Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-10-27

FAIR PLAY.
Dor asighbor Vi the Gazette, in an
article in yssterday's issue, endesvors
to impress upon the minds Of its
readers tie idea, that the friends OF
the Administration discard the doc
tr;.s of Popular Sovereignty, and
that The friends Of Senator Douglas
ssasd solitary and alone in the advo-
cacy Of it. The Gazetee says:
"And yet, though every vote cat
for Aagus,us Cesar Dodge "'s really
. direct vote against Popular Sov'r-
eighty. thousands were wheedled into
his support BY arguments and appeals
which exalted the doctrine thus rep,-
dated - the very corner stone OF
Amsriosn institutions !"
Hero Ne have the charge, that Gen.
Dodge coiscides in tho views Of the
Administration, and by the inference
Of the Gasssee is opp ,sed to the prin-
oipls Of Popular Sovereignty. Fur
tbsr, that bis agreeing &c stand upon
the Iowa State Democrsti" Platform,
which endorsed that principle, was .
hypocritlo.l political scheme, having
fer it, object the deception Of the
friends Of Popular Sovereignty. Now,
this article 10 tissue OF lnisrepresent-
ations, and unjust to Gen. Dodge,
Judge Douglas, aud the Administra-
ton.
The National Democratic party is
. unit upon the ab,tract question en-
dorsed 10 the Cincinnati Platform
The Administration and Senator
Douglas differ as to the time for the
exercise Of the power inherent in the
people Of the Territories, to either &C.
cept or reject Slavery as local insti-
tuition. A correspondent OF tho St.
Louis Republican TINS explains Sen
stor Douglas position:
According to Nj. Douglas, the
Constitution OF the United States does
not touch the question Of slavery
within the Territories, but leaves the
people there perfectly free to form
and regulate their own domestic in
sti uti0"s, including the institution OF
domestic slavery, in Their own wy.
That 10. perfectly fee from the con-
troll If Congres. aud equally free from
the power OF the Federal Judiciary.
Aud this perfect freedom from tho
control Of Congress aud from the
power If the Federal Judiciary, s
Whist Mr.. Douglas denomiuatrs "Pop-
ulsr : Sovereignty
A contemporary thus explains the
viows Of the Administration upon the
came subject
When tho people Of = Territory
form a Constitution, preparatory to
their adnis> Ion ss State, THKs, AND
NOT TILL THEN, can they decide to
prohibit Slavery and that when they
shall have framed a Constitution, and
ask TO be sdm,tted ss q State, It their
Constitution be "reputlicsn in fo'm."
and If they have complied with the
proper laws IN other respects, Con-
arcs should admit the neso State,
schesher its (onshtut on permit or
prohibit Slavery.
1t vii thus be perceived, that both
wings of tho d mocrat'c party hold
that the people Of The territories pos
ssss the po,osr Of deciding wh"'her
they will or will not have domestic
slavery; one, however, maintaining
that il can ouly be exercised at the
time of forming State Constitutions,
and the other advocating the right Of
the people to exercise it while in
territorial condition, through the ter
ritorial legislatures. In con,radis-
tinction to this tenet Of the democratic
faith, which exp csses our belief in the
power Of the people over the question
Of slavery in the teri tories, We have
the following article in the Republican
creed, denying such right to the Deo-
pie, and declaring it to exist in Con-
gress:
Resolved, That the Constitution
confsrs on Congress the S vereign
power over the TER tories of The u.
s. for their government, AMI in the
exercise Of this power It is both the
right Of Congress to prohibit in the
Territory poly gsmy and slavery.
1t only remains for the Democracy
Of the country to reconcile conflicting
opinions on this subjt ct, and they will
Be reccnciled At Charleston. No por-
ton Of the party can make common
cause With the advocates Of Congress
sional intervention. The Democratic
and Republican parties are ant'podes
on this question, and can never come
together.
We would merely hint to our neigh
Dor Of the GGsstts, that any hopes he
may build upon the prospect Of
want Of harmony in tho democratic
ranks in the Presidential campaign Of
1850, either upon the question Of
Popular Sovereignty or any other,