The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-05-14

The Dred scott DeclsAo Repudtnted.
All through the canvass between Douglas
and Lincoln the former argued that the bred
Scott decision should be sustained, solely
because it was q decision of the Supreme
Court His followers, following him in this
State and throughout tho North, have been
singing hymns to the tune of the bred Scott
decision, and calling on Republicans, If they
wished TO be considered law abiding citizens,
to join in the chorus. But the people of
their own party were beginning to End out
that the bred Scott decision fatty contradict
cd and overslaughed squatter sovereignty, and
one or the other must be abandoned. In.
deed, the bred Scott decision was getting
too hot for the Douglasites to hold, and thew,
have concluded to drop it.
We copy the whole OF the Journals srti.
ole, as showing the ground on which We are
given to understand by the organ of the
Dougasites, we are to fight that faction in
this section hereafter. We are astonished
that they have not sooner seen the ridiculous
position they placed themselves in by yokipg
the prairie wolf of squatter sovereignty with
the grizzly bear OF the bred Scott decsiop.-
the ally. treacherons, ferncinns little king of
The prairie would be eaten up by his mon
strouscompanion.
The Platform.
The platform as reported to have been
adopted by the Charleston Convention. and
as published in both our daily and weekly
editions, was wrong in one particular, and
one only. The second resolution and it's nre-
amble stating that differences of opinion ex
list in the democratic party as TO the nature
and extent OF the powers Of a territorial leg
islature, and as to the powers and duties OF
congress, over the institutions of slavery in
the territories, and that the democratic par-
~ will abide 10y the decision of the Supreme
court questions Of constitutional law
were rejected, by vote of 23S TO 81. This
resolution was reported because il was sup
posed that il was wanted BY the South. Blu;
ii seems that southern democrats were unite
as willing that it should be stricken from the
Platform, az were those Of the north. Ii was
81 the request OF southern democrats that il
was expunged from the report ef the com
mittee. Hon. Bedford Brown Of North Car
DINA, said the resolution swept away every
barrier Of The constitution, and would des-
trey the democratic party and the country
The only votes IN favor of il were. one from
New Hampshire; one from Rhode Island !;
eight from Pennsylvania -four from Nilsson
RI; four from Kentucky. So that the plat
form, as adopted, is really the Cincinnati
platform, pure and simple--the resolution
touching the Pacific railroad the acquisition
OF Cuba, and the enforcement or the fugitive
4AN heir pr,b nod All AZ
language not quite so strong as that employ
ed IN the resolution adopted by the Charles
ton Convention.
Southern delegates bad the sagacitv to see
he danger Of pledEing the party, in advance,
10 al decisions which the supreme court
might make In reference TO the territorial
slavery question, or any other They real
lZed consciousness that what might be the
decision OF the supreme court to-day, nigh
not be its decision tomorrow They seem
cd TO recognize the possible contingency that
some day republican light be elected Pres
ident, and that with eight Of the present
judges tottering upon the brink of the grave.
thorough organization OF toe supreme
court might take place during republican
administration. II might then be deci led
py mat tribunal, as principle of constitu-
aonai law, that II Is the right and the duty
OF congress TO iegielate to prohibit slavery
IN Tue territories. They saw the absurdty
Of making decisions Of the supreme court the
basis of political platforms, especially de-
eisions the nature Of which no one could fore
see, or even conjecture. The convention
acted wisely IN rejecting the resolution. and
that it did so ia as creditable TO the delegate.
Of the south, as to those Of the north. Whom
any party becomes 90 destitute Of self-re.
spect and self-reliance as TO ask the an.
preme court to perform for it the Office Q,
Platform Maker General, it 10 time that /,
shut up shop and retire from business
Such was not the policy Of the democracy
during the days Of sold Hickory" and til,
National Bank.