The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-05-16
The ouestion az Issue.

+ Sf6Ve0OiQefo udtc u cO-equal IlInb In the 81
d litories with Observation-Disclosures. This was tn
issue in a nutshell. The Southern delegate
generally desired the Convention to plant itsel
on the position that neither Congress nor
: Territorial Legislature could meddle with tn
: question of slavery during the Territorial cor
, difion of the Territory. Delegates from th
= free States were unwilling to take this position
: They were willing to compromise by leapin,
it to the Supreme Court of the United State
to decide. Until within a few years the opin
ion was not entertained that slavery was a sub
ject for Territorial legislation. 1t was con
tended on the part of Democrats hat Congress
had no right to interfere with it; but that i
was a subject to be passed upon by the peopl,
of the Territories when they came to form
their Constitutions, preparatory to seeking ad
mission into the Union as States-that III.
people thereof were just as competent to decide
this matter as members of Congress to decide
it for them. But We have a class of politicians
who seem to think the surest road to success
is to pander to the anti-slavery sentiment that
is supposed to exist to a great extent. They
have not the courage to undertake to correct
this sentiment. In the days of the Wing party
in this State there was a rivalry between some
of the Wing and Democratic leaders for the
favor of Abolitionism. And while in this
mood, a Legislature in which the Democratic
party had the ascendancy committed the great
folly of shaekling Hon. v iiiiain Allen with
instructions to vote for the Wilmot Proviso;
it was while in this mood that Democratic lead
ers caused a Democratic State Convention to
adopt a compound resolution that stands as a
monument to their shame; it was while they
were in this mood that Democratic member of
the Legislature deserted Hon. VIM. Allen, the
caucus nominee, and elected to the United
States Senate Salmon p. Chase, the A BOLTON
ist-a man who was boldly and unequivocally
commii ted to tie INDUSTRIOUS doctrine that the
political barriers between the white race and
the African race should be battered down, and
the social relations suLsisting between them
modified it was while in this mood that the
Cincinnati Ea garner, Ohio Statesman, Clese-
land II Tain DedLer, and those papers that look-
ed up 10 them for guidance, started off in a
severe denunciation of the Fugitive Slave law;
ir was while in this mood that great turmoil
and trouble were created by attempting to en-
dorse the Baltimore Platform at the first State
Convention that assembled after Pierce's nom-
~ination for the Presidency. Despite these
facts, there stood up in the Charleston Con
~vention leading mel from this State who al
legged that by lighting the battles of the South
the party had been borne dow with defeat,
and besought the South not to demand of them
an open recognition of the shareholders right
To take his slave property into the Territories
and hold it there unmolested until the the Ter
ritory should elect to become u State.
Mol The party has not been borne down in
& lighting for the constitutional rights of the
South. 1t has been defeated-and Justly de-
feated-because most of its leaders, while pro-
Tossing to be guarding the constitutional rights
of the South, have courted the unhallowed
embraces Of Abolitio-ism and Free-Soilism.-
1t is time this slavery controversy were brought
to a close; it is time that the people North and
South came to a perfect understanding on the
subject. If the people of the free States are
not willing that shareholders should have a CO.
equal right with them in the Territories, no
better time than the present will offer for slave.
holders to be informed of it. W hat does it
matter whether IN Abolition Congress prohib-
its slavery in the Territories, or whether New
England Incorporates Emigrant Aid Societies
and sends them into the Territories there to
direct the first legislation? The principle is
the same, though it might be more economical
at once to grant the power to Abolitionists t
prohibit Slavery in the Territories by Con-
gressional Legislation.
The people of the South sincerely believe
that they have justly as much right in the
Territories with their slave property as the
people of the free States have with their prop
erty, and until this right is either recognized
or repudiated they will not rest satisfied. Had
the Southern States acquiesced in the platform
as accepted by the majority Of the Convention,
their course of argument would have been that
the Supren Court has in effect decided that
they have an unquestionable right to go into
the Territories with their slave property and
hold it there without let or hindrance until
the people thereof should form a Constitution,
when they should determine finally on its con-
tiuuance or prohibition, while in the free State
with Douglas as the nominee, it would be con-
tended that Territorial Legislatures had SUI
preme power over the question but that If the
Supreme Court should decide adversely, we
would abide by such decision. 1t is thus ap-
parent thar there Is not curnnendable straight
forwardness in the platform. 1t is susceptible
of diverse constructions-constructions that
would result in more harm than good to the
party, if party considerations alone were OF
prominent importance. The Opposition in the
free States will charge they have already
commenced charSing-that the platform con-
cedes, under specIous language, the whole
Southern doctrine. OF course Democrats in
the free States will deny this, and, in confirm
alton of their denial, they will point to the Sc
cession of tie Southern States in consequence
of its adoption. At the same time, the Oppo-
sition in the South will insist that the platform
Comedies that Territorial Legislatures have
complete control of the subject of slavery, and
in confirmation of their allegations, they will
cite the sayings of Northern Democrats On this
subject. Hence it is apparent that the party
North and South will be subjected to a deadly
cross fire. Ii the majority of the Convention
believes that Territorial Legislatures have
complete control over the subject of slavery,
let it be so written down in the platform, in
language to admit of no double construction /;
but if a majority believes that shareholders
have equal rights with non-slaveholders in the
Territories, then let it be SO written, in Ian
guage that will admit of only the same con-
s%truction everywhere, and appeal to the people
for a confirmation or a Reputation OF the doc
though the heavens fall - hittcothe ADDER
tiser.
Bitten by a Rattlesnake.
Racentlv a son of P.vton VI Rally. resid-