Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-23
slave Code for the Territories.


We asserted, the other day, that the Le-
compton Party was in favor of slave code
for the Territories We now re-assert it, and
the feeble denial on the part Of the Express
that IL is not in favor of it signifes nothing
If it is not now in favor Of it, it will be, and
that is sufficient. If the leaders Of the Le-
compton party at Washington are in favor Of
it, the State leaders here must be, in due
avow it-but municipal elections are ticklish
times, and it is prudent for the enemies of
popular rights to keep their most odious doc
trines in the back ground jeff Davis we
have said is in favor Of slave code for the
Territories So is Mudsill Hammond. So
are Mason and Hunter. Scare all the South
ern Lecompton leaders The Washington
Union, the Presidents organ, is in favor Of
the same thing, and daily harangues the peo-
pie on the importance Of at once having such
an enactment The Democratic Party, if
these men control it, is to be made a mere
sectional party, exclusively devoted to the in
terests of the South and to building up slave
institutions The great doctrine of non.in-
tervention is to be thrown to the winds. The
Cincinnati Platform is to be ignored. The
Kansas Nebraska Bill is to be trampled un-
der foot, and every principle of the National
Democracy to be discarded. Such is the pro-
gramme of the Lecomptonites and we defy
them to deny it. The Douglas Democracy
still cling to the old landmarks. They still
believe in nonintervention. They still say
to Congress- "hands off, touch not this ques
tion Of slavery in the Territories-let the
people decide it for themselves"
In addition to what Senator Davis has
said and what the Presidents organ daily
says, read what Senator Iverson of Georgia
said, but the other day, in the Senate of the
United States. As Lecomp.on leader and
authorized to speak for the party, he uttered
these sentiments:
81 do not consider the triumph OF the distin-
gushed Senator from Illinois Mr.. Douglas as a
victory of sound Democracy. II a victory of
Free-Soil Democracy over Abolition Whiggery,
the difference. So far as the South and her con-
stitutional rights are concerned, it was a victory
over her and over them. would not turn on nv
heel for choice between the Wilmot Provso and
the squater sovereignty doctrine and policy Of the
Senator from Illinois. Indeed, sir, if was driven
to select between them, would take the former.
1t is open, manly, aud decisive; it settles the
question at once, by debarri lg the Southern peo-
pie, in terms from entering the Territories with
their slave property; it is an open and undsgus-
ed denial of right Of the South, which the South
could resist or submit to, as her sense ofhOnor or
her policy might dictate, whilst the Squatter-sov-
eregnty doctrine and practice as defined by its
distinguished advocate is plausible, delusive, de-
ceptive, and fatal. No man of common sense can
suppose that, underit, the South will ever obtain
another foot of territory, or add another Slave
State to this Union. Both are political heresies,
finding no authority in the Constitution equally
vioative of the rights of the Southern people,
subversive of their equality in the Union, and an
insult to their honor which, in my opinion, alike
demand their reprobaton and resistance.
"The people OF the Southern States, as co-equals
in the Union, and as joint aud equal owners of the
public territory have the right to emgrate to
these Territories with their slave property, and to
the protection and the enjoyment of that property
by law during the existence of the Territorial Go
vernment; laws passed by Congress as the trus
tees and common head of the Joint property
head Of all the States and all the people of the
States in the public territory: laws recognising
the equal right of every citizen to go in and pos
sess and enjoy the common inheritance; laws not
to deprive men of property, but to regulate and
secure its enjoyment; laws to put every man in
the United States upon IN equal footing in the ex-
ercise Of great constitutional right. This, sir. is
what we of the South are entitled to at the hands
of a common Governments and we ought not to |
be content with less, OF submit to denial of 1T
am free TO declare here, that if had the control
of the Southern people, would demand this of
Congress at the organization of every Territorial
Government, as the terms upon which the South
shauld remain i'll the Union. | would hold our
right in one hand, and separation in the other
and leave the North to choose between them. If
you would do us justice would live with you in
peace; ifyou denied us justice, would not live
with you another day"
Disguised under all this fine stuff about the
rights of the South" is the foul and odious
doctrine of CONGRESSIONAL INTERFERENCE with
slavery, against which the Democratic party
has warred with such persistent vigor. The
Lecomptonites, with Buchanan at their head
are in favor of it, and have therefore foreycr
abandoned Democratic principles. They are
new party by themselves, and whosoever
goes with them lends his assistance to up.
roofing the very life and strength Of Democ-
racy. As we have said before, no true Dem
ocrat can go with them.