The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-01-19
The Northern Democracy.

In the Senate, on the 18th, Senator Iyerson,
Of Ga, made some harsh remarks against the
Northern Democracy, which were thus respond
ed to by Senator Bigler, of Pa:
Mr.. Biglcr said that the Senator from Geor-
gia could hardly realize how the expression
q rottenness of the Democratic party" fell on
his ears. AT the North the Democrats were
called "Doughfaces," because they stood up
for the rights of the South that there were
different opinions among Democrats with regard
to the question of Territorial rights, and he
would not say they oil agreed with Mr.. Iver-
son, but that they had no sympathy with the
Abolition party. and that every Democratic
paper in the country has denounced John
Browns raid.
His (Mr. Bigler's) opinion Of this question
was this. We don't claim that the Constitution
establishes slavery or prohibits it, but that the
Constitution most expressly declares that the
States are perfectly equal, and provides that
new States shall come into the Union on terms
of perfect equality with the old. 1t is denied
that Territories are property of the States in
common, and that Congress is simply their
trustee. It is upon this ground Of perfect
equality, equity and justice that the common
owners have equal rights to the occupancy and
enjoyment of the Territories so long as its
Territorial existence remains
| He believed that the common law of Eng
land, the common law of this country and the
fugitive slave law would afford all the protec-
ton in any Territory. Whenever it is alleged
that Territorial Legislature has transcribed
its legislative authority to the detriment Of
private rights, that is question for the judi
ciary, and when the judiciary give judgment
in such case, the whole power of the Federal
Gove:nment must be employed to carry out the
law. Thus defined, it is simply the broad
doctrine of allowing the people Of a Territory
to exercise just that amount Of authority which
they may exercise under the Constitution and
the law, and when dispute arises as to whether
they transcend their authority, that will be q
question. not for Congress, but for the courts
and, holding this opinion. do not believe that
l am an Abolitionist, nor those whom repre-
sent. do not seek, in any way, to disturb the
rights of my Southern brethren, and from the
hour first came into political life 10 the pre-
sent day, I believe have never gone through
political campaign when the rights of the
South were not leading issue.
At the North we have been constantly as
sailed by the Opposition; they arc assailing
the Democratic party every day on the ground
that we are subservient to the South and pro
slavery men. We say we simply seek to
maintain the constitutional rights Of, the South
ern States. Our object is to put down this
spirit of elimination, which must ultimately
lead to alienation and separation between the
people who ought to be friends and brethren.
Mr. Bigler thought that he had spent an hour
in defense of the South where Mr.. Iverson had
spent one minute; he could not sit still un-
der such imputations as the Senator had hurled
at the Democratic party without telling him
that he had done injustice to the Northern
Democrats, and that he stood like bulwark
between the South and the Northumberland
us down at your peril.