The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-30

a.es in the repeal of the Missouri Prohibition
against the extension of Slavery. 1t was a
premeditated thing-this stripping the people
of every attribute and function of sovereignty
and this suhjugation of them to the will and
control of the President. Nor is the purpose
hard to guess. The President was the sers-
ant of the Slave Power. and his will and con-
troll was the will and control Of the oligarchy
Jast one thing further in this conr eciion.-l
Does this organic act enable the people TO ex
cIude Slavery Mr.. Douglas tells as that he
regards slaves as property, recognized as sneh
by the Federal constitutions; that slaves taken
into the territories remain property; and that
neither territorial nor State legislature has
right to deprive an owner of bis property
without his consent, except for public use, up
torial legislature, by uhfriendly legislation or
by nonaclion, may control slavery so as to
make slaveholding impracticable, or what is
the same thing. inconvenient and Improbable.
But this is mt what we want. Snch legisla-
tive action, if We admit that slaves taken in
10 territory remain property and that this
property in man is recognized by the Consti
tuition, can hardly be vihdicated as honest or
constitutional. What we want for the people
of terrtory-rhat they want for themselves
is substantive, sufficient aud efficient pow
er, plainly recognized in the organic act, 10
exclude slavery;-to prevent its introduction;
to keep it out. Have they got this power
under Mr.. Douglas organic act p He wiIlnot
say so. He may say that the people may ex
clude slavery by making it inconvenent and
improbable 10 hold slaves, and may thus force
slavery oat after it has come in. But he will
not say that they can exclude slavery by keep
ing it out-by preventing its introduction
He cannot say so and be consistent with him
SELF '7 ''tf5a
Now all this throws light upon a somewhat
remarkable passage in the history of the Kan
sas-Nebsaska bill. You will remember that
proposed to amend it by declaring distinctly
and in so many words. that under the Consii
tuition the people may, through their legalrep
resentaiives, if they see fit, exclude slavery
You will remember that this amendment was
voted down by Mr.. Douglas and his fellow
repealers. / charged then. and | have fire.
quently charged since, that it was never intend
ed that the people should be allowed, under
the hiIl-the organic act-to exclude slavery.
7 You now see how well founded that charge
was. The Dred Scott Decision-the universal
construction of the oligarchy-Ml. Douglass
own statements, all demonstrate that / was
right. ~
Here, then. we have popular sovereignty
according TO my doctrine as set forth in ing
Kansas-Nebraska bill "a people with sub
jugated legislature with Governor ap-
pointed BY the President in whose election
they have no voice with judges also ap-
pointed by the President without power TO
protect themselves against the Introduction of
the great moral social and political evil of
Slavery. What cruel mockery it is |! What
a monstrous absurdity is the attempt to vindi-
cate such legislation in the name of Popular
Sovereignty How palpable. it is that the
cry Of Popular Sovereignty is cheat and
frand, and all believe in the sham miserable
delusion
We have to thank Mr.. Douglas for the dis
cussion [for his coming provoked it, which
has exposed this pretension and deprived it of
all power TO do further mischief. The verdict
of Ohio this fall is against this wretched coun-
terfeit of this great and vital truth. 1t will
no longer pass current among her people
All attempts to give it circulation will only
discredt those who make them. For this, I
repeat. we may thank Mr.. Douglas. cheer
| fully admit that he has more than paid the
debt he owed me.
Another lesson has been deeply impressed
| on the minds of the people of Ohio by the
discussions of this Fall. tits this: That the
Democracy of 1859 is neither in faith or prac
tice the Democracy OF 1849, The party name
4 is preserved, but neither the men nor the
principles of the party remain the same. The
So called Democratic party of TO day renounc
es its old doctrines of equal rights and exact
justice to all, guarded aud secured by equal
laws and just adminisi ration, and substitutes
for them the dogmas of The .propagandsts
and perpetualists of slavery. wretchedly dis
4 suised under the hollow pretences Of popular
sovereignty. This change of principles an
nounces change in men. Of those who most
boldly and zealousiy maintained the Demo
cratic faith in lS49. vast numbers have been
compelled by simple fidelity TO that faith to
4 join the Republican ranks. And who have
taken their place in the miscalled Democracy
/ of to dayf Look around aud see. You know
the men. They are Wings, who. either from
mistaken views of obligation or from mistrusi
of the people, and dislike of the doctrine oI
Equal Rights, we're pro slavery in their feel
ings; Americans of like mind and sentiment
and some Free Soilers, l am sorry to add.who
have forsaken the doctrine and party of Free
dom for the creed and party of Slavery. These
are the men who fill, up in, part, the ranks ol
Democracy, broken and thinned because off
town apostacy from its own faith. say, il
part, for we all know that the Democratic
party which. while protesting hostility TO slav
, cry extension and zeal for acknowledgements
f limited only by respect for the rights of SOW
!, ereign States commanded large majorities
has, ever sipce its apostacy ON its principle
!, was made manifest, heen reduced TO mnori
c ty in Ohio. The men who have Joined thu
party compensate neither by number nor b,
g sigor for the men who have been constrained
t to leave it rather than abandon their princi
r Piles. =- - s.s,-s.sg..' II.
It is now clearly seen that when the Demo
0 cratic party enjoyed the confidence of th,
!, people it proclaimed the doctrines which th
u Republican party how proclaims. 1t respect
c ed the rights of man as man. 1t declared
y their origin to be, not from society nor from
d institutions, but from God. 1t held them t,
u be, therefore, sacred and inviolable No mat
t. ter how humble or obscure the individual, i
J, was enough that God had given to him man.
q hood, to establish for him. beyond all question
or caviI. an inalenabe title to life, liberty AM
q the pursuit of happiness. The weaker. th
} humber, the more obscure fhe individual, tn
! more sacred the duty of the government, dc.
T. irving its just powers from the consent of tn
= governed, to protect and defend him in tbes
. rights--deGrest to him ioho has little beside,
d Democratic leaders everywhere proclaime
. that this doctrine OF Inc tights OF man, guard
ed by the power of the people, was the glori.
t. GUS distinction of American Institutions, an
y invited the oppressed of all nations to see
e the safe shelter of their protection. In thi
d sign they conquered Inspired by this fai,f
' native-born and foreign-born aocked to thei
q standards, and achieved splendid triumphs.-
But now, who looks for Democratic victor
d in truly free State? Now and then, ,Iperhap
IN when the people are asleep. such thing ma
NJ happen; but Democratic majority in fire