Gazette and sentinel., 1860-08-25

tiOnal ard dangerous doctrine. has reduced us
10 this extremity, to cast odium upon the Gl'n--
urcs which are the natural result of his teach
ings. After Southern men had been murdered
by Northern mObs for asserting their right t.
reclaim f~ugitives from labor, 1t was no tim.
for those who had instiGsted these outrage 20
denounce the act of 1850, which necessarily
followed. If Mr.. Douglas should live TO ,pe
Congress assert its undoubted right 10 correct
the abuses Of territorial legislation. ii Will b.
only because he has taught the people OF The
territories to transcend their legitimate powers.
And if the enactment of the "slavc code
which he 50 bitterly denounceS should b."
forced upon the country as "A final necessity.
be and not we, must bear the odium of the act.
If the Constitution be respected and obcycd,
we will ask no slave code: we will need none.
But if that charter of our rights is assailed We
shall insist upon every means of maintaining
its integrity.
l have endeavored in the foregoing remarks
to give my views of the issue involved in the
present contest. He must be dull, indeed, who
thinks that the rupture of the Democratic
party originated in no higher power or
source than a mere personal dislike to one man
or II personal preference for another. Against
Mr.. Douglas as a gentleman and in his social
relations, / have nothing to say. | disclaim
TIE CONSCIOUSNESS OF entertaining against ullll
any individual malice. Indeed | may say
that approaching as l do his talents and former
services in the Democratic party, Ihave wit
messed his detection more in sorrow than in
anger. and that | shall be the last to exult
over the humiliation and defeat to which his
present cause must inevitably lead him. But
regarding his doctrines as dangerous in the
extreme, as unconstitutional and unjust to the
South, | shall oppose his election to the utmost
of my ability; for | firmly believe that the
success of his principles, if carried by the ac-
quiescence of the Southern people, would be
fraught with more dangerous consequence
than the triumph of Black Republicanism
against our unanimous protest. With our
rights secured by the Constitution, and pre-
senting a solid and united column, We NAV
bid defiance to the open and undisguised eff
forts of Mr.. Lincoln and his party to prohibit
slavery in the territories by Congressional in
PREVENTION. ! believe they will never beablc t.
accomplish their purpose. But if We cheer
fully accept Mr.. Douglas and his principles
if We yield our consent TO the prohibition of
slavery by the Territorial Legislatures-if we
concede that Congress cannot protect our con-
stitutional rights from invasion, we shall be
stripped of every shadow of claim. and stand
estopped by our own act from ever agian main
tanning that great principle of equality which
we now hold by an indefeasible title. Let US,
at least, avoid the infamy of consenting Ia our
own degradation.
| have but a few words to add in conclu-
sion, in relation TO another political party
which claims to be peculiarly the guardian
of the Constitution. l mean the Bell and
Everett organization. Whatever may have
been the designs of its authors, and however
pure and DISTINGUISHED may have been their
motives, so far rs ] can perceive, the only prac-
teal effect of their movement is to create u
division in the Southern mind and prevent
that unity Of action which Is essential 10 sue
cess. These peculiar friends of the Constitu-
ton seem to be playing no other part than
that of allies and aiders to its worst enemies.
Need | remind you with what exultatlOn the
Abolition press of the North heralds every
seeming triumph of the Bell and Everett party
in the Southern States? But what is this
party in the South? OF what men is il com
posed Is it not, soul and body, the old
American or Know Nothing organization .
And, pray, what right has such an order 10
assume the high ground of being emphatically
the constitutional party of the country: One
great principle embodied not only in the fun
damental law of the Union, but also in that
} of the individual States, is religious liberty.
The Federal Constitution declares that ono
religious test shall ever be regarded as Il quail
~ifcation to any office or public trust under the
i United States And, again, the bill of rights
f provides, that Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, orPro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof. In these
clauses w have a proof of the deep anxiety
of our fathers to separate forever from the
field of political controversy all those exciting
questions arising from difference in religious
faith, which had agitated and convulsed fl
centuries the governments Of the old world~
Happy would it have been for us If we had
observed the spirit as well rs the letter of those
simple but eternal enunciations of the liberty
of conscience. But a party arose some years
ago whose only hope of success was founded on
the revival of religious feuds, and their intro
duction ms an element of controversy into the
political arena. And wherever that party has
t held sway, riots, tumults, the Dissertation Of
the ballot box by mob violence, have marked
its triumph. Religious equality has been
e trampled in the dust, and bigotry and intoler-
t ance have usurped its place. And for these
= results, the American party is responsible. IL
V now steps forward as the champion of the Con
e stitution, while its entire career has been an
/ open defiance of one of the most sacred rights
which that instrument secures.
n 1t is in vain TO look to- this American organ
|, cation for the defense of the principles which
all maintain. 1t is powerless for anything bu
n evil. In the Northern States it serves only t
distract and divide the conservative vote
a and thus allow an easy triumph to the Aboli
a ton party. In the South the very ~existenc
ne of such an organization destroys the mori
N force which would otherwise be swayed by
O. united people.
he / am free to confess that the distractions
w parties, the prevalence of political heresies an
the sel6shness of factions, present a sad SUI
iect for contemplation. But the way of dut
o. is straight-our path is well defined. II
to maintenance of our integrity and Of our co