Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-05-12
Kentucky Politics.
from the National Era, 5th inst. !,

s cy," has ventured to take the position ths
# Congress should not intervene to proven
: the Territories from excluding Slavery b
2 "unfriendiy legislation. This position
b. falls short in lberality of that heretsfor
D occupied by the "Americans" and Wings
: But the latter, with unparalleled prost,tu
= ton, have seized the opportunity to outbi,
, the Democracy for the support of the slave
t interest. The American or Wbig csndi
date, Bell, takes the ground that it is III:
duty of Congress 10 protect Slavery in the
Territories; and The louisville Journal, the
old organ of Henry Clay, and defender Of
his Anti-Slavery-extension views, comes up
I tsquarely and enthusiastically to the support
OF this ultra Southern demand.
From the report of debate between
Messrs. Bell and Magofin, the candidates
of the Wings and Democrats for the Gov
ernorship. which took place at Lebonon,
Kentucky, we quote as follows from TIE
Louisville Journal:
"As for myself, said Mr.. Bell, l have no
concealmenis TO make. By virtue of the
Constitution of the United States, Slavery
goes into the Territories as soon as Ter
ritorial Government is organized; and as
soon as it is organized. the Constitution
f;ngs its protecting wing around it. The
power of Congress under the Constitution
is ample to protect and not 10 impair any
right. Slave property stands on the same
footing as all other personal property, and,
as Northern man has right to be pro-
tected in any species Of property. so a
Southern man has under the Constitution
the fullest guarantee for the full protection
of his slave property in the Territories. He
then would ask Mr. Magofiin:
Ist. Has Congress the constitutional
power to protect Slavery in the Territories!
Cd. Ought Congress to interfere to pro.
tect Southern property in slaves in the
Territoriesl
MIR. Bell answered both these questions
fully and fairly in the affirmative, and as
serted that it was tie bounden dutv OF Con-
gress to protect not only against any actual
prohibition but against any 'unfriendly leg
islation' on the part Of Territorial Legs-
lature.''
The same report continues:
MIR. Ma9ofin, in his half-hour reply took
the ground that Congress has the power to
pass laws to protect Slavery in the Terri
tories, but if the Territorial Legislature re-
fuse to pass protective laws or legislate un-
friendly to Slavery, he was on the ground,
broad and square, of Congressional non
intervention. We had the Supreme Court
Of the United States to appeal to, and that
was The last resort
--ffAssb bsz,svi3le .Jourae!, referring t. this
debate in leading editorial. says:
"MAGoFFIN IN FAVOR OF SQUATrER
Sovs.EIGETY--TRE Issue FAIRLY MADE
UP.-lt will be seen from the report in our
paper to-day of the discussion at Lebanon
on Tuesday, tkat the Democratic candidate
for the Governorship in Kentucky has de-
clared unequivocally in favor OF squatter
sovereignty. while the gifted and glorious
standard bearer of the Opposition has de-
clsred as unequivocaIly against it.
This settles the issue; it defines the po-
si;ion of the Democracy of Kentucky on
the point in question beyond the reach of
the protest OF disseniers or the subtlety of
trimmers. Ii fixes the thing. 1t nails the
party fast and frn to the most odious and
indefensIble dogma that has ever disfigured
the politics Of the country. Here and there,
undoubtedly. member of the Democracy
will twist and sgu;rm; but ,he body of the
party, the party itself, is pinned immovablv
20 the hideous and noxious doctrine. The i
Democracy of Kentucky is at length not
only virtually but formally committed to
the vile heresy of squatter sovereignty
The chosen representative, the auihorita- !
tive exponent of the organization, has pub !
licly and explicitly endorsed the wretched
juggle. d UGLAsIsM, THE MOST ACTIVE
AND FATAL SHAPE OF AB0LITIOsIsu, IS
OPENLY TRIUMPHANT IN THE COUNCILS OF
THE PARrY."
In another article The Journal follows up
the assault on tAe Democracy" and their
candidate in the following fierce style:
"Who does not turn with an exalting
sense OF relief and glow of pride from this
rickety and slouching heresy, TO the fair
aud manly and statesmanlike position ,of
Joshua F Bell! Rejecting with inefabIe
scorn, as every candid man Of ordinary sense
must do. The StateSman's cherished fallacy
that the power to protect implies the power
to destroy, Mr.. Bell asserts, frankly, at
once the power and the duty of Congress
to protect Qf neces sary) the rights OF the
South in the Territories of the Uni1n.-i
On the new question Of protection to
Slavery in the Territories says The Dem
ocratic authority from which we have al
ready quoted, 'Mr. Bel! assumed bold and
decided position. He was in favor of pro-
lection OF slave property by Congressional
legislation, in the event Of the Territorial
Legislature failing to pass protective laws.
How nobly does this position contrast with
the cowardly and faitbess dodge OF non
intervention, as now interpreted by the
Democracy of the State, whether resting on
a denial of the power os Congress to inter-
vene. or on the alleged impolicy Of exerting
the power. 1t is as light compared with
darkness"
We confess our surprise at finding Dir,
Crittenden srdently engaged in supporting
this ultra Pro Slavery sectional ticket
From the editorial columns of TIL: JourrI,
We again quote as toiloas:
"Hon. John J. CTIlteuden was present at
an Opposition mesIing in Frank in county
last week, which appointed Congressional
confe-ees, and addressed those assembled in
an earnest, forcibe. and earnest speech"
| The idea OF q cooperation between hon.
est Republicans aud such an Opposition"
as that of Kentucky. is utterly preposterous