The Van Buren press., 1859-10-21
CSrfesPondesee Of tie Ven Bsres Eress.
Our Illinois Letters.
SPRiNdrrELD, It'll, Oct. 81, L


FRrESD DUxHAx Having been quite i'll
during the past three weeks, and also ab-
sent from the city. have not been able to
with you until this time; but.
in the future, barring the ills "the flesh is
heir to- will cndeavor to furnish the Press
my manuscript weekly.
Since my last letter, the United States
Fair has commenced, progressed. and ended
in this city. 1t was estimated that over
10000 strangers were among us during the
six days the Fair was in progress. Every.
thing passed off plcasantly-not even On
arrest for 6isorderly conduct WAS made on
the Fair Ground. This speaks we'll for the
7hanagamenss, Among tl.s safstiaguislsd
visitors present. noticed the Hoa- Alber'
Pike. Of your State; Senator Crittendon, O
Kentucky; Hale. Of New Hampshire; Doc
little. of Wisconsin; Douglas and Trumball
Of this State, were also there. Mr.. Dong
las remained with us but two days, as B,
had some political engagements to Gil il
Ohio, where he WAS called by the Stat,
Central Committee of that State. to address
the people at several points, on the INA
tional Politics" Of the day.
As there is so much said lately Of Mr.
Douglas, and the doctrine which be is &
prominently identified with. wish to Say
few words in reference to the same. Il &
SUPPOSED in certain sections Of the country
that the present visw taken by the '.Littl
Giant" on the "popalar sovsCeignty" ques.
tion. is Ct variance with his formsr advo.
cacy of the same political principle. Iva
led into this error from wrong interpreta.
ton of his celebrated Freeport speech
made in this State one year ago; and yor
will remember thak, at that time. I hsd 4
letter published in IN Eastern paper. do.
nouncing the position he assumed.
1t occurred in this way: Ny opinion,
with reference to slaves in the Territories.
had always been thst. ~ slaves are rccoe.
nized as property by the Constitution of the
United States, in view Of the sovereignty OF
each State, the stakeholder of Virginia had
the same right to remove his slaves to any
organized Territory, as we of the North
possessed OF transferring those goods or
chattels, which our local laws protected a.
property; and that the peaceful possession
Of suca property should be protectcd;% then
when the people of Territory form q con-
stitution, preparatory to their admission q
a State, they can sngrsft into that instru-
ment q clause to permit or prohibit slavery,
as they .ce fit; and. IN either event, Ccs.
gress sho&ld adssis&ks nsw ISAuA.
Upon fzst reading Nr. DouGlas's Erss-
port speech,I arrived sa the conclusion that
he believed - Territorial Lsgislaturs couId
enact. by d35Sd kerislaisa. hWs asivixw -
the Shareholder, ard prohibiting him IRON
the enjoyment Of his legal rights: hence, ]
took occasion to style him anti Democratic
l have since learned. from inquiry of the
''powers that be-" that the correct position
of Judge Douglas on this point is, Tat the
Territorial Legislat are can, IN the exercise
OF its functions, pass such laws of taxotion,
make no provision of a protective order,
DC, to that extent as to conflict with the
interests Of those who hold slaves in the
Territory. Now, it is manifest that this
course can be pursued successfully and le-
gally. The same fact is apparent where the
interest controls the action of
the Legislature. In both cases that BODY
must reflect the sentiments of majority
This is Mr.. Douglass 'un.
friendly legislation" doctrine, and can be
proved eifectual in driving out or sustain
ing slavery, as the voice or action of the
Legislature may declare.
You will remember that, last fall, the
Hon. Thomas L. Harris, the able demo-
cratic Representative inc Congress, from the
9Th District in this State, died, after q pro-
tracted illness, in the expiration of his Off
cial term. Last week, in convention, the
democrats put in nomination, as his sue
cessor, Col. McClernand. lifelong friend
of democracy. AS the District is constitu.
tionally "sound," the Colonel will be elect
ed by handsome majority.
The republican party of Illinois is sadly
mixed at the present time. John Went
worth, more familiarly known as .'Long
john" and who has for the past ten years
been the leader of the opposition forces in
the West. has come ont boldly against the
operations of some of the Re-
publican State officers, in their connection
with the fraudulent "McAllister u Steb.
bins Bonds" ''Long john edits and
owns the Democrat, newspaper published
in this city, and through its columns he
keeps up lively warfare, much to the dis
comtiture of other 'brudders'' in the black
republican church. The controversy is de-
cidedly interesting. and we on the "other
side Of the house," cannot help to exclaim,
"Alas, poor Yorick !''
Some rascal, or rascals, entered the Chi
cago Herald administration papcr) office,
early yesterday morning, and while in the
room, threw into "pi" upwards
of 100000 ems. No clue has been obtained
Of the miscreants. 1t is supposed some po-
litical enemy done the deed. Such acts are
base and cowardly, and sincerely hope the
of the above outrage may find
a practical illustration of the truth, that
"there is no peace for the wicked
Your correspondent hopes that the time
is not far distant when he can have the
pleasure of meeting personally the friends
of our party in Van Buren,.
Yours, DC, GoNGE.%
sThe extent of that protection, according To nv
mind, is question for the Courts, and has nothing
ID do with the Legislative department Of Territory
The judicial and executive authorities Of Terrific.
ry, it is apparent from careful rendering Of the
Constitution under the direct control Of the fed
eral administrations and any action of the former
issuhect to the authority Of the Supreme Court on
all questions Of legal application: hence the right
Of property in slaves and the extent Of its protec