Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-07-11


them have If, and if they did not want it,
they could prohibit it, and therefore they
were just as free to govern themselves az
the people of a State.
This. said Mr.. Tod. is the only practical
solution Of the slavery question. The
Breckenridge men We're for intervention for
slavery, the Republicans for Intervention
against it. Douglas and Johnson occupied
middle and safe ground. Mr.. Tod no
doubt induced his democratic auditory to
believe that the people of a Territory could
exclude slavery under the Douglas and
johnson platform. Was Mr.. Tod ignorant
of the true state of the case, or did he
Intentionally misrcprescnt the platform,
which he aided in forming? We will show
that he was grossly ignorant or that he in
tended to deceive his hearers.
Mr.. Tod knew, or ought to have known,
that Mr.. Douglas, some months ago, publicly
announced that he would not accept a nom
%ination, only on the Cincinnati Platform
Mr.. Tod knew, OF ought to have known,
that Mr.. Douglas, during the session of the
Baltimore Convention, telegraphed to his
friends to modify the platform. Mr.. Tod
knew, or ought to have known, that in ac-
cordance with Mr.. Douglas wish to have
the platform modified, the following reso.
luton was adopted at Baltimore:
"Rssolrsd. That it is in accordance with the
Cincinnati platform, that during the existence
of Territorial Governments the measure of re-
strction. whatever it may he, imposed by the
Federal Constitution on the power of the Ter
ritorial Legislature over the suhjcct of the do
mestic relations. as the same has been or shall
hereafter be finally determined by the Supreme
Court of the United States, should he respect
ed by all good citizens, and enforced with
prom Itncss and fidelity by every branch Of the
general government
The modification of the platform which
Mr.. Douglas desired, was this resolution
plcdging the party to "%enforce with prompt
ness and fidelity. the decisions of the Su-
irene Court, made or to be made This
resolution does thus pledge the party, Ito
the fullest extent Ito the fullest extent"
Mr.. Tod knew, or ought to have known,
that Herschel V. johnson, his candidate
for Vice President, in the Democratic State
Convention of Georgia, held at Millcdge-
vile, on the 18th day of june last, fourteen
days only before the Baltimore Conven-
ton, introduced the following resolution:
"Firsf: That the citizens of the United States
have an equal right to settle with hoir property
Of anu kiHd, in the organized Territories Of the
United States, and that under the decision of
the SUPREME Court of the United States in the
case of bred Scott, which we recognize as the
correct exposition of the Constitution IN this
particular, slaDe property stands on the same foot
inc as all ,tker descriptions Of property, and that
neither the General GOUeTameHt, NOR ANY TER-
RIToRIAL GOVERNMENT, can destroy or impair the
rightto daUe property in the common territories.
any more than the right to any other description
of property; that property of all kinds, slaves
as well as any other species of property, IN the
Territories, stands upon the same equal and
broad constitutional basis, and subject to hke
principles of Tecognifion and protection ia the
LEGISLATIVE, Judicial and ErecRiire departments
Of the Government.
Second: That We will supportany man who
may be nominated by the Baltimore Conven-
ton, for the Presidency. who holds The Prtnc'
pies set forth in the foregoing proposition, and
who will give them his endorsement, and that
we will not hold ourselves bound to support
anu man, who may be the nominee. who enter
tains principles inconsistent with those set forth
in the above propositions, or tcho denies That
Stare Bropcrfg in the Territories does stand on
an equal footing. aud on the same Constitutional
basts IF otheT descriptions 81 PToPeTty."
Now for Mr.. Tod to assert, with a full
knowledge of these facts, that the Douglas
faction of the Democratic party is for leav-
ing the question of slavery to the determi-
nation of the people of a Territory, sub
iects him to the charge Of dishonesty. If.
he were ignorant of these facts, he is unfit
to undertake to inform the people upon pO-
litical subjects.
We may take occasion hereafter to OK
anime more particularly the Douglas plat
form. For the present, we have only time
to notice. that Judge Fuller, in a few well
timed remarks, repclled. the abuse and char
ges brought against him. He maintained
his consistency and integrity as a Demo
crat, and after a few remarks by Mr.. Viii
son, the meeting adjourned.
We will do Mr.. Tod the justice to say
that he did not abuse the Republican par
ty or its candidates. We do think, if Mr..
Tod intends taking the stump for his par
ty, he had better study politics a little
more attentively, and leave off his egotism
aid his dictatOrial style. Q.