The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-10
DOUGLAS AGAINST POPULAR SOW
EREIGNTY.

The Natchez Free Trader (says the NisSiS-
eigpdaHl gives us a new leaf in the history of
Douglas. II states, upon what is regarded as
reliable authority, that he was the author of the
following resolution, which was reported to the
Mississippi delegation at the Cincinnati Con
,ention. by committee tof the delegatOn) APP
pointed TO consider the subject of Slavery:
H. Resolred, That the National Demo
cratic party believe in the perfect political
equality of the States, and that the citizens of
every State have an equal right to emigrate
peaceaby TO the Territories, and to take with
them whatever is recognised as property in the
State from which they go, and there receive for
II adequate legal projections that there as no
polrer ~ Congress or az Me Territorial Legisld-
UtrS 10 cniHde from the Territories anything
rt,rL IS regarded us property IN a State; but
when a Territory has sufficient Federal popula-
ton. lawfully ascertained, to entitle it to one
representative in Congress, e. e., according to
the present ratio 93,420, il is the duty of Con-
gre>s 30 authorize the Territory to form State
Constitution, republicanin its form, preparatory
10 admission into the Union as a State, and that
Il is no constitutional ground of objection to the
admission of such State, that the Constitution
thus formed either admits or excludes Slavery"
If it be true that Mr.. Douglas wrote this
resolution. and sent 1T by the hand of a friend
. he Cincinnati Convention for private circu-
ia,on among the Southern delegates, the facts
should be known. If we mistake not, the
Free Trader is one of the few papers in Missis-
Sipp which undertake TO apologize for Mr..
Douglas, and it may be that this resolution is
no for The first time published or credited to
Inc Illinois Senator, in order to soften the bit
Ter hostility Of the South towards him. 1t will
b. seen that the resolution is in pont-blanl1
opposition to the Freeport speech, which says !:
The next question Mr.. Lincoln propounded
10 me is: Can the people Of Territory err,
clV8e Si0rGy from their limits, By any far
means. before II comes into the Union as a
Stat p answer emphatically, as Mr.. Lincoln
has heard me answer a hundred times, on every
stump in Illinois, that in my opinion, the Feo-
pig - a territory can. by ldtcfut means, erctads
NrrJg bctDre II comes an as a State. Cheers. /
Alr. Lincoln knew that had given that answer
over and over again. He heard me argue the
Nebraska bill, on that principle, all over the
State in lSjf-5-'6, and he has now no excuse
iopFetend TO have any doubt upon that subject.
Whatever the Supreme Court may hereafter de-
eide AS 10 the abstract question whether Sla-
very may 90 IN under the Constitution or not,
he people ota territory hare the lawtM means
Z" oFnt or erclU9e IL as they please, for the
reason that Slavery cannot exist day or an
houT anywhere unless supported by local police
regulations furnishing remedies and means of
enforcing the right to hold slaves. Those local
and police regulations can only be furnished by
The local Legislature If the people of the Ter
iiory are opposed to Slavery, they will elect
members to the Legislature who will adopt IN
'i,eRdiy fcgiStQtiOR to it. If they for it, they
VIII adopt legislative measures friendly 10 Sla-
NerF Hence, no matter what may be the de-
csion Of the Supreme Court on that abstract
question, still the right of the people to make il
siaYe Territory or free Territory is perfect
ana complete under the Nebraska bill. | hope
-Ir Lincoln will deem my answer satisfactory
on this point
IaGINiA PoLITICs.-The Virginia Democ.
1aey or We should rather say, Slavocracy, have
nominated John Letcher for Governor, who Sc
rave as lsi7 was in full sympathy with the
great Ant-Savery movement of the age, and
showed has zeal in the cause by addressing a
literary association at Lexington in behalf Of
Abolition as well as by aiding and encouraging
'ne Rev Mr. Ruffner in the publication of his
able pamphlet on that subject. So warm was
oie ardor of Mr. Letcher at that time, that he
- SAID to have insisted upon the separation Of
western Virginia from the eastern portion OF
'le State, in order to insure the triumph OF
Freedom.
Inc Slavocraey, ON the other hand, hurl back
ne charge Of abolitionism against the opposi
uoh Wings and Americans on the ground that
'ney and their candidate, Mr.. Goggin, supported
Summers in 1851, who in 1882 gave Inference
TO The following radical abolition sentiments:
1t viii not be denied that the slave, as a
~ i!slhg man, has right to assert and regain hi.
hoerty II he can. He has right to direct and
control his own actions, right never sur