M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-06-21
The Republican Club.

The regular speakers for the Repub,
lican Club failing to "come to time"
on Friday evening last, Mr.. JAS. L.
Eakin was called on to address the
Club. Mr.. E. said he was not pre-.
pared, and made the usual apologies
of young stumper. While we do
not intend to follow him through his
discourse and reply to his miSrepre.
sentations seriGtim, we shall never.
thelesss notice some of the points to
which he spoke. He is an old line
Abolitionist, believes in the irrepress
ible conflict and John Brown, and is
no doubt honest in his convictions, as
most men Of that particular school are
upon the subject ofslavery.
Among the first remarks which
MIR. Eakin made was this: Congress
has sovereign power 10 govern the
territories" He asserted that this
was republican doctrine lie has
certainly failed to read the Chicago
Platform. The "sovercigr power"
doctrine was announced in 1856 by
the Fremont platform, but is no
where to be found in the Lincoln plat
form. SO lar from it, indeed, that the
latter distinctly declares, that neither
Congress nor a territorial legislature
nor any individuals has power to es-
tabliSh slavery. If Congress had
sovereign power over the territories,
we think Mr.. E. will admit that it
could either establish slavery or any
other inst tntion. 1t would be the
supreme and uncontrolled ruler Of the
territories, despite the wishes and pro,
tests OF every inhabitant thereof.
Mr., E. further SAID that all parties
admitted that Congress could legis-
late for the territories upon all sub
jects except Sla0e1y! This is news
to us! Ii all parties so agree we want
it distinctly understood that we do not
belong to any party now IN existence.
But is this assertion of Mr.. Z. true ?
Not at all-nothing coald be further
from the truth. Why, the very essence
OF the issue between the Republican
and Democratic parties is just here
The people Of the territories have their
Legislature, just as we have, and have
the right, as we claim, to legislate for
themselves upon every subject, consis-
tentIy with the Constitution. The Re-
.publcans declare they have not the
right to legislate in favor Of slavery,
while the democrats declare that they
can legisIate for or against slavery, as
aCeD as upon egery "ther domestic
question, subjecting themselves, Of
course, to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States. The question is, shall
slavery, like aN other LocaL matters,
30 IJt 10 the people, Or ShuU ii be
made an encsptiOn?
Mr.. Eskin said the Consultation
gave Congress power over the terrific
ries for their government, in express
Words thus: Congress shall have pow
er to make all rules and regulations res.
specting the territories s"-and there
Mr.. EaEin stopped the quotation. 1t
is astonishing that Republican stump
ers never can qaote correctly that
clause in the Constitution, for they
are "all honorable men." Those
who understand the English language
will see the reason at once, after read
ing the copy fthat part OF the Con
stitution which we insert below:
"The Congress shall have power to dis
pose of and make all needfuI rules and regu-
Iatous respecting the territory, or oIher
property, belonging 10 the United States;
and nothing in this Constitution shalt be Sc
construed as to prejudice any claims OF the
United States, OF of any particular State -
Sec. 3, Art. A, Con. U. s.
1t will be seen that Congress has
power to dispose OF and make any
sesaful rules and regulations respect
ing the territory or land (sse Web.