The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-08-17
The Popular Sovereignty Nominee for
the Vice Presidency.


Mr.. EIerschel V. Johnson is the noml'
nee Of the Popular Sovereignty wing Of
the Democratic party for the Vice Presi.
dency. How much he believes in the
right OF the people Of the Territories "to
form and regulate their domestic inslilu-
tions in their own way" may be inferred
from his report on the subject, presented
TO recent State Convention Of Georgia,
and from the following extract from a
letter written on the 28lh Of May, (aiter
the adjournment OF the Charleston Con-
ven,ion, to a Democratic editor in that
State, who distrusted his orthodoxy:
IL believe that 1T IS TnE RIGHT OF THE
SouTH TO DEMAND and the DUTY OF Con.
GREss TO EXTEND PROTECTION TO PERSONS
AMP PROPERTY OF EVERY KIND (1NcLUDING
sLAvERY) IN THE TERRITORIES During
THEIR TERRITORIAL STATE. This is no
new opinion. | advocated ,he doctrine
as far back as 1848, in the Senate Of ihe
United States. Ii you have any curiosity
to see the argument refer you TO my
speech on the Oregon bill, delivered the
7th of July Of that year, and reported in
the Congressional Globe. How uJnSt,
therefore, are the insinuatons with which
you intersperse and interard your edi-
| torial comments, that all are in favor Of
'.Spuoaer Sovereignty who happen no! TO
agree with the seceders from the Charles.
ton Convention REPEL THE IN
SINU ALTON, so FAR AS IT MAY BE
INTENDED TO APPLY TO Me.
COME FROM WHAT QUARTER 1T
MAY, AND PLEAD MY OWN REC.
ORD IN VINDICATION."
To show that MIR. johnson is right in
saying that the above is "no new opin-
ion" of his, we give an extract from his
speech in the United States Senate on the
7lh Of July, 1913:
I'm no event can the Shareholder of tie
South be erciuded from settling in such
territory, 'oith his property of every descrip
ton"
"The question is, whether it is the duty
Of the Congress to guarantee 10 the slave
holder, who shall remove with his slaves
into the territory OF the United Slales,
the undisputed enjoyment OF his prop, rty
in them, SO long as it continues to be
territory.
Suppose that Congress have the right
TO establish territorial government only,
and that Ihen all .fWther government con-
troll ceases can the territorial legislature
pass an act prohibiting slave'y? SURE
LY NOT.
Since, therefore, Congress has no
power, as | have shown, TO prohibit
slavery, THEY CANNOT DELEGATE
SUCH A POWER TO THE lNHAB.
ITANTS OF THE TERRITORY, they
cannot authorize the territorial Legislature
10 do what they have no power 10 DO.
II you asser. the broad
proposition that the inhabitants OF the Ter
ritories. By virtue of the right Of self:goo'
ernment. have the right TO exclude slavery
therein, the question arises. how many
inhabitants shall there be TO enable them
10 do this ? Shall u few thousand half
civilized Mexicans, inhabiting the terrific
res OF California and New Mexico decide
what institutions shall exist there? THE
IDEA IS RIDICULOUS AND ABB,
SURD."
Friends of Popular Sovereignty, are
tie above your sentiments? And dovou
adopt that other sentiment OF Mr.. Johnson,
that "capital should own labor ?" II SO,
you are consisten, in supporting him for
the Vice Presidency, but not otherwise.