The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-09-06

Ton years aGo, . the Democratic Conven.
ton Of Lee county, tho following resolution
~as unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That this Convention unani-
nously recommend to the Democracy the
Hon. Thos. II. Benton - suitable candl
date Tor the next President OF the United
States, and also ADOPT HIS vIRws ON THE
WLxor PRovIso, and his views upon the
Great Central Railroad.
Benton's views on the Wilmot Proviso
here alluded to, had been proclaimed ID q
speech at Jefferson City, then the subject oI
universal comment throughout the country
And in that speech, in reply to the question
"What do you think Of the Wilmot Proviso ops
Benton said
eThe Wilmot Proviso." Well! think
it il the Jefferson proviso-tbe same that Mr..
Jefferson drew UP for the northwestern ter
ritory ia l784--whioh was adopted by the
Congress OF the confederation in 1887, with
the unanimous voice OF the slavehoding
States ratified by the Virginia General
Assembly the 30th Of December, l788--which
was applied by the Congress Of 1920 to all
the upper half Of Louisiana--which was ap-
piled by the Congress Of 1848 to the Oregon
Territory Was recommended for the
new Territories BY the Missouri General AS
sembly February Is, l847-and never at
tempted to be condemned until Friday "a day
of omen) the 10Th Of February, l847-just
four days after the date OF the Missouri re.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Mr.. Calhoun brought
in his resolutions declaring it uncosstitu-
tional, insulting to the States, and subver-
sive Of the Union. think Mr.. Jefferson,
and not Dkvy <;imot, yls Che author Of this
proviso, and that II snSuld bear his name,
and not Davy's. With respect to the char
scter Of the proviso, if itshould be prescribed
by Congress for any new territory, think it
will remain just what it 10 for sixty years
constitutional provision, made in pursuance
to the Constitution; and that, being 80 made,
it is binding upon all law-abiding citizens.
It is absurd to deny to Congress the power
to legislate as it pleases upon the subject of
slavery in territories-it has exercised the
power, and with the sanction Of all authori
ties, State and Federal, from tho foundation
Of the government to the present time and
never had it questioned, until Mr.. Calhoun
put forth those unfortunate resolutions, from
which be had to back out under bis own NOR
tifying contradictions. II il absurd to claim
it FOR the territories. They have no form of
government but that which Congress gives
them, and no legislative power but that which
Congress allows them. Congress governs
the Territory as 1t pleases, and in way in
compatible with the Constitution, and OF this
any State that has been Territory 10 com-
plete example, and our own ~ much 20 as
any. &
Congress has the power to prohibit, or ad-
NIT slavery, and no one else. 1t 10 not 10 the
Territories for their governments are the
creatures Of Congress, and its deputies 80
Tar ~ any legislative power is concerned.
That was the platform Of the Democratic
party Of Lee county in ls49. Ten years ago
they held the dogma Of squaster sovereignty
. sheer absurdity, and looked upon the Will
mot Proviso as the Jefferson Proviso Of 1854,
and as precisely the same provision in sub
stance as that which had been rs-enscted for
sixty years for the various Territories IS they
were in turn organised under tho Govern
msnt. Has the Constitution changed? Has
the power Of Congress expirsd'by limitation?
Has the absurd and unconstitutional dogma
OF squatter sovereignty become wise and Don
stitutional BY the mere lapse of timer Or
have the Democracy changed their views?--
Are they not becoming Africanized? Have
they not repudiated the "views" Of Benton
and adopted the position Of John @. Calhoun,
the great nulli6er and champion Of slavery
propAgandism 1t cannot and will not DO
denied. The Democracy have changed. The
absurd dogma Of 1849 became in 1854 the
rallying cry, and in 1859 10 the fundamental
principle Of the Democracy Of Lee county
II is the alpha and omega, the beginning and
the end, the oil and in all of Democracy
Without "squatter sovereignty that ''ab-
surd dogma" Of the disunionist Calhoun
invented by him and condemned by the De-
nooracy in l849,-the democracy Of 1859
would have no platform to stand upon.