Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-09-23

nss The PlOw.Handle club
|, Met, Wednesday,, pursuant to notice II
President, Judge Woodward, who had be-
J announced in the Journal as one Of Il
speakers of the evening, made 9 few discern
mating remarks relative to the distinctic
that should obtain between the aConstitutio
Of the States and the Common Law Of Il
country, in deciding upon some Of the, que
tions Of the day. The Judge holds to I'll
opinion, and it is manifestly the correct on
that citizens of this country do not hold the
property, and enjoy their possession Of il, b
any sanction of the Constitution, but b
virtue of the Common Law. II is the Com
mon Laso Of the land Except where restraine
by statutory enactments,, or limited, Or en-
larged by provision Of the Constitutien) tina
recognizes this right and enforces its Tobliga
ton, and on the other hand, refuses its sanctio,
to that sorong, and prohibitsits entertainment
therefore, where the, Constitution, Or tn
Statutes of the, States, are silent respecting
right in property, the Common Law mus
govern; and we have only to discover tht
spirit and intent of that law to ascertain oul
rights under it. The history of the Common
Law shows that it has invariably, and dis
tinctly and emphatically, pronounced against
the right efa man TO hold property in his
tellow and the Constitution of the U. S.
having no cypress provision controverting the
spirit of that law, it incontrovertibly follows
that human or inhuman slavery cannot exist
except where it is legally recognized by Stat
utory Law; and hence it is, that the Terri
tories being impolluted with any legislation
recognizing this "sum of all villainies," it 40
more exists within their borders, than it does
within the emerald walls of Heaven. The
Judge asked to be excused from making a
set speech on the occasion, as his state of
health would not permit Of it. He promised,
however, to finish his remarks on some other
evening. D. G. Cloud was the other speaker
for the evening, and was on hand
to fulfil his appointment, but as our demo-
cratic friend, S. Burgesser, Esq, was present,
and evidently ready and willing to give a
reason for the faith that was within him, Mr..
Cloud suggested that his friend be invited to
address the Club. The invitation was pre-
sented, and Mr.. Burgesser promptly complied
With the wishes Of the Club. Smarting las
t seemed to us) under the disgraceful defeat
If the Great Caesar, which he had witnessed
he day before, and desirous Of showing that
could be said in behalf Of demo-
cratic doctrine and democratic measures, he
the Club in spirited eloquence as
IN advocate of the claims Of his party. ID
Mr.. BurgesSer told US that he had been,
while that eminent statesman was living and
o the day of his death, a follower of Henry
Jlay. He spoke with much feeling of his
as Wing with Harry of the
West. Like his great leader, humble log
;abin reared its lowly head over the place of
lis birth, and thus starting from similarly
obscure beginning, he had followed the chief
With an admiring eye and devoted heart to
he close of that illustrious career. At this
,oint, Mr.. Burgesser did what we could not
lave done. To pluck cway .fo,oers Of rtet-
'ric from the grace Of Hurry of ashland,
chose fragrance soould smell saoeet in the
aostr,ls Of Jimmy Buchanan, would be an
with us. Or to picture Harry
If the West, standing in smiles upon the
uins of his Compromise measures, and
Idvocating the revival of the Slave Trade, the
BEAUTIES of Slave Code for the Territories, or
he fresh delights of Dred Scott Decision,
would equally prove couldn't-be-done task
With us. But Mr.. Burgesser could do it!
hough, perhaps, we should state that the
squire claims to be a Douglas Democrat, and
s not an advocate of that blissful state of
hings which the above measures are destined
o bring about. But, in his opinion, at the
lecease of the Whig party, he had but one
course to follow, viz: to join the Democratic
'anks. "
The speaker did all for his party that elo-
luenoe and argument were able to do. He
liscoursed ably on the doctrine of Popular
Sovereignty, and his illustrations in support
If his argument were, apt and happily
and he sat down amid the cheers
If his Republican audience. We believe,
however, that he failed to convert his hearers.
He was responded to by John A. Parvin, who,
n speech of half an hour, demonstrated the
purity and sound policy of Republican doc
trines, and, carrying his hearers back to the
days of yore," showed that the principles we
now advocate are the same advocated and
believed in by Chief Justice Marshall, Mad
son, Monroe, jackson, Webster, aud even the
llustrious Clay; men whom he was willing
his friend Burgesser should compare with
such modern lights of Democracy as Taney,
Douglas, Buchanan & Co. ...
The discussion was carried on with entire
good feeling, and we hope it may be continued
on another evening. Mr.. Burgesser is one of
the best speakers, if not the best orator, in
his party here, and we shall be glad to hear
from him again, promising him kind recep-
ton, and foeman worthy Of his steel. ~ r.
~ The Washington STATES tDouglas
organ) quotes the Rooter "bills Of sale, - to
show that Judge Gholson, when resident Of
Mississippi, sold two slaves to one Of his
fifteen years ago. Do not the
documents show bCf genuine) that this was
s'property" secured to Mrs, Gholson in her
own right? Mr.. Douglas, on the contrary,
has not sold his hundred or two Of slaves, left
him by his late wife, but still holds tAem.
The States, of course, and the Ohio. Demo-
cratic papers, condemn the former transaction,
xl,o ~ kofn in ;r;n