Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-07-04
WHOLE NO. 929.
The Issue. Made up

The Issues Made Up.
The political campaign Of 1860 is now
fully opened-the issues are made up-ths
case is being presented to the jury, and
the verdict will be rendered in November
1t behooves every man-every man who
claims to be an American citizen, and who
takes enough interest in the affairs Of thi:
country to exercise the elective franchise
to examine those issues and to learn which
Of the candidates now before the people
as the representatives Of distinctive prin-
ciples. is right. 1t is always we'll in times
like these to determine the right of the is
sues. Right is power of itself, which
though for time strangled by error. even
tually and always triumrhs. As sure as
there is God above and around us, SO
sure will the right in all things gain the as.
cendant
Mr.. Lincoln, the exponent Of the doc
trines entertained and advocated by Re
publicsns everywhere. says tha: human
slavery is a creature Of municipal regula-
tion. and can only exist anywhere by vir-
tue Of positive legislative enactment, and
in the absence of this positive legislative
enactment, it exists nowhere. That conse
quently, slavery does not and cannot exist
under the Federal constitution in any
our territories. and that neither Congress,
nor territorial legislature, nor any associ-
alton of individuals. has the power to give
nj existence to slavery in any of the
national territories. ru.r
Upon these questions, Mr.. Douglas, as
the exponent of one faction of the Demo
cratic party, stands-it is somewhat diff.
cult to tell where.
Although, in reference to the question
Of slavery, he has said that he does not
care whether it goes up or down." aud
although in his speech at New Orleans, he
said that, "the Democracy of Illinois hold
that a STAKEHOLDER has the same right to
take his slave property into territory, as
any other man TO take his horses or his
merchandise" still we suppose the dis.
tinctive principles to be regarded as en-
bodied in his nomination are known as
squatter and Popular Sovereignty. The
one, that the people OF Territory, no mat
ter hop fsp may determine its domestic in
stitutions. and the other, that Territorial
Legislature has the power to say whether
the Territory shall be Slave or Free.
Mr.. Breckinridge, who is the representa-
tive of the other and more formidable wing
Of the Democratic party, maintains the
doctrine of the present Administration
which is, that the Federal Constitution by
its own isherent force carries slavery into
all the public Territories and that the Con-
, gress Of the United States should pass
laws to protect it there; while Mr.. Bell,
more universal in his representative char.
acter personifes no distinctive principle.
but is in favor Of the Constitution, the
Union and all the laws.
Here then is a succinct outline OF the
doctrines represented by the four distin.
guIshed citizens, who are before the Amer
lean people for the highest Office in their
gift. and which is rights constitutional
-is in accordance with the views entertain
ed by the founders of this Republic and
which is more conducive to its prosperity,
are questions now palpably before the peo-
pie for their discussion and for their final
settlement? rEi aelsa s4
They are questions Of magnitude, reach
ing far into the future. They are questions
of power, affecting the prosperity Of the
General Government. They are questions
Of right, determining the individual con
dition Of men. They are questions ol
policy, disturbing the domestic relations
Of this people. They are questions that
require deep. profound and earnest thought
to fully comprehend and understand; and
such being the fact, it is the imperative
duty Of every American citizen, every mar
who feels that he is an integral part of thi'
common inheritance, to examine them and
then act in accordance with what his judg
ment tells him is right.