The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-06-20
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY.
Speech Of Hon. Kinsley S. Bingham,
Of Michigan, Delivered in the United
States Senate, May "a, 1860.

Speech Of Hon. Kinsley S. Bingham,
Of Michigan, Delivered IN the United
States Senate. May "a, 1860.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The resolutions under
discussion were presented by the honora.
BILE Senator from Mississippi, [Mr. Davis, ]
one of the most distinguished and worthy
leaders of the Democratic party. 1t is un-
dcrstood that they have been adopted by a
large majority Of Democratic Senators in
caucus; and although they have not been
formally voted upon by the Senate, yet |
think it fair to presume that they express
the opinions and embody the creed. not
only of the majority Of this honorable body,
but of the dominant party in the country.
The honorable Senator from South Caroli-
ma, Mr.. CHEsNUT,l in his discussion of
them, says that they " are just. and there
fore wise. In regard to the subjects Of
which they treat. they announce the true
doctrine of the Constitution. Among 9TH
er things, they denounce two capital polit-
ical heresies that which claims sovereign
power for the Government-unlimited pow
er-over this subject, and that which claims
sovereign power for the inhabitants Of q
Territory The fourth and fifth resolu.
tions are in the following words:
-. ResoLyed, That neither Congress nor a
! Territorial Legislature, whether by direct legis-
!atiOn or legislation of all indirect and unfriendy
nature, possess the power to annul or impair the
constitutional right of any citizen of the United
States to take his slave property into the COM
mon Territories; bu, it is the duty of the Fede-
raj Government there to afford for that, for
other species OF property the needful protection
and if experience should at any time prove that
the Judiciary does not possess power to insure
adequate protection, it will then become the
duty of Congress to supply such deficiency.
&c. Rssolved, That the inhabitants of an or
ganized Territory OF the United States, when
| they rightfully form Constitution to be admit
ted as a State into the Union. may then, for the
fret time, like the people of State, when form
| ing u new Constitution, decide for themselves
whether slavery, as a domestic institution shall
be maintained or prohibited within their juris-
diction; and if Congress shall admit them as a
State, "they shall be received into the Union
with or without slavery, as their Constitution
may prescribe at the time of admission -
The party now known as the Democratic
party has been distinct organization more
than sixty years, and is almost coeval with
the foundation of the Government. Look
ing for its paternity to the author of the
Declaration Of Independence. the immor-
tai Jefferson, the Democratic party has ev-
er claimed to be the advocate of the largest
liberty; of the greatest good to the great
est number; of equal rights and equal priv.
ileges; of strict construction Of the Con-
stitution; and in favor Of State rights, in
opposition to the power claimed for the
Federal Government by the Federal party
The Democratic party have professed oppo.
sition to all monopolies-all exclusive priv.
ileges; and two of its great leaders, JEFF.
ferson and jackson, took open and strong
ground against to the political decisions Of
the Supreme Court which were designed
. to control the legislation of Congress, or tc
affect the judgement or conscience of its In
, dividual members; but never, previous tt
the year 1916, did the Democratic party
: or any Of its leaders, deny the power o
Congress to legis!ate exclusively for the
, Territories, and especially to prohibit the
introduction of slavery therein.
Immediately after the close Of the Revo
lutionary war, Mr.. Jefferson announced ths
great principles of civil policy which were
to lie at the foundation of the new States
to be formed out Of what was then then th'
only Territory they possessed; and in 1871
they were formally adopted by Congress
in the promulgation of the ordinance whicl
, prohibited the introduction of slavery there
in. Every new settler as he crossed th
border Of that great Territory. to establish
for himself and his children a home, hat
' the solemn assurance Of the Governmen
that free labor was never to be degrade
by its contact with slavery upon that sol
and that free men could only live there.
shall undertake to show, Mr.. President
i that this benign policy, the salutary effect
of which will be acknowledged as long q
8 we respect the virtues of our ancestors
was the policy Of the Government unde
the new Constitution, and especially of th
party first known as the Republican, an
J. afterwards as the Democratic party an
that the Republican party of to-day only d.
sires to carry out enforcement of whic
o. were adopted by the Republican party
a 1900, and by the enforcement Of which ii
y present fourishing States of Ohio, Indian
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, ar
Minnesota, have sprung One of the fir
acts, under the new Constitution, voted f
by many of the men who had come fire:
3. from the Convention which framed that i
or strument, was approved. on the eth
J. August, 1889, by General Washington
rs and the preamble is in these words:
u "Whereas, in order that the ordinance of t
SC United States, in Congess assembled, for t
government of the Territory northwest of I
Ohio, may continue to have full effect, it is
in quisite that certain provisions should be mac
80 as to adapt the same to the present Const
- ton of the United States"
Here is a complete recognition Of t
power Of Congress to legislate for the II
= ritories, and to exclude slavery therefor
- for this act re-enacted and re.establish
the provisions of that ordinance. In pur:
!, ance Of the policy marked out by the or
nance to which have referred, Congre
te- from time to time. in the organization
Territorial Governments. applied the sal
restriction Of slavery by direct legislat
, enactment and so unquestioned was
- complete power Of Congress over the 81
ject, that, in 1902, President Jefferson
''A nroved the enabling act authorizing