The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-09-16
rretccl Frocdom In Ihc TerrIto.


rtes.
This Ia the great design Of the Ropub-
liean party and the vital principle which
brought Il into existence. Il is not to in
torfcre with slavery In the slave states,
where Il exists by local law--it IL not to
interfere with any mans rights nor to el-
cvatc the negro TO an equality with the
whites, but to stay the aggression Of sla-
very, to oircumsoribo Il by an impossible
wall, within the boundaries Of the slave
states and prevent its spread over one
inch Of free suil.
Tho Republicans believe that the ter
rtories are free and should be kept so,for
for the benefit Of white laborino men,
whore they may find homes and build up
for themselves fortunes in the free West.
They hold that slavery is an outlaw
that Il exists nowhere by natural or NOR
al right, but only by federation and the
force Of circumstSnccs--thu Il ls a curse
and hostile to the progress and full devcl-
opment Of any country. They believe
that cur forefathers designed this should
be free country; that Il was for freedom
and not slavery that the Declaration of
Independence was made, the battles Of
the Revolution fought and won aud con-
federation Of states organized.
That il is both the right and duty Of
Congress TO legislute for the protection
Of freedom in the territories, no one can
successfully deny. It is lcgislating away
no right-it is only protecting the people
in their inalionable right. The Con-
stitution confers upon Congress a super.
visory power over the territories and Il
Is the duty Of Congress to see that they
are provided with republican form Of gov
ernment and, as freodom--not slavery is !
or ought to bo the law of the land and as
free institutions are better than slave in
stitutons, Il is the duty Of Congress to
see that they are provided with tho best
possible form Of government under the
Constitution. It's absurd to suppose that
free government would be instituted
without the power of selrprcscwation.-
The territories, being under tho proteo-
ton Of Congress, have no more right TO
adopt slavery than child has TO take poi
son. We deny the right of individuals or
communities or nations to commit u
wrong.
But the policy Of prohibiting slavery by
federal legislation is no new doctrines it
is as old as the government itself twas
the policy Of the colonies, prior TO the Rev
olution. Il was Incorporated in the decd
Of session, by which Virginia coded TO the
United State the territory lying north
west of the Ohio river, which declared
that "slavery and involuntary seryitude,
except for the punishment oforime should
a9ver exist therein" Il was reiterated
in the ordinance Of 1887, drawn up by
Jefferson himself, in the Missouri Compro-
mise act and in the acts organizing the
territories down to 1850. Ohio herself
was made free territory and subsequent
ly free state by federal legislation.
II such has boon the settled policy Of
our government for more than fifty years
--ifsueh was the policy ofsueh democrats
as Jefferson, Jackson and Polk, why has
il been abandonedl Is il because the
principle has changed! No-7that can new
er change. Il is because the democratic
party has departed from ia original puri-
y and become the defenders, apologists
and propsgators of slavery. That Is the
reason and the only reason. The Re-
pubheans want the territories kept free
ss God, nature and our forefsthers design
ed they should be, for the benefit ofwhite
laboring men. They believe that slavery
degrades lsbor--thst Il is curse, as well
TO the white man as to the black aud that
Il paralyzes all the energies ofa free peo-
pie Hence it is the duty Of Congress,
under the Constitution, to inhbitit in the
territories.
The Democracy hold that slavery can
20 everywhere Ia the territories and be
protected under the Constitution, in 9TH
eF words that Slavery Is national and
Freedom sectional. This is the posi-.
don ofthe party, as authoritatiyely declar.
ed BY the Dred Scott Decision, by lie
leading organs and statesmen, and north
rrn democrats are compelled to aequiesee,
7zsp dare NOT deny Il. The party has
eAapgsd % rapidly that they even have
% ignore thsls own declarations, made
only few wyeala ago. What bettor could
% expected Of = party that is ruled, in
opt ef congsaa, BY southern slave
h1Idels
Such . ths position Of he two ps1ties.
0ose heiNoen them,