Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-08-17
For the Advertiser.
Political.

with justice TO hcrtell, unite upon MIN, us hcl
choice. for the next Presidency. But nm satis-
fed thnt the records upon which his opinions have
been enrolled will convict him Of all that he has
been charged with
am not disposed to do injustice, either to his
political or moral character, and willing to ac-
cept Mr.. YANcEY's estimate Of him, rs have no
doubt be speaks from personal experience. OF his
moral or private character, have nothing to gay
in this connection, but must beg leave to demur
most emphaticaly to his politics
I have said that (" Judge DOUGLAS and his fol-
lowers would invest Territorial Legislature with
sovereign power, in utter perverson Of popular
sovereignty, one of tic Fundamental principles OIL
our Government" and although he may never
have uvowed this, in so many words, to be his po-
st;on vet the effect of what he has explicitly
avowcd can lead to no other result lie says, for
instance, that "tho people Of n Territory shall
manage their own affairs in their own way" and
so VIC say; but not until they have met in Con-
renlion to frame q Constitution with which they
intend to apply for admission into the Union.
They can then exclude whatever institutions or
species of property they choose, so long as their
Constitution is Republican in form, and not until
then. And provided no Territory apply for aG-
mission or be admitted until it has population
sufficient to entitle it to one Representative in
Congress. This has been the usual acceptaton OF
/ the expression. But Judge DOUGLAS derives a
different and novel authority from it. He lays 1t
r,.,I t1,,fI Ihol lnuI
laturc of Territory in any period OF its Terrific
rial existence, consisting of men fowcrcr lEho-
rant adventurous unsettled or irresponsible, from
whatever portions of the world aud whatever their
opinions, may by non action or adverse action, cH-
cludo legitimate and Cunstitutionally recog-
niscd species of property from the common Terri
tory md that the only remedy the party asrlcved
has, is an appeal to the Courts, their decision be-
ing final and conclusive. Such is his position ms
expounded by himself in his speeches whilst he
was n candidate for the U. S. Senate in Illinois,
in the Halls of Congress, and in his correspon-
dence.
In the purcr days of the Republic, when the
public mind--the Northern public mind-was
free from fanaticsm and prejudice, this would
have been a very fair and just position; but every
intelligent man knows, and Judge DOUGLAS
knows, that atthe North, in all cases where justice
is sough by slave owner in the Courts, they have
been perfectly powcress to afford it, and an appeal
to them is an idle moskery, and the mere form or
shadow of principle without the substance
He knows full well thatthe Dred Scott Decision
and others of like character, and the Fugitive
Slavc-Law, the principle authorities upon which
tile Courts have to act in such cases, have been
almost universally repudiated by the dominant
party at the North, and are dead letters in the
Reports and upon the Statute Book. The Judges,
being in the hands of the people, would be ostra-
csed even were they disposed to award us justice.
What is Shareholder to do? Surrendsrhis proper
ty, his negroes which may he his all to ruthless,
n fmnatical mob, and his Government not protect
him? Such Government, with its hoastcd re-
gard to individual liberty and freedom, would he
a curse TO Him.
But, sny the apolCgiss and supporters Of Judge
DouGLAs at tie South, We lose nothing practical,
if they do exclude slavery; it is only M abstract
principle, not worth contcnding ror-mnnJrst dca-
tiuy and public opini"n will carry it wherever it is
profitable | refer those who attach so little I'M
portancc to abstract principles to the late speech
of the Hon. a. II. STEPHENS, in Augusta, that
they may be benefited by Il truthful and forcible
consideration Of the subject.
This "manircst destiny" notion about slavery.
I confess is true to certain extent. If, for in
stance, Cuba should ever become annexed to the
United States, and it should he chiefly eulonizcd
by rmigrauts from the Emigrant Aid Societies Of
Massachusetts, even, necessity nnd the nature ol
things would make it IL Slave State. But We of
the South under Mr.. DorGLAs's programme, would
deserve no credit for it. We would present the
spectacle of great and powerful nation boastins
Of its resources and hcrnlding Its power and i'm
purtancc to the world, while it was pnssivey float
ing upon the tide Ct human events, without en-
dcavuring to control and improve the clements
which move her.
So too, if any portion of Canada should bcct me
united to us as State, frccsoilism would rs ctr
tainly prevail there. But if Territory not 80 re-
mote should come into Uur possession, the same
rrinciplc will not so certainly apply. Slavery
exists, at this time, in the Indian Territory, Of
considerable portion Of it, West of Arkansas.
Tie geography Of the country and its location
ahuvc the cotton region renders it also available
to free lubcr. surrusr the United States Law to
be extended over thia Territory, available alike
Al 4 81, L
sucirtics Of the North, hurry out their men, or
ganizc Il Legislature, get majority from their
greater facility uf emigration, and, under Judge
DorGI.As' programme, exclude slavery, leaving II"
Tic owucrs Of slaves no other protection tEan MI
appeal to helpless and impotent Courts. Whut is
the result? If it is net q practical loss to the
South, there is nothing practical in any of the
operations of uur existence 1t is rrovcrbia thu!
the Northern pcnCt rails admitted this doctrine of
Mr.. DurGlAS to bc the lest frrcsuil measure which
had ever hecn adopted. He himself is reported
to have made the same admission to them. Is
this the attitude lie assumed towards the South !!
Not Mt all w say then that he has acted with
gross duplicty and lailhlcssncss, and is unworthy
The leadership of great party which has such
important trusts in charge. The South in The
Cincinnati plntiurm accepted the terms of the
Kansas Nebraska Bill (ns construed in 1854 as
the final settlement of The question of slavery in
the Territories, and sle might with perfect pro-
priety support any man for the Presidency, from
North, South, Fast, or West, who would adhere to
its principles u good faith and according to its
true intent and meaning.
The position assumed by the Democratic Pnrty
upon lhnt Platform, in 1854, was, in plain terms,
hands of, Congress, bands of, Territorial Legis-
lature, hands of, everybody until you frame your
Constitution for admission into the Union, then,