The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-08-30

IL only gave power to exclude, and D.
also to admit, was the reasonl The Sci
ate was then divided thus: There was
party in the Senate who claimed that
J territory could not exclude slavery. Som
at the North held that territory cannc
enslave anybody. Now, between thes
two, it surely would be lost. put it i
that form. 1t was fully discussed.
told the gentlemen if they wanted it i
the alternate, that all they had to do wa
to make an amendment to that effect.
| But l think Mr.. Douglas has forgotten
He had excluded that clause. l move,
to insert that clause. and be voted agains
it. Now be claims that he voted agains
because it was not in the alternate.
that was his reason, why did he strike il
outl Why did be not consent to inser
the part that | proposed to insert, ant
then move to add the other!
The truth is, they intended to put th,
power in the hands of the President.
| moved to allow the people to cleo
their own Governor. Who voted for itl
| moved that the people elect their
own, legislators and other officers. Who
voted for itl
What was their excused Why, tha,
the Governor and Secretary, &c., were
Federal officers. That was just what
didn't want. When the chief officers
were not accountable to the people there
was no Popular Sovereignty.
How can these Douglas Democrats be
deceived. when their chief turns them over,
bound hand and foot, to the President,
and then says. "See this illustration OF
my principle The President interveney
for Slavery. Federal power controls the
Territories instead of the people-apples
of Sodom, instead OF the tree of life!
Mr.. Benz min, of Louisiana, in re-
cent speech, says what didn't know be-
fore-wbat was the understanding. l
knew that they had their caucusses.-
There were Southern men of all complex
ions-I mean political complezions. -
What was the objectl That you North
ern men might be robbed of your inheri-
taDce of freedom.
Mr.. Benjamin tells Us that they agreed
in that conclave, that they would put the
repeal on equisocal grounds, that could
be represented one way at the North, and
another way at the South, that equivoca-
tion was the plan. That the question
was to be left to the Supreme Court, and
that each party was to acquiesce in that
decision. They were to put this repeal
in such position that the question should
be referred to the Court, and which ever
party lost should acquiesce.
Now, this was very easy thing. Mr.
Douglas says, 81 have one idea" Mr.,
Benjami says, ~ have different one."
They agree to leave it to the Company.
They acquiesce; they not merely yield,
but they change their minds, and say
they believed what they did not.
This railroad company doubtless has
very worthy officers. Now farmer has
controversy with the company, and be
brings a suit. The first thing be finds
the President of the company on the
bench as Judge. "This is blue" be
thinks, "but the Jury are the palladium
of our rights. l can trust them" But
be finds the foreman is an officer of the
railroad, and so are nine out of the
twelve. What sort of chance has bel
This is like the Benjamin and Douglas
contract. Who are the Supreme Court
There are five shareholders. How many
non slaveholdersl Why four. How ma.
ny of these four for freedoml One only
Judge Mclean. Every other man
concurred in Dred Scott.
Calhoun and the shareholders were wise
enough to see, many years ago, that there
was a question as to the Interpretation of
the Constitution, and they have continu
ed to get the control, until, By the ar
raugements of the Circuits, they have got
FIVE representing the Slave Power. and
they have so managed that they have got
three out of the other four. They have
the president of the railroad and nine Of
the jurymen. So Mr.. Benjamin thought
be was safe.
What do you think of this. you Douglas
Democratsl Do you believe in having
your political principles traded away BY
the Supreme Court If ESQ, you are not
jackson Democrats. Then the principle
was, "No power short of the Almighty
can take away our political rights"
You talk about Liberty and Popular
Sovereignty, and tell me that you havo
mortgaged your conscience to slave.
holding Court! You ought to be asham-
ed of yourselves. More than two-thirds
of the free people of the United States
live in the Free States. Well, then, two
thirds of the Judges should be 10 the
Free States; but they have SO managed
that they have fve-ninths of them in the
Slave States. Anybody knows that this
is not right.
Despotic power is always aggressive
obtains concession here, and another
there.
This question, then, was left to the Su'
preme Court, and they decided that Pop
ular Sovereignty was sham, that the
people of Territory bad no power to
prohibit Slavery, and that they could not
empower the people to prohibit it.