Gazette and sentinel., 1860-08-11
Herschell v. johnson in Congress.

S4Ct SSASA
We publish for the benefit of the
Douglas Democracy, hereabouts, the fol-
lowing in relation to the character and
services of Herschell V. Johnson, their
candidate for Vice President "Mr.
johnson first appeared in the Senate,
under an executive appointment, to fill
a vacancy occasioned by the resignation
of the late Hon. Waller 7. Colquitt, on
the l4th of February, lS4S. Mr.. Ham
lin, (then acting with the Democracy
Mr.. Douglas and Mr.. Bell, were among
his cotemporaries i'll the Senate, and Mr..
Lincoln in the House. His service in
Congress ended on the 4th of March,
lS49. The first speech of Mr.. Johnson
was on the celebrated Ten Regiment
bill. In the course of his remarks he
went ven beyond Mr.. Calhoun, (then in
the Senate zcalously combating that
Senator's position, that "the absorption Of
all MericO would be injurious to the sue
cess of II institutions" In a speech
on the Oregon bill, July I, 1s4s, he took
the most ultra ground on the question of
slavery in the territories, going beyond
what any Southern man, unless Calhoun
himself, the prince of ~fire-eating disu-
nionists, had then ventured to maintain.
This speech, which is a peculiarly rich
n for u Northern Democrats at this
particular ~juncture, may be found re-
ported in full in the appendix to the
Congressional Globe for that session,
commencing onpage $751;" We subjoin
the following specimens
"In rejecting upon this subject, there
ccurs to my mind a fact which is full
of instruction and warning. Who can
close his eyes to the indication, that in
the Empire State and in all New En-
gland there is an obvious tendency to
the formation of party upon geographic
cal lines We see an enthusiastic and
untiring party, rallied upon what they
term the Stree soir policy: and it is hui
initiating to know, that it has received
its recent impulse from professed Demo
Gratis. Who is the leader of this infer
nal crusade against the interest and
peace of the South? 1t is that arch
traitor to all the professions of his pub
lie life and the principles of the party
that has cherished him-who has receiv-
ed the highest honors in the gift of his
country, and for whom, in 1910, the
Southern Democracy sacrificed them
selves. He turns now and scorns the
hand that wreathed mis- brow; and unfor-
tunately there are those who are willing
to be his minions. Is it not natural,
that such a movement in such a quarter
should produce some misgiyings in the
breasts of the South? Sir, in proper
ton to the magnitude and Importance
which this free soilr faction shall as
sumo, will be the degree of d~istrust ex-
cited at the S.uth.
at remains now to consider the cues
ton involved in the amendment propos-
ed by the Senator from Mississippi, (Mr.
Davis.) That question is, whether it is
the duty of COngress to guarantee to the
stakeholder, who shall remove with his
slaves into the territory Of the United
States, the undisputed enjoyment of his
property in them, so long as it contin-
ues to be a territory. Or, in other
words, whether the inhabitants of a
territory, during their territorial condi-
tion, have the right to prohibit slavery
therein. For the purposes of this ques-
ton, it matters not where the power of
legislating for the territory resides
whether exclusively in Congress-. or
Jointly in Congress and the inhabitants,
or exclusively in the inhabitants of the
territory; the power is precisely the
same-no greater in the hands Of one
than the other. In no event, can the
Shareholder of the South be excluded
from settling in such territory with his
property of every description.
"But suppose that Congress has the
right to establish a territorial govern
ment only, and that then, all further
governmental control ceases; can the |
territorial Legislature pass an act pro-
hibiting slavery? Surely not.e For the
moment you admit the right to organize
a territorial government to exist in Con-
gress, you admit necessarily the subor-
dinatiOn of the people of a territory
their dependence on this government
for an organic law, to give them politi-
cal existence. 1t is idle, however to
discuss this question in this form. For
if Congress possesses the power to or
ganize temporary governments, it must