The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-09-26

elude slavery while in 6 territarial condition
bnt It is conceded that the people NAV establish
\ or prohibit Il when they come to exercise thC
power Of sovereign SIT. On the otheI
hsnd, 1t is said that slavery, being in derOea
ton ot common right, can exist only by iorce o
positive law; and il is deemed that the Con
stiiution furnishes this law TOR the territories
AID it is further claimed that the local legis
lature may establish or exclude il any tim,
after the gOyeoment is organized As hOth til
parties appeal TO the Constitution and baSt
their respective arguments on opposite con-
structions Of that argument, the Till wisely
refuses to make question for judicial cdnstruc
tion the subject of Legislative conflict, and
properly refers it to the tribunal created by The
Constitution ITSELF for the very purpose OF de
Gliding aR cases in law aad equity arising under
IT," ..5 % .-s s - tH.t0-f.s
Then, in speaking of the equality OF the
States: f' @ ~.E FEH.
"Carry the idea to the Territories. What
are they? To whom do they belong? Who
are TO inhabit them, and what are their politi.
cal relations to the rest Of the confederacyi
They are regions Of country acquired by the
common efforts and treasure OF all the States
they belong, therefore, to the States for com.
mon use and enjoyment; the citizens OF the
States to inhabit them, and when the population
shall be sufficient. they are TO become equal
members cfthe Unions
thinh this IN sufficient to prove that at the
period Of the passage Of the Kansas Nebraska
bill did not hold the doctrine that territorial
Legislature could exclude slave property from
the Territory during the Territorial conaron;
but while held precisely the opposite, was
willing to refer the question TO the Court and to
be bound by its decision. esg s--.. .
The doctrines announced by me in that
speech were just snch as have ever declared
in Kentucky, such as declared in every public
address which made in Ohio, Indiana, Michi-
gan and Pennsylvania. Afterwards, when it
was understood that | had been reported to
have admitted that power belonged to the
Territorial Legislature, in the month OF Sep.
tember or Octobtr, 1857, the editor of The
Kentucky Statesman, journal published in
Lexington, in alluding to this charge, made the
following statement, to which beg leave to
refer you. Remember this was before the
Presidential election of 1856: ..s.
1T was our pleasure to accompany Mr..
Breckenridge on the occasion referred to- in his
rour through Ohio and Indiana, and to witness
the warm response Of the National Democracy
at Cincinnati, Hamilton, and at Tippecanoe, to
the avowal by him OF exacly tie sentiments
we have often heard him proclaim in Kentucky,
and which are clearly embodied in the platform
of our party. .r..~.
ale said it had been charged that the Dem.
ocratic party intended to employ the Federal
Government to propagate slavery, and that it
was in its federal relation pro-slavery par.
ty. This, he said, was not true. The Demo-
cratic party was neither pro slavery party,
neither was IL an anti slavery party,
but a constitutional party. 1t rejected the in
reference OF the Federal Government, whether
to introduce or to exclude slavery, and left the
common territories of the Union open to com
mon settlement from all the States. He pro-
ceeded to say that each new State was entitled
to form its constitution, and enter the Union
without discrimination by Congress on account
of the allowance or prohibition Of slavery
Hence, II Kansas presented herself with slave.
ry. in her Constitution, she must be admitted;
II without it, still she must be admitted. Any
other principle, no added, would be subversive
Of the rights and equality Of the States.
"'fhe allegation that MIR. Breckenridge pro.
claimed the doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty is
SIMPLY untrue. He said nothing upon which
even plausible charge Of that nature could be
based" .-.... .-,. ....... {, g9 s, ....g
In the autumn Of the same year. receised q
slip from q Louisiana paper. containing remarks
made by General Miles, distinguished citizen
Of shat State, who was at Tippecanoe and heard
my speech. in which he denied had admitted
this doctrine Of the territorial power. He sent
me slip containing his speech. In the same
month, October. 1861 some time before the
Presidential election, in the course OF letter
to him. said: .,---.r..~.--.'... a,
"Kou have reported me correctly, and I thank
you for it. 'b .' "@as&
"Hands off the whole subject by the FedetaI
Government, fereept fr one or tsoo protective Par-
qoses, mentioned an tie Consultation )--the equal
rights of all sections IN the common territory and
The absolute pocer Of each NEW STATE TO settle Tie
question in ITS CoNsTITuTToN.-thes are mn
doctrines and hHse Of our platform, and, What is
more, Of the Constitution. $50 q. ~
"I consider the assault upon me SO absurd
as to he unworthy OF further notice" ses s~
The recollection OF my letter to Gen. Miles
had wholly faded from my memory, and was
revived only few days since, when that gen-
tleunan printed it in Southern journal, and
sent Inc copy. 's"F" 81 's@ ''''''@ 1'@
Now, fellow citizens. to the statement Of the
distinguished Senator from Illinois, in which he
undertakes to prove allegations against me by
himself / thus oppose, first, my own statement.
Next, the proof furnished by my speech in 18.
ST. pending the Kansas Nebraska bill in Con
gress; next, the testimony or the editor Of the
Kentucky Statesman. who Is a gentleman Of
nnqaestionable intelligence and honor: next the
statement Of General Miles, who heard my
speech q Tippecanoe--and, finally. my letter
to him. written prior to the Presidential eisc.
ton Of ls56--all these proof being consistent
with each other, and, as solemnly affirm con.
sisteLt also with my uniform opinions Ia 4
voice--"Sow you are talking" eqga 70 %f'y
IL would not Ls difficult to aceurnulate les.
timony on This point 10 any extent; hn, 4 think
have proved concinsively that the charge Is
unEounded, and Twill add that this was the po
sition held by nearly all the Southern friends
Of the '.Nebraska bill," and by portion of its
Northern supporters. These we're cur opin-
IONS and they were uttered on all proper ocs
casiops; lint we dill not attempt to terce Others
to accept them We had agreed Ia reer the