The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-09-23
HON. NJ. L. BONHAM.


This distinguished Representative has adj
dressed :hc following communication to the
Charleston Mercury
Mr.. E,litor: On the first Monday in June
last addressed portion Of my constituents
ut Laurcns Court House Circumstances
did not admit Of my preparing report Of
that address for publication. An extract
from the brief report Of my remarks bv the
Editor Of the Herald having recently ap-
pcarcd in your paper, as in.!cative of my
views as to the policy Of the South in the
approaching Presidential election. I deern
it not improper, through the same medium,
which circulates extensively in the Fourth
Congressional District, succinc,y Lu, more
fully to state the views expressed, ana now
entertain, upon that absorbing question.
The debate in the Senate last February as
to the trne construction Of the Kansas. Nc.
braska act and the rights of the slave States
in the territories brought the a,voca,cs Of
the opposing constructions. face to face in
that body and before the whole corntrv.-
Subsequent discussions on the stump and
through The press have but served to make
palmer the distinction. There can now be
no more "cheating" or "beng cheated" az
to this question, unless the South chooses
to be cheated. For one, rejoice that it is So
The mass ofthe democratic party North.
with some few South, maintain that, al.
though it is the right Of the STAKEHOLDER to
carry his property into the territories, still
the right is perfect in the people thereof
prior TO the formation Of State constitu
ton, by adverse, unfriendy. or hostile leeis-
,ation, all the same in effect, to make It
slave territory or FREQ territory, no matter
what may be the decision Of the Supreme
Court. If this be true-if handful of
aquatters from the over-populous States Of
Europe and crowded cities of the North.
pushed forward by Emigrant Aid Societies
into new territories, can. by unfriendlv or
hostile legislation, exclude slavery, without
The power on the part Of Congress, by the
passage of adequate laws, to restrain such
unconstitutional legislation, then would that
act indeed be what its author is CHARGED
with having said it was-"the best freesoil
measure ever adopted by Congress-" But
IS this trues The squatter sovereignty ad.
rocates themselves concede that Congress
has not the power to legislate slavery into
or out of the territories, as is contended by
the abolitionists.
The notion, therefore, that Congress-an
agent--can delegate to its creatures the tor
ritoriaI legislatures, power which the Con.
gress itselfdoesnot possess, but which resides
alone with the sovereign States, the crea i.
.sors OF that Congress, would seem TO he too
preposterous. for serious argument But It
is claimed that the doctrine ,ofnon.nterven.
ton in the Kansas Nebraska act precludes
Congress from interfering to counterart this
nnfriendly or hostile territorial legislation.
Nonsintervention meant nothing more nor
icss, at the passage Of that act, than that
Congress should not legislate slavery into or
ont of the territories, bnt that the people
thereof should decide ibe question for them.
selvest ytsps ndeptingS,heit coustitptions
With apa adequate population, preparatory to
sdnsiss'ou,into the Union. That was the
lnaa ltnssaasipg y pc held by all Democrats in. Con.
grass 'szcept snclr as seem to, have bad a
reserved construction for future use. No
ona tbso maintained, in. Congress- TINT I.
implied the fight os tbo tsrrritorial leeisla
turesAoa override the Constitution and the
decision Of shs Supreme Court, and exelsde
slavery from the. he.territories, with no pows,
on the part fCass sisss to,rssssain them
With sucb % construction that nieasiise
ee6lda9sot, bsss corhnaaasd fbs sappss,
!OsTeorporafs guardAmoog seuthesu&ms,n.
bessu4 Tt-1%1TN . =