The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-01-04

4 Uc SYAapSae VA ShI hAU6n0EC -
published, gave very satisfactory idea Of
the contents of the document. We repro.
duce, however, at length, what is said about
Slavery In the Territories, and the gist Of
his remarks with reference to our relations
with Mexico.
1t will be seen BY the following that his
doctrine, with reference to Slavery in the
Territories. and in general, 10 the boldest,
baress and most shameless doctrine of the
Slavery -propagandists; the identical doc-
trine of Calhoun, unequivocally proclaimed |;
The doctrine that Ia preached by the Demo.
cratic leaders In Congress; the actual doc.
trine OF the Democratic party to-day; a
doctrine which leaves in the people Of the
country, through Congress, or the people Of
the Territories through their Legislatures, no
power over the question of Slavery in the
Territories of the4nation.
SLAVERY IN THK TERRITORIES.
| cordially congratulate you upon the final
settlement by the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States of the question of Slavery in the
AE8TtsUIICcs WHioH 6od ptSSch&VA III ucpcGt
so truly formidable at the commencement OF
nv administration. The right has been es
established of every citizen TO take his proper
ty of any kind. including slaves, into the
common Territories belonging equally to oil
the States of the confederacy, and to have it
protected under the Federal Constitution
Neither Congress nor a Territorial Legisla-
ture, nor any human power has any authori-
I'D ,ckk L.
supreme judicial tribunal of the cnnrt-1x
which is a co ordinate branch of the govern
ment, has sanctioned and affirmed these prin-
ciples OF constitutional law, SO manisestly
Just 10 themselves, and 50 we'll calculated to
promote peace and harmony among the
States. Ii is q striking proof Of the sense of
| Justice which is inherent in our people, that
| the property In slaves has never been dis
| snrbed, to my knowledge, in any Of the Ter
| ritories. Even throughout the late troubles
10 Kansas there has not been any attempt, as
| am credibly informed, to interfere, in a
single instance, with the right Of the mastsx.
| Had any such attempt been made the judicial
| ~ would doubtless have afforded an adequate
remedy. Should they fail to do this hereaf-
| ter, it will then be time enough to strengthen
their hands BY further legislation. Had it
ritoriai Legislature possesses the power to
annul or impair the right to property in
slaves, the evil would be intolerable. In the
latter event, there would be struggle for q
majority of the Legislature at each success
sive election, and the sacred rights Of proper
ty held under the Federal Constitution would
depend for the time being on the result. Tho
agitation would thus be rendered incessant
whilst the Territorial condition remained,
and its baneful influence would keep alive
dangerous excitement among the people Of
the several States. Thus has the status of
Territory, during the intermediate period
from its first settlement until it shall become
State, been irrev ocanly fixed by the final de-
cision Of the Supreme Court. Fortunate has
been this for the prosperity Of the Terrific
ries, % we'll as the tranquility Of the States.
Now, emigrants from the North and South,
the East and West, will meet in the Terrific
ries on a common platform, having brought
with them that species OF property best adapt
ed, in their own opinion, TO promote their
welfare. From natural causes the Slavery
question will 10 each case soon virtually set
tie itself-and before the Territory IL pre-
pared for admission as State into the Union
this decision, one way or the other will have
been foregone conclusion. Meanwhile the
settlement of the new Territory will proceed
without serious interruption, and its pro-
gress and prosperity will not be endangered
or retarded by violent political struggles
When in the progress Of events the inhabi-
tants of any Territory snail have reached the
number required to form State, they will
then proceed in regular manner, and in the
exercise of the rights of popular sovereign
ty, TO form constitution preparatory TO ad
mission into the Union. After this has been
done, employing the language OF the Kansas
Nebraska act, they 'sshail be admitted into
the Union with or without Slavery, as their
constitution may prescribe ut the time OF
| their admission" This sound principle has
happily been recognized, in some form or
other, By an almost unanimous vote of both
houses Of the last Congress.
/ MEXICO.
| The following statement gives an idea oil
the prominent political occurrences in Mexi-
90 for the last two or three years, and tht
present condition Of the executive govern.
ment.
The con stituent Congress of Mexico which
adjourned on the 18th OF February, 1857
adopted q constitution and provided for
popular election. This took place in th,
following July (l857), and General Com
onfort was chosen President, almost withon
opposition. At the same election q new
Congress was chosen, whose first session
commenced on the 10th Of September, 1857
by the constitution Of 1857 the Presidential
term WAS TO begin on the LIST Of December
J 1857, and continue for four years. On tina
J day General Comonfort appeared before tn,
assembled Congress in the city OF Mexico
took the oath TO support the new oonstitu
ton, and was duly inaugurated as President
J Within q month afterwards be bad been driv
en- from the capital, and military rebellion
bad assigned the supreme power OF the re
public TO Gen. Iuoaga. The constitutio,
provided that in the absence of the Presiden
his Office should devolve upon the Chief jus
! tice Of the Supreme Court, and Gen. Com