Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-06-11
1

ger his child, his horse no longer his horse, his
slave no longer his slavsi The idea IL ridicu-
lOus That Uniformed mass Of human beings,
with every species Of property, both on the
way and after their arrival, passed and re-
passed one another, held intercourse together,
occupied common pasture grOund@for their
cattle, bArgained and sold, and hired, and
passed and received considerations, % 10 one
Of the Oldest communities. Non-action there,
80 far from being exclusion Of deprivation Of
property, was not even an embarrassment TO
its perfect enjoyment. Tbs Territories Of the
United States are common property. The
citizens Of each State have common rights
there They lose nothing BY moving upon
them. If mans horse escape from him be
has right to retAke him wherever he can
find him. Ifhis slave run away, he has the
right to recapture him. NOn-actiOn IL not sx-
clusion. II slavery 10 sustained by public
sentiment, no action IL necessary. II public
sentiment be strongly against II, action will Be
slave law is . dead letter. In Virginia It Il
take your slave With the law. In the other
were settled entirely By slaveholding citizens,
last law they would think Of passing would b
one for the protection Of slave property. In
Illinois slavery existed In full vigor from the
passage Of the ordinance Of 1857, up TO the
time and after its admission into the Vnion.-
So far from non-action being exclusion there,
positive prohibition was imperative agAinstit It
From what have written, yOu will not be
at loss to determine my views ~ to the proper
course for the Democratic Convention TO pur-
sue. Let Il ignore tie entire question. Il is
not called upon to take issue either with Brown
or Douglas. IdifFer with both. To MAINTAIN
that Territorial Legislature can, directly or
indirectly nullify the Constitution Of the U. 8.
ns interpreted by the Supreme Court, il to me
as monstrous q doctrine % anything ever
taught by Seward. To assume that such an
attempt will be made, and upon that asSump-
ton predicate Congressional intervention to
prevent Il, is opening the door to wide and
boundIess Geld Of speculative and theoretical
legislation. The Cincinnati platform, acted
up to in good faith, is amply comprehensive.
Let the Convention REUTER- its great princi.
ples-.NoH- -.NON-INfgRvENTI0N--
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY n sUBoRDMATIoN 10
TIE CONSTITUTION. By faithfully adhering to
these we have nothing to fear. The thorough
discussion Of slavery iureceut years KGS lG.
cucated q much more rational view Of the
subject in oil sections. The demagogus's
game is well nigh played out The people
are becoming disguised with this incessant
cry Of "niggeri" They wish to hear and
and talk about something else. Let the party
resolutely set it's face against the incorpOra.
lion into its platform Of any new questions OI
an inflamatory character. I would dodge nc
legitimate issue. That is not characteristic Of
the Democracy. They have never yet failed
to show their hands upon any great question
involving national Legislation. am unwilling
however, to have illsgitimate and speculative
issues manufactured tor and thrust upon N
either by our open enemies or pretended
friends. Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant,
BEMy F. WASHINGTON.
j. H. HARRoLsoN, ESQ.