Nebraska advertiser., 1860-01-12
Mr.. Buchanan on SIaTeFyI In the
Territories.

We gave last week an abstract Of the
Message Of the President, and quoted the
most important part relative 10 slavery in
the Territories. Il is hardly necessary to
say that the positions taken by Mr. Buch-
anan totally differ from what IS considered
as the true doctrine by the Democracy of
the North and West, and viii be repudi-
ated by the great majority Of the party.
In order 10 show the fallacy Of the Pres
ident's argument, it viii do nc harm to
put again before the eyes Of oar readers
the most extraordinary passages Of that
extraordinary paragraph in the Message
concerning the territories. Il opens thus {:
Il cordially congratulate you upon the
final settlement by the Supreme Court of
the United States, of the question of sla-
very IN the Territories, which had pres
ented an aspect so truly formidable at the
commencement Of my administration"
If it is true thai the Supreme Court,
by the Dred Scott de c>ision, FINALLY settl-
ed the question of slavery inthe Terrific
RIGS" then Mr.. Buchanan is singularly
behind his time in congraIulating Con-
gress upon an event which had occurred
three years previous the delivery of his
Message, a document supposed 10 con-
tain new information. But he knew very
we'll that such was not the case, and in
writing those lines, he evinced a degree
Of GOODNESS unsurpassed by anything we
have heard Of for a long time. The truth
is, the question of slavery was not settled
by the Supreme Court it has perhaps
never been so far from being settled asst
is now it IS the prominent topic now at
issue in all parts of the Union and
never before was agitation on this same
settled" question more violent than it is
atthe present time. Everybody knows
that, and no one is better acquainted with
these facts than the President.
Mr.. Buchanan proceeds as follows:
1.-THE right has been established of ev.
cry citizen to take his property of any kind
including slaves, into the common Terri
tories belonging equally to all the States
of the ~CenfederaCy, and to have 1t pro-
tected there under the Federal Constitu
ton. Neither Congress, nor a Territorial.
Legislature, nor any human power ha!
any authority TO annul or impair this YES
ted right. The supreme judicial tribuna
Of the country, which is a coordinate
branch of the government, has sanctioned
and affirmed these principles of consti
t%utional law, so manIfestly just in :hem'
selves. and so well calculated to promote
peace and harmony among the States
Now, there are a great many nen o
high standing, Mr.. Douglas among them
who, we suppose, are as coed readers anC
as good lawyers as Mr. Buchanan, anC
who deny that the Supreme Court eve
decided any such thing. The attorney o
the shareholders in the bred Scott case
Hon. Reverdy johnson, and ever mem
bers of the Court itself, have repeated!
declared that no such decision was given
The only point really decided was, tina
bred Scott, being a negro, was not a cit
izen of the United States, and, therefore
had no right to institute a suit in our IA
iional courts; and the opinions Indirect,
expressed by the court, or by the diferen
members of il in the case, have no lega
and binding authority. The doctrin
laid down by The President in his Mes
sage. being Invested of the mantle o
sanclity he would cover it with a decisio.
of the Supreme Court, rests then on it
merits-or rather demerits-alone; an
i%tnever viii be Endorsed by the people G
The North. His opinions that slavery ez
lists mall the Territories by virtue of tn
Constitution; that although the people {
aTerritory were unanimous In their DE-
sire 10 prohibit slavery, they could not q
il; that Congress aud the people of III
Territories lhrough the Territorial II
gislature have the power to protect b.
not to prohibit slavery; hat no huma
potrsr can stop its extension; are eiev
which the Democratic party in the grei
Northwest are not yet, and likely wi
never be, prepared to adopt.
The closing remark that such a prime
pie is swell calculated to promote pea,
and harmony" is another cool assum,
ton. If slavery exists in the TerriIori
under the Federal Constitution, it is Il
duty of Congress to pass laws for its pr
lection, the Territorial Legislature fai
ing to do it. Then, instead of beiI
localized, the slavery question becomes
subject of national politics; "the agitati'
would thus be rendered incessant; :" m
terial would be afforded "to keep alive
dangerous excitement among the peoE
OF the several StateS;" and section
strife and Struggles, which would co
vulse the country, would be the result,