Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-08-18

Annexed is the letter from Senator
Douglas. on the Cass doctrine and the
slave trade. heretofore referred TO:
WAsmNGroS. August ,.
To Col. Join l.. Peytoa StGpnfon. Ia:
Ny DEAR Sm:-You do me no more
than justice in your kind letter, for
which accept my thanks. in assuming
that | do not concur with the Admin
istration in their views respecting the
rights of naturalized citizens. as defn-
ed in the lie Clerc letter which, it is
proper to observe, have been since
materially modified. Under our Con.
stitution there can be no just distinc-
tion between the right Of native born
and natu'alized citizens, to claim the
protection of our Government, at home
and abroad. Unless naturalization
releases the person naturalized from
all obligations which he owed to his
native country, by virtue of his allie.
glance, it leaves him in the sad
predicament Glowing allegiance to two
countries without receiving protection
from either, dilemma in which nc
American citizen should ever bC
placed. Neither have You misappre-
hcnded my opinions in respect to tho
African slave trade. That question
seriously disturbed the harmony of the
Convention which passed the Federal
Constitution. Upon it the delegate.
divided into two parties under circum.
stances which. for q time, rendered
harmonious action hopeless.
The one demanded the instant and
unconditional prohibition OF the Afri
caa slave trade, on moral anl religion.
grounds; while the other insisted tina
It was n legitimate commerce, involv
ins no other consideration than +,
sound public policy, which each State
ought to be permitted to dertcrinin,
for Itself, so long as it was sanctioned
by its own laws. Each party stoo,
firmly and rcsolutely by its own posi-
ton, until both became convinced tina
this vexcd question would break VI
the Convention. destroy the Fedora
Union, blot out the glories Of the Re
volution and throw away all its bles
sings. unless some fair and just com
promise could be formed on the com
mon ground of such mutual concess
ions as were indispensable to tn
preservation of their liberties an,
independence.
Such compromise was effected anC
incorporated into the Constitution b,
which it was understood that th
African slave trade might continue a
a legitimate commerce in those State
whose laws sanctioned it, until tn
year 1903, from and after which time
Congress might, and would prohibi
it for ever throughout the dominion
and limits Of the United States, am
pass all laws which might becom
necessary to make such prohibition
effectual. The harmony of the Con
vcntion was restored, and the Uniol
saved by this Compromise. withou
which the Constitution could neve
have been made. | stand firmly b,
this Compromise. and by all the com
promization of the Constitution, ant
shall use my best efforts to carry cacl
and all of them into faithful execution
in the sense and with the understand
ing in which they were original
adopted. In accordance with thi
compromise l am irreconcilably oppos
ed to the revival of the African slav
trade in any form, and under any Gil
cumstances. ! am with great re
spect, Yours truly.
s. 4. DOUGLAS.