Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-28


Douglas says he has no right go there if a major
lty Of the inhabitants say no. and that they may
discriminate against him by taxing him and by I'M
friendly legislation exclude him. in the name of
Thomas Jefferson arrain Stephen A. Douglas. for
this departure from has doctrines and for endeavor-
ing to divide the Nationa Democratic party
and by tie authority OF his opinions and acts pro
nounce Mr.. Douglas no longera Democrat Do you
think that the doctrine OF sqtatter sovereignty ex-
| lsted or was known in the day of Jefferson? Did
fathers understand anything aboat that doctrine
| or did it not originate in our dat?
We will now look TO the administration of James
Monroe, another of the founders)f the Government
who acted in Revolutionary tines. and helped in
! forming our Government A Territorial Govern
ment was organized for Florida ander his Admins
! tratOn, and we shall whethlr souatter sover-
eighty existed then. The Florih act adopted the
language of the Louisiana act Az legislative acts
were required to be submitted to Congress- and de-
cared null, If disapproved of. James Monroe, and
those who framed this act in Congress-, did not
think that the people of Florida had the inherent
right Of sovereignty but they thought that Congress
was supreme over the Territories, subject only to
| the limitations of the Constitution Mr. Douglas is
accustomed to illustrate the supremacy of the will
| of the people, by declaring that Congress- has
thing to do with the relations of husband and wife.
| master and servant &c. Unlike MIN, will not say
| that he is supremacy wrong. | employ no epithets.
| But viii illustrate his error, by stating q case in
| point | will leave nothing TO bare assertion. In
1884 there was Virginia family who led slaves IN
| Florida that were taxed SO per head, which was
! higher tax than that the FlOridians imposed on
| themselves. They were the Garnctts by name
| Now Mr.. Douglas again illustrates hs position
| by the of a Territory which taxes inferior
animals at enormous rate, that the importation OF
pure blood or superior animals may be encouraged.
In the of the Garnetts the tax of $40 UPON their
! slaves was discrimination against the Vrgnians
! for the benefit of the Flordians. Garnets knew
they had the right to 60 to law to vindcate The right
of equal taxation and redress their wrong. But no
man is proud of this privilege. 1t is both an ex-
pensive and uncertain procedure. They professed
! to go to Congress, whose duty they thought il was
protect them in their right of property and equal
taxation of that droperty. Congress did not tell
them to go TO the Courts but took charge of their
case. referred 1t to "a committee of able and pltrl
| otto men, who reported that Congress had rigltto
interfere and recommended the passage of the bill,
which repealed the discriminating act of the Terri
toral Legislature of Florida and made it file to
enforce the collection of the tax. The bill passed
The President of the United States signed thatlaw.
| He was Squatter Sovereign, you NAV be rery
sure Now, my friends, who do you suppose that
! President was? Why, it was Andrew Jackson the
friend of equal rights the friend of the Consttu-
ton and the Union, that signed and endorsed tbs
! law for the protection of the rights of Virginia
family against the unjust discrimination of Terri
toral Legislature, and it is evident that. if now
! alive. he would be the supporter of Breckenridge
and Lane-whO are denounced as boilers and secei
sOnists. There was another question thatarose uTe
der the Territorial laws Of Florida to which will
call your attention. 1t is question of man and
| wife to use good old Saxon termS-n which all the
| ladies interested. The men are interested
! in case of the Garnetts which involved slaves.
The ladies interested in this case, which was
one of divorce. Four married couples IN Florida
had got into their heads, in moment of heated pas
sion, when they excited by the demon. discord.
| to apply to the Legislature for divorce. The Leg.
islature granted their petitions and passed a law OF
divorce Bye and bye reason. aIniabity and love
returned. They had acted hastily and without re
Election. They applied Congress and Congress re-
pealed the laws of Divorce passed by the Territorial
! Legislature. Now if Douglas had been there, sup
pose he would have raised the standard of SGuatter
Sovereignty and refused the petition of these good
| people. But there were no squatter soyeregns in
Congress at that time and they thew declared null
four acts of divorce and the reunited lovers blessed
the act. If their children are living now they. too
will bless the act and will record their votes against
| Sduatter Sovereignty; which if it had then heen
in existence would have destroyed the happiness of
| these families.
From these examples Of the acts OF the fathers Of
Constitution, you will that the opinions of JEFF
ferson, Monroe and others of great lights are in
direct conflict with the opinions Of Judge Douglas
and if they cannot stand up against the little Giant
| don't know who But let little far
! Their down. Douglas asserted in his serenade
speech, in his letter of acceptance and in other
speeches, that in 1850, Southern SecessiOnsts de-
| manded congressional protection. while Northern
! AbolitiOnists demanded congressional Intervention
against slavery and further SAYS that his principle
| of unqualified congressional nOn-intervention is
founded in the compromises of 1850.
Now, deny that it is founded | say that the
Territorial acts Of 1850 contain all that National
! Democrats contendng for, and all that
! Douglas denies, and will only ask you to look at
! the proof of this assertion. Here is the act pro-
! vidIng a Territorial government for New Mexico,
passed in September, 1850. in 1850 Squatter Sover-
| eighty not urged. The Wilmot PrOyiSO was
| the point with which they then assailed Us. The
Black Republicans cOntended for the right to exclude
| the STAKEHOLDER from every foot of the common.
Territory, and they said that Congress should inter
tere, and admit more slave States. The National
Democracy declared themselves against that propo-
| stOn. did no: oppose the bill organizing the Ter
ritorial government for New Mexico, but approved
it at that time as / do to-day. opposed the bill
admitting California the bill fixing the boundary Of
Texas and aboiishing the slave trade the District
| Of Columbia. These territorial bills l opposed
| then and now oppose. The New Mexico bill has Il
| prOvSo il this language:
"Pror.Ied further, That when admitted Is a State
the said Territory any part therereot, shalt be
admitted into the Union, with without slavery,
their Constitution may prescribe at the time OF
! their admission.
This is the doctrine of non-intervention as it is
found in the Compromise acts of 1850, the National
Democracy to-day and Mr.. Breckenridge stand upon
that principle, and am here to advocate it. But
| DOUGLAS Saws the Democracy want to force slavery
| upon people who do not want it, He Is in error. 1t
is both moral and physical impossibility to force
slavery upon an unwilling people and the
Democracy advocate such absurd doctrine.
Congress has no right to establish slavery in Ter
! ritory The Democracy contend for no such right
! 1t could not establish it, if it desired. Congress
might pass an act establishing slavery in the Terri
tory Of Washington and it would not exist there in
! one hundred years Mr.. Douglas makes great mis-
! take when he asserts that the Democracy desire to
force slavery anywhere. and defy him to show it.
! What is slavery? 1t is property, it Is money and
now he says that we wish TO force our property
on an unwilling people. Did you ever hear of such
! an absurditv. Why we hav'nt got half many As
! we want ourselves, and why should wish to
! force them on those who do not want them. Did
! you ever know a Yankee upon whom property or
money had TO be forced? This assertion is the
clap-trap of a who is desperate in his fortunes
and his resorts. | can't support him and sorry
! ! cannot. because have always been on friendly
! terms with HIM But can't support any man who
is a candidate for office, especially when deem his
! principles injurious to my country Mr.. Douglas is
angry with us because we will not support him and
he vents his wrath by angry denunciatiOns and Grim
nations Bat who can establish slavery in Terri
! tory The humblcst individual. here in Tennes-
see can do it by taking his piganini there Hasn't
he right to 90 there with his negroes and is re not
entitled to protection for his property? Does the
Constitution recognize his right? And Is that forcing
! slavery upon those who inlabt the Territory, be-
! cause you choose to go where the Constitution and
your rights under 1t permit you to go. Mr. Douglas
! saws one hundred men can exclude one. The Ma
tional Democracy say it can't be done. In the New
Mexico act Congress says it shall be admitted with
| or without slavery its constitution when formed
shall determine. That is the principle which we
stand Congress cannot Interfere to injure, nor can
it say we shall 60 Mr.. Douglas says that does not
touch the legislative power o: Territory. Here
is point that touches it. 1t is the 9Th section Of
tie act forming the Territorial Government Of New
| Mexico:
BE further enacted, That the legislative power
of the Territories shall extend to all rightful sub
ects of legislation consistent with the Constitution
of the United States and the provisions of this act
And what says this clause?
All laws passed by the Legislative Assembly
shall be submitted to the Congress OF the United
States for their APPROVAL and if disapproyed, shall
be null and void. ="
Now what becomes of Douglas doctrine, assert
ing the supremacy Of a Territorial Legislature.
BY this provision it is swept away the wind and
Is shown to he only imaginary with him. l COM
mend him instead OF travelling about as he is now
doing trying divide the South to go back to his
study and learn the true principles Of our Govern
ment approve, have always approved Of this
territorial act and under it claim the right of Con
rress TO annual the unconstitutional acts of Il Ter
ritory: and demand that all the true friends OF the
Compromise of 1850 stand this principle. The