The Van Buren press., 1859-12-30

cd by himself and friends, so he must think
no is in the hands of a master at last, not
the opinion of his friend NJ
to the contrary. Mr.. Douglas. would not
labor to put forth an article of SO great
length. and must have caused great labor
and precision to answer mere leyerdemain.
No, Mr.. Douglas feels and knows that Judge
Black has unfolded and made SO plain the
relation the territories stand to the govern
ment, that the democracy cannot be bam-
boozled any longer by repetition of words
by Mr.. Douglass or his friend NJ The next
thing notice in Ms article is most anus
ing. This man (meaning Judge Black
like all men of his stripe, begins at the
wrong end, when discussing the rights of
new people as to how a government for
them shall be brought about This is cx-
ceedingly funny old Buck and his cabinet
and the distinguished statesmen North and
South who back him must be in an awful
dilemma NJ. refers to Arkansas. He
says /: This community has WAYS of its
own why not let them 40 ahead ms the
people did in the Arkansas Territory thro'
their Legislation. and make those ways their
law, and be governed by them ?'' Now NJ.
certainly knows Arkansas while a territory
was not an independent community having
ways OF her own /; if so, she would have
selected her Governor, Judges and Secreta-
ry of State, paid her Legislature, Govern
or, Judges. dc. does not this look like she
was provided for by a superior government
10 get at the thing in plain and simple
way, she was simply the child of Uncle
Sam, carefully taken care of until she was
possessed of the ability to take upon her
sell the mantle of a State government. In
taking some further notice Of NJ. suppose
as he supposcs about the distempcred cattle
and the pestilential disorder attending slave
ry. Suppose the Territorial Legislature
pass at their first session laws so detrimcn
tai to slavery as to amount to prohibition.
l want to go there, and am willing to risk
the chances at the proper time whether a
slave or free State, | am forbid, the whole
slave population are forbid of that great
Constitutional right that Mr.. Douglas, to-
gethcr with the democracy in by-gone days
boasted SO much Of Suffer me here to re
mark. The Governor of a Territory. who
is the agent of the Federal Government. is
sworn to support in connection with the
members Of the Legislature, the Constitu
ton. 1t is admitted slavery exists there
by virtue OF the Constitution, and hence bv
virtue of the Constitution protection is
claimed. Now, that class who hold to the
sentiment that the Territories have the
right to do and act in their own wav and
pass laws prejudicial to slave property to
an extent to amount to prohibition, will
have Governor if he signs such laws, and
those members of the Legislature who go
for it, are all perjured. Now the phrase so
often used (really it is almost worn out)
which Mr. Douglas has built his new theory
upon g That the people Of the Torrito-
ries may manage their affairs in their own
way, and decide for themselves the question
of slavery" No democrat has ever coptcn-
dcd that anybody else could decide for
them. Why does not Mr. Douglas, who
holds tenaciously to the principles of the
CINCINNATI platform. slip in a little of its
essence and say decide when they come to
form Constitution for themselves" at
which time they place themselves in a con-
ditlon for their superior to take his harness
OIL, they are now ready to work in their
own. 1T am not mistaken until the great
fuss in regard to the Lecompton constitu-
tion, and Mr., Douglas new theory in re-
gard to Territorial Legislation. excluding
slavery before they come tc form a Consti-
tuition which l think first commenced with
his Freeport speech. l never heard any
disturbance among democrats in regard to
that matter The common understanding
among the democracy, when the great con
stitutional triumph of the passage of the
Kansas ana Nebraska bill and the repeal Of
the Missouri compromise was passed, the
vexed question of slavery was considered
settled, and that the Territories were left
open and free to the slave holders during
their Territorial existence, was considered
the great Constitutional rights of the slave
holders to take their property to the Terrific
ries. Having full faith no local law of the
Territories could dcbar them from protcc-
ton to their property. NJ. SAYS, &c Mr..
Douglas is charged with starting a new
doctrine in the democratic party +; every
politician knows this is false" | will
say for the present if every politician be-
lieved and knew the charge to be false,
there would be no necessity for NJ to write
series of articles on the observations of
Judge Black. NJ, admits in his concluding
remarks that there is new theoretical opin-
ion among the democracy. Mr. Black has
made the charge upon Mr.. Douglas. Now
it is for you, NJ, to answer his arguments
in as much as Mr.. Donglas has fallen short.
r.
For the Van Buyea Press.
II.