Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-18
From the Eufaula tAla. Spirit Of the South.

Protection to slavery In the Territories. 81
The debate in the Senate on the Esd ut, OF which a
brief sketch found in this paper was one OF the most
striking and pregnant which has occurred in that body
in many years. Originating in motion OF MI Hale,
of New Hampshire to tack repeal OF the Kansas re-
striction to the appropriation bill, 1t gave Douglas
an opportunity of exhibiting his squatter sovereignty
opinions in all their nakedness of showing the South
how utterly ncc mpatibe is his support with her cher
hed and essential prncp PIES In this respect the oc-
cason of value for the views Of that arch demago
que having been thus stripped of all disguise there will
be no chance for his southern supporters longer to sul
fy themselves by affected misunderstanding of them.
It was of nestimabe value, too in another point of
view It showed that there were men in the Senate,
able and true men, high in the affections OF the de-
mOcracy and the country who were ready at once to
meet the ISSUE and restrained by no considerations of
party eXpedency to demand for the South the full
measure of her rights. 1t suspicious fact that
throughout that proracted discussion southern voice
raised in defence of the deestabe creed of Douglas
ism the miserable shufing cowardly policy, by which
those northern democrats who have neither the to
stand by the Constitution the courage to repudate
it, expect to drive from the territories by
fraud and indrecon The abolitionist who airms the
power OF Congress to pass the Wmot PrOvsc, is an
open enemy and has al least the merit of meaning what
he says and saying what he means. But he who pro-
fesses adherence to the bred Scott decision and talks
loudly of the protection afforded by the Constitution to
slave property and in the breath asserts the right
OF territorial legislature, the creature OF Con
gress to overurn the organic law of the confederacy by
unriendly legislation trampes just efectuay upon
our constitutional rights and at the time offers an
insult to understanding If southern have the
right under the constitution to carry their slaves into
the common territory then it is too plain for argument
that Congress is bound holding that territory in trust
for all the States to that that species of property
much protected there any other and if the terri
toral legislature, who merely its agents. put them
selves in antagonsm with the constitution by unrendy
egsation it is simply question whether the constitu-
ton shall yield obedience to them they to the consti
tuition The abstract right to take slaves into the ter
ritOries not worth straw, if there not power
to enforce it and the constitution is not worth the
parchment which it is engrossed if its provisions can
be nulled and the rights of the sovereign of
the soil be defeated by the representatives of the first
squatters who happen to congregae there There is no
conflict between the position assumed by the southern
Senators in this debate and the principles of the Kan
sasNebraska bill That oil provided for no surrender
of right of protection in the territories, but only
that Congress should neither egsate slavery into
of any territory. In demanding that the protection a
orded by the constitution shall not be superseded by the
hostile acts of territorial legislature, not asking
Congress to legislae slavery into the territory, but to
that property it receives there the protection to
which the organic law entities it. The idea sometimes
advanced by southern men, that to demand protection
for slavery in the territories from Congress- to
cede their right exclude it, is to the last degree pre-
pOserous and untenabe 1t is doctrine, that be-
cause he who is clothed with the execution of trust is
bound to the rights of those for whom it
created IN the trust property, he may therefore drive
them from all participation in its benefits.
But the debate chiefly significant showing the
great, growing, irreconciable differences in the demo-
cratic party North and South, and in pointing with
erring certainty to its approaching dissolution. The
mass of the Northern democrats will share the doctrines
and the fortunes of Douglas, while the South will be a.
most a unit upon the positions clearly assumed and
maintained by Brown Davis, Clay and others. We par
ticipate in their anxiety for full understanding
in which neither section shall cheat be cheated and
inasmuch it seems very plain that such full and hon
est understanding will be the death of the national de-
mocracy, heartily also in the conclusion of
Mr.. Douglas that there is for excitement or an
GER and that it is best for those who cannot stand on
the same platform quietly to separate The North and
South agreeing about some things and differing about
others, made union for their common benefit and
Constitution for their common government. The Su-
pceme Court according to the established creed of the
North are the final expounders of that Constitution
say that by its provisions slavery is protected in the
territories but the greater portion of the North dnoun
ces that decision openly, while the remainder coverty
repudates it. What remains then but to do that which
has Feen done in all ages and countries by sensible and
right minded people, who have the misfortune to differ
irreconsaby, and which in the case of Abraham and
Lot received the express sanction of Divine inspiration
to separate quietly.