Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-09-23

our maj anu glorious triumph
IV' The speech of Senator Douglas at
Columbcs. Ohio is pretty much in his old
vein of popular sovereignty argument The
following passage however, is little more
explicit than some Of his previous references
to the point here discussed
But the trouble is that you will find, every
once in while. a mani know that there
are not enough Of them in the country to
make mile posts along the rairoad-but there
is. once in a while. a man who will tell you
that slavery exists in the Territories by virtue
of the Constitution of the United States and
wherever a Northern man makes that dis
coyery you will find that the Southcrner at
once seizes it and declares that if slavery does
exits in the Territory by authority of the
Constitution. it is then the duty of Congress
to pass all laws necessary to protect the rights
secured by the Constitution; and then comes
the demand for the slave code in the rerritor-
les Now there need be no diversity of prin-
cipe on this question, il each man will read
the Constitution of the United States, and
then take an oath to support it. just look
into the Constitution, and then you will find
what slave is, who may be slave, where
they may be held and by what authority they
are held. You will find it all in one section.
| have not the book with me, but can repeat
that section to you
No person held to service in labor in one
State under the laws thereof escaping into
another, shall be released by any law or re-
gulaton therein. but shall be delivered up to
the party to whom said service OF labor may
be due.
Now, by the express provisions Of that
clause OF the constitution. slave is person
held to service or labor in one State under
the laws thercof-not under the constitution
of the United Statos--not under the laws o
the United States-not by virtue OF any Fed
eral authority, but in State under the laws
thereof What becomes of this new discov
cred doctrine that slavery exists everywher,
by virtue Of the constitution Of the United
States 1t is denied by the constitution it
self Every child who has ever read the in
strument knows that slavery is the creatur,
of the local law. exists only where the loca
law sanctions and establishes it and exist
only in a State under the laws thereof; ant
indSnHch as Territory as State githin III
meaning Of that clause Of the constitution. slav
cry may exist in Territory the same as in
State, under the laws thereof Hence, if tn
people Of a Territory desire slavery. all the
have to do is TO pass laws sanctionng AM
protecting it. If they do not want slavery
all they have to do is to withhold all legisla
ton and all protection Thus you find tina
the people of the Territories as we'll as Of tn
States have the right to regulate that ques
ton for themselves
Above, in the lines in ltalic, Senator Doug
las begs the whole question. If Territor
is State, as to slavery be may be right
But it is very queer if it is both Torritor
aud State at the same time. We think
had better be one or the othcr-a Territor
while an infant, and State when big cnoug
to 20 alone. That was the doctrine of tn
fathers, from Washington down to the pres
cnt generation.