
words for the twofod purpose Of deceiving the un
wary by the exhibition Of ''loyalty himself, and
or the further purpose Of enabling him to fall back
to the true ground, when driven from his position,
o be already has (most triumphantly) by Judge
Black.
Yes, but for the false deductions he makes from
his own premises he is most wonderfully fortified
in jumping Jim Crow whenever he sees proper.
Now, what is the power claimed by the Senator
over slavery in the territories but an unlimited one?
and what is that if carried out by "hostilc legisa
ton" but power of "confscationw Still he says
he denies the power Of conscation and all the time
1'U . l-borng to prove that an equivalent power be-
aheEs to the s..ritories
Whae does the Senss.r mean by 20 often repeat
ing that territories have the right Of selfgovern-
ment in respect to all local concerns. =
II he means they have this right when its exer-
else does not conflict with the guarantees of the
federal constitution, neither Judge Black or any
ether sane man has denied it, but he contends (as
be does that there is limitation to its exercise
but simply the discretion of those who exercise II,
he is eonfoundng revolutionary with . constitu-
tonal right
That majority have right to govern is propo-
sition denied BY none, but in the language Of the
great Pitt They must 50 rule as not to contradict
the great principles common to al" and the ques-
tisn At issue between the Senator and the Judge
was not the abstract proposition but its particular
application to slave property.
Yes, they have the right to govern, but they
must govern in the way, and after tie manner
pointed out
The people of the territories, by going thither,
did not expatr1ate themselves neither had they re-
VOTED against the parent government but they
went there to improve their fortunes, and to pos
sesal and. enjoy the liberal Patrimony which had
been assigned them-they went there with the full
Aeief and the strongest assurance that domain, do
mfnion empire, carried with it reciprocal relations
and like every thing else coelative imposed reci.
psocA duties "
Yes - far Is our national emblem scars, he not
oasy carried in his back plaribus unvm, but with
it and through it the moral and physical strength
Of the nation was solemnly pledged that the previ.
ously Recognized rights Of each, and rights of all
mot Inconsistent with any treaty stipulation) should
b aaesodly maintained
They knew full well that their fathers had formed
sconsdtution which had been agreed to by thci,
respective States, and that among the guaranteed
rights, the right Of property was expressly recog
nized and its infringement carefully guarded
against
Knowing this the right of majority to rule
6oeh IN teritoty. IS in State, is restrained when
Is in conflict with the federal constitution.
Sc So long. then, IS the government is carried on
under the existing constitution has . minority lin
territory the most solemn guarantee, backed BY
me whole power Of the government, executive
kgelative and judicial that its original structur,
shall neither be changed Or by any sophistry evad
but upon the required constitutional prerequi
sites ...',
This applies with equal force to all constitution,
governments, and while it protects the rights a
minorites is not Inconsistent with the constitution
Arishts Of majorities. I'0~--~
should the government of State, or of tn
Union, become oppressive, even though administer
ed IN accordance with the letter Of the constitution
majority have the right TO free themselves from
OPPRESSION but then it is not constitutional but
rseotstioaasy right ,.. -.-. ~ - -
On far fnc~.. a.