The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-04-10

understood. So far as am advised or believe
the great mass of the people OF the North enter
tam but one opinion on the subject, and that is
the same which was entertained by MANY at the
South. They regard the institution as a great
moral and political evil, and would that il had
no existence. But being an institution of local
sovereignty, they deny that such sovereignty,
or Its people, can justly claim the right to regard
i as transltory and 10 erect il in the territory of
the Uuited States without the authority of Con.
gress, and they believe that Congress NAV pro-
hibit its introduction into the Territories Will,
| they remain such"
Commenting upon the resolution OF New
York, demanding fundamental provision
restraining slavery from the Territories he
continued:
lie Territory contemplated j. California.
which Is now free, and if it is obtained by Us il
Will oe free until it ia incorporated by Us, and
cannot become save territory without the legis.
latlon OF Congress; and in and by such legisls-
ton fundamental article prohibiting slavery can
be properly inserted. Tbs resolution. then in.
structs US that, when any territory shall be
brought within our jurisdiction by the act of
Congress, whatever that act NAV be, TO insert
In such act fundamental clause prohibiting
slavery; and SO l am ready to vote, instruct.
ed or uninstrncted"
But he was not willing to insert it in
an appropriation bill. On the same day.
Hon. Reverdy johnson, then Wing Sen.
ator from Maryland, now one of the leaders
OF the slavery-exteuding Democracy, said:
81 believe, l have ever believed since was
capable OF thought, that slavery is a great attic
ton to any country where it prevails and SO
oeleving, can never vote for nny measure cal.
cu!ated to enlarge its area, and TO render more
permanent its duration; and above all, disguise
1t as we may, if the laws Of population shall not
be changed by Providence, or mans nature shall
not be changed, it is an institution sooner or
later pregnant with fearful mischief The opin-
ion hold upon this institution is not now for
the hrst time formed or expressed by Southern
man. The history of our country proves this
At the period Of the Declaration of our Inde-
pendence. at the period of this Constitution,
there was but one sentiment upon the subject
among enlightened Southern statesmen What
have said was, on every proper occasion, more
forcibly said by them, and as foremost among
them, Messrs. Jefferson and Madison"
Now, sir, do Mr.. Dickinson and his
f-;nn1n .~a H.. JvLusuu aud his ulvnus,
occupy that position? The Republican par
ty is standing this day On the platform they
gave us in lS47. Were they murderers
and traitors Why should We be now!
In December, 1S47, Mr.. Dickinson be.
gan to bend before the Southern blast, and
be introduced resolution in the Senate
| "That the true spirit and meaning of the Con.
stitution will be best observed, and the Conteds.
racy strengthened, by leaving all questions con.
cerning the domestic policy of the Territories to
the Legislatures chosen by the people thereof"
And in his speech on the 18th day Of
January, lS4S. be said:
"Ths resolution declares that the domestic
policy of the people of Territory shall be left
with them; and if that power resides in Congress,
as is commended" (which hs did not then deny, ]
''it should be delegated to the people of the Ter.
ritory, and be exercised by them"
For the benefit of conservative old.line
Wings. Mr.. Webster said. Angus. 12sh
! 1915:
"We certainly DO not prevent them from going
into these Territories with what is, in genera
law, called property. But these States have by
their local laws created property in persona anC
they cannot carry their local laws with them
Slavery is created and exists by local law which
is limited to certain section, and it is asked thai
Congress should establish q local law in othel
Territories to enable Southern Senators to carr,
their particular law with them. There is belle
prevailing that slave labor and free labor cannO
exist together. He had Q letter from Mr.. Mason
in which it is stated that slave labor viii e1pe
free labor"
An irrepressible conflict older than Sew
ards Rochester speech
l beg pardon for quoting Mr.. Webster
, l know tho latter.day saints in the Demo
cratic party, in this and the Senate Cham
, Der, have lately discovered that the grea
expounder was mistaken about the Consti
j. tuition, as were the fathers and framer
thereof Only few days ago, in the Sen
. ate. Senator Wigfall said:
} "Why, sir, there was the most distinguish
, man this country he's ever seen, Daniel Webster
. the great expOunder Of the Constitution, as h
|, was called; and l hazard the assertion, that
there was a single thing about which he was NOR
: profoundly ignorant than any man in the Unite
States, it was the Constitution of the Unite
States"
0 For the benefit of that portion of th
= Democracy who are now the set-constitute
custodians of the memory and reputation {
Henry Clay. | commend bis remarks in tn
: Senate, in 1880:
E $50 long as God allows tho vital current
= flow through my veins, will never-no, never
by word or thought, by mind or will, aid in a.
hitting rood Of free territory to the everlas
2 ing curse Of human bondage"
Q Were Webster and Clay murderers az
traitors! Then why are We! Their fail
c is now our political creed. II We are d
e serving imprisonment and death. the
u hyena.like. 90 cast your harsh denunciatio1
e at their rifed graves, expose them to poli'
d cal execration, and hang their bones fro
E your gibbets in CHAINS.
e In 1S4s, many Democrats did not exp
d rience the sudden conversion which owe
t, took Lewis Cass. and the stone which "
g rejected at Philadelphia, became the he'
8 of the corner at Buffalo, and was laid vi
le great care by the Ludlows, the VanBurer
the Caggers, the Richmonds, and host
ID otoers. among whom it would be disrespe,
D. fol to omit my ditinguished colleague. N
8. JOHN CocHRASE.] l have not the hon
Ct of their political fellowship now. although
60 never deserted the principles they taug
r. me. When my friends Mr.. JOHN Coo
IL RAxEl attention vas called to the resolutio
,e At Utica, be would none of it, but desir
ID to meet at Philippi. Let him beware;
Id on that field may appear to him the gh