The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-07
Position Of the Douglas Faction De-
fined.

Forney's Press, the organ in-chief OF the
Douglas faction, b the article hereto append
ed, defines the position which the faction in
tend to occupy b the approaching Presiden-
tial canvass Its emphatically declared tor
the hundredtli time that Douglas will not ac-
cept nomination at Charleston except on the
condition that his doctrine of territorial sove-
reignty, which the whole South has united IN
condemning as worse than the doctrine OF
Congressional prohibition, is recognized. How
humiliating is tile, spectacle which Southern
men present, inyiew of the arrogant preten-
sions of Douglas and his followers, when they
indicate willingness to support him How
lost to principIes How lost to shame!
IIaskin, whose name figures in the pronun-
ciamcnto of the. Press is Douglas Represen-
tative from NeE York, who went (where his
sympathies carried hm) for Mr.. Sherman IN
the election Of Speaker:
From Forneys Press.
Mr.. Haskin announced his firm determine
ton to support no candidate nominated at
| Charleston who would not stand firmly by the
Cincinnati platform, as explained by Stephen
| A. Douglas in his late publications, and we
thank him for this.
If Stephen Al. Douglas is right in the dec
laration that the people Of the Territories
have entire control over their domestic nstItu-
tions then neither he himself can accept a
nomination that does not explicitly declare
this doctrine, pOf can has friends support any
other man soboaoes not Stand sg1mrety upon al.
| The Southern politicians all believe, if they do
not assert, that the Constitution carries slave
ry into the Territories. One class and by far
the most sincere, of these politicians, insist
that if the Constitution carries slavery into
the Territories, then Congress must pass law
to protect shyery in the Territories. The
same ifsstEd 6bk providing that all fugitiyeS
from labor shall be returned to their masters,
| is so conclusive that an act of Congress carry
Ing out this provision, 10 matter how resisted,
has been accepted by nearly every legal tribu-
nal in the country. Upon the same principle,
if slavery is put into the Territories by the
Constitution, Congress must pass a law to pro-
tect slavery there. Another class of South
ern men, however, while insisting that slave
nv itself goes into the Territories under the
Constitution, propose to release the Northern
Democracy, and Congress, from the passage oil
any law carrying out this alleged provision Of
the Federal Constitution; to which we have to
reply that if the Constitution contains such a
provision, (Which we utterly deny) then he
who believes it. and does not insist upon a
law to protect slavery in the Territories, while
Representative in Congress, Senator or 9TH
erwise, is guilty Of perjury. There can be nc
middle ground upon this question. Judge
Douglas, and those who act with him, insist
that slavery is the creature of the local law
and according to the declaration of Mr. Buch
anan, Mr. Cobb, Mr. Breckenridge, Mr.. Ste,
phens, and other authorities, may be protect
ed or prohibited by the Territorial Legisla
ture
In so grave a matter the man who proposes
to support the Charleston nominee, upon what
ever platform he may occupy, Commits a trea
shall accept the doctrine of the Democratic
party (tbe Douglas faction) on this slavery
question as understood from the beginning o
the present controversy we are for Charleston
II IL does not, ace are against 1t. Mr.. Haskir
has said the same thing, and we honor hin
for it. We are gratified IN believing that i
Judge Douglas follows out the logical conclu
sion of his letter to Mr.. Dorr of Iowa, lie tCH
ocnpy precisely tie same position. In tina
letter he said he would not be a candidate I'M
less upon a distinct recognition of his owl
principles, and, knowing the man as we do
we believe he will not consent to support any
other candidate who may run upon a sicn
and an enuiyoCal doctrine