The Van Buren press., 1860-11-02
What thew Saw.

S believe that the safety, the peace,
the highest interests of the country require
the preservation intact of the Democratic
party on its old creed and its old platform
Whenever we depart from that platform,
which was adopted unanimously, we never
Will get unanimity in the formation of ar
o,her.-StepAen d. Douglas.
H OF all the mad schemes that ever
could he devised by the South. OF by the
enemies of the South, that which recosniz-
es the right OF Congress to touch the insti-
tuition of slavery either in States or Terri
tories, beyond the single case provided in
the Constitution for the rendition of fugi-
tive slaves is the most fatal Stephen d.
Douglas.
fg l care not whether you agree or diff
fer with me ON the points of law that have
divided us. If you should happen to be
right. and l wrong, it would not prove that
you were better Demossst than !, bot
tina, you are better lawyer than / am. SO
far IS that one branch of law is concerned.
should not have much pr1de Of opinion
on that point of law, but for the fact that
you have got in the habit of calling me
Judge" laughter having among my
youthful indiscretions accepted that Office
and acquired that title i; and l do claim that
with that title. have right to think as l
please on a point of law until the court de-
Giles that l am wrong.-[ Stephen Il.
Douglass
E'. Slaves. according to that decision,
1.-THE Dre,i Scott decision being property,
stand On equal footing Dith all other prop
s.y- There is Just as much obligation on
the part OF the Territorial Legislature to
protect slaves, Is of every other species of
propery-as there is to protect horses, cat
tie. dry g-,ois. liquors. &c. If they have
ngnt to discriminate as to one they have
a. to the other and whether they have got
the power of discrimination ol not, is for
the court to decide if any one dispute it.
If there is no power of discrimina-
ton on other species of property. there is
none as to slaves. If there is q power of
discrimination on other property-and l
think there is-then it applies to slave
property. In other words, slave property
Is On an equal footing with all other prop
rty.-[ Stephen a. Douglas.
~ have no blind devotion to the
Union. but in my judgment. there is now
no existing cause to justify dissolution
lHersehel y. Johason.
~ 1t is better for the South to rely up
on the Constitution and the Dred Scott case
than to go before free-soil Congress with
the vain demand for its friendly interposi-
ton. When the lamb can trust to the lion
for protection, then may the South ask
Congress to throw over slavery a sheltering
eSis.@[ HerseAeI 2. johnson.
kI If facts can establish any PROPOSE
tion, the Southern States have agreed to
the doctrine of non-intervention by Con-
gress, in State and Territories, and that the
people Of the territories may determine the
question of slavery for themselves /" in their
own way. subject only to the Constitution
OF the United States. 81 AerseAel y.
johnson.
~ Few, at the South. deny the power
of Congress to pass laws for the protection
of slave property in the Territories-I GER
faihly do not. But it IS denied by many of
the strongest intellects in the United States.
Indeed throughout the entire extent of the
Tree iaLo- States there are few who do not
doubt it. and many able lawyers believe in
the doctrine Of popular sovereignty. If.
then, we award to others the same honesty
which we claim for ourselves. we must sd-
NIT that the right Of Congress to intervene
Tor the protection Of slavery is qaestiona-
ble
Therefore. when the South demands it.
she assumes an attitude Of very doubtful
policy. She affords the free-soilers plau-
sible prstext to say she yields jurisdiction
on the subject of slavery she has always
denied. She departs from her cherished
do-;rins of strict contraction BY ssking the
exercise Of . Questionable power. She sur
renders herself to the mercy Of IN infuriat-
edfree-s soil m.jority.d HsvseAa ?. Jehs-
son.
u We callupon the bolters to keep in
mIni Me fact. that If Stephen A. Douglas
Is Withdrawn from the Presidential race
Abraaam Lincoln vii be elected President
OF asess Uaaed Stafes. ,sikkost tie sAodoa
@ doubt. Bot if John c. BE .kinridg
Withdrawn, the Democratic ticket UiU b
tyiHSaDRonkEu >Zrek~d