The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-02-23
Douglas Proposed Sedition Law...A
Douglas Organ Disguised.


| Douglas Organ Disguised.
| The editor of the N. Y. Times Doug
lass organ, when absent on Western
tour, wrote long letter to his paper from
Detroit, in opposition to Douglass pro-
posed Sedition law. We make room for
the following extracts, italicizing portions
of it:
Mr.. Douglas has not as yet presented
any draft of law for the prevention of
conspiracies to invade individual States.
Judging from his speech. he seems in
clined to support law much more
sweeping in its principles and effects than
is either required by the emergency. or
consistent NTH the independence and local
sovereignty Of the States. He proposes
not only to suppress and punish conspir-
ocies in one State against the government
and authority of any other, but to embrace
ordinary crimes and misdemeonors within
the scope Of the Federal prohibition. He
proposes that Congress shall pass law
to punish conspiracies to run off slaves,
or horses, or any other property, or to
carry Territorial elections, or in any way
to disturb the property or the rights of
the people of any State. He might as
aceN abolish the State Governments at once,
and commit all criminal legislation for tie
aohoie country to Congress. - Conspira-
cy," is vague term two persons may
organize a conspiracy as well as two
hundrod ord II NOV oi ~, q = tba Darpotro
ton of petty larceny as we'll as at civil
rebellion and the overthrow of govern
ment. Mr.. Douglas would have all con-
spiracies put upon the same footing, and
all committed to the care of Federal leg.
islation. He would have horse stealing,
pocket-picking, and all conspiracies to
perpetrate them or any other crimes, pun
ished by Congress, when planned in one
State to be executed in another. Such
measure acould be great step towards a
consolidated government-towards COM
mitting to the Federal authority powers
and responsibilities distinctly reserved to
the individual States. There is no ne
cessity for any such law. Each State
Furnishes offenders within its own limits
against rights of person or of proper
ty-and the constitutional provision for
the surrender of fugitives from justice
has proved quite sufficient for the pre-
yention of all such conspiracies for the
perpetration OF crimes against the COM
mon law.
1t is not quite so easy to see, moreov-
er, how Mr.. Douglas proposes to punish
conspiracies to carry elections, either in
Territories or in States, and we presume
he would advocate no measure for one
which would not also extend to the 9TH
er. What is conspiracy to carry an
election ? What is the National Execu
tive Committee of either party, but a
permanent conspiracy to carry elections
in every State Emigrant Aid Socie-
ties, Blue Lodges, and kindred organiza-
tions are all legal and justifable, provid-
ed they restrict themselves to legal means
and modes of action. Men have right
to conspire" to carry an election, if
they do not resort to force or fraud for
the accomplishment of their object. If
Mr.. Douglas will present general law
for the prevention of all violence and
corruption at elections, State and Terri
torial, we shall be very happy to co-op-
crate with him for its enactment and ex-
ecution.
Mr.. Douglas apparently aims to secure
from the Federal Government law guar
anteeing property in slaves against theft.
abduction. or any of the risks to which
all property is exposed everywhere. This
is going a great deal too far. The Slave
States have no right to ask for such a
guarantee at the hands of the General
Government and the General Govern
ment has no right to grant it, whether
asked or not. Congress might just as
be expected to insurs houses in New
York against incendiaries, as to insure
slaves in Virginia against being seduced
to run away. Mr.. Douglas is tia.ly con-
tradicting his own theory of Popular
Sovereignty in this matter. He holds
that property of all kinds, s,-slave prop
erty included. both in Territories and
States. depends upon the local law for its
security. that either a State or a
Territorial government may, by friendly
or unfriendly Legislation. strengthen or
weaken that security without rightful
interference from any quarter. Where,
then, does he .fnd any authority for con-
verting the Federal Government into an
Insurance office for slape property IN the
Southern States
All these things are beyond the scope
of the neutrality law between the several
States, which the condition of the coun
try requires. What is wanted-and all
that is wanted--is law 10 prevent arm
ed invasions of one State from another
to make conspiracies and organizations
for such purpose crimes against the
Federal Government, and to punish them
accordingly. John Brown organized his
expedition against Virginia in the North.
ern States. He procured money and
arms (under false pretences undoubtedly
for that object-recruited men, formed
military companies. and had them drill
ed for the purpose Of invading Virginia