The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1860-11-23

9 opinion Of the majority OF that Cour
g delivered by the Chief ustice in tn
@ Dred Scott case does sanction tn
!. claim. But il must DO remembers,
j that decision of this point was no
J., necessary 10 the adjudication OF tn
t case, and that therefore the opinion
e thus pronounced is not entitled t,
o full authority even as a prece1en
Z, for the determination Of future cases
r And il must be remembered ais,
Y that two Of the ablest and mos
, learned Judges on the bench dis
s sented from tho Judgment of th,
r Majority, and in this dissent the,
; are sustained by the concurrence o
r many Of the moet enlightened Lay
yers in the country.
} But must insist that on ques
= ton OF this sort tho judgment of nei
ther Courts or Lawyers is to be pre-
; ferrtd TO the common understanding
of the people. Every man can reat
the Constitution--every man car
read the debates of the trainers q
the Constitution for himself, and
confess do not see how any mar
can read either and come to the con.
clusion that property in slaves i;
anywhere recognized in that instru-
ment. Certainly Mr.. Madison did
not think so, for he declared express,
ly that it "was wrong to admit in
the Constitution the idea that there
could be property in men, Ger
tainly Mr.. Randolph did not think
80, for it was upon his motion tha.
in the c!anse relating to representa-
ton, the word service was substitu.
ted for servitude, upon the express
ground that the latter described the
condition OF slaves, while the former
expressed the obligation of free per-
sons. Not only is there no recog-
milton, but there is a careful avoid
ance OF recognition OF property in
man. When ever and where ever
slaves are referred to in the Consti.
ton they are always mentioned as
persons, never as property.
Ii is only in modern times that the
theory now insisted on by the cup.
porters of Mr.. Breckenridge, has
found favor. 1t was first troachrd
by hlr. Calhoun, and was promptly
condemned By all the other great
statesmen OF the country, and hv
none more emphatically than by
Henry Clay. 1t WAS found essential,
however, to the scheme of slavery
extension, and slowly made its way
to the general acceptance OF those
who became the partizans of that
scheme.
Can it be accepted AS the settle
mcnt which is demanIe |! l. itnot
clear that instcad Of terminating, it
perpetnates rgitation! How is the
controversy to cease, when the rX.
tension ot slavery is made the bnsi.
ness OF the government. How is
the excitement 10 he allayed, whom
every clector in the land is made
directly responsible Tor the alavery
which the common Constitution no.
holds, and the common Legislature
is required to guard! Does not
every one sec that slavery, TINS COM
ple!cly nationaIiz d, becomes the
concern Of every citizen! That the
conscientious conviction the econ
omic views, and the social senti.
merits OF every voter, become at once
involved in the contes?
Clearly here is no settlement, but
the reverse. Even ii Mr.. Brcclin.
ridge conld be elected on his Plat
torn, no peace on the slavery qucs-
ton could follow. II is impossible
to convince IA majority Of the Amer.
lean people that slavery is blessing
and benefit; and it is impossible 10
persuade them to acquiesce perma.
nently in direct responsibility for
system which they are persuaded ia
an injustice and an evil.
The instructive sagacty of the
people teaches them that the settle
ment they desire is not to be found
in this direction; and therefore it ia
that Notwithstanding the great pop.
ularity with which ancestral desert
and personal merit has surrounded
his name, only a meagre minority OF
electoral suffragcs can be expected
for Mr.. Breckenridge.
Whittier then shall We look9 The
supporters of Messrs. Bell and Ev-
erett propose no plan of settlement
whatever. In their platform they
ignore the very existence of the
slavery question. They declare
themselves for the Union, the Con
stitution and the enforcement OF the
laws; but all parties do the same. -
They might as we'll declare them
selves for roast beef, sweet potatoes
and sound digestion. Everybody,
| think, could approve that platform.
There is nothing which grapples
with any existing question or diff
, Guilty. They propose nothing differ,
ent from other parties but candidates,
aud these certainly reflect credit or
, ther supporters. know and honor
! Mr.. Bell and Mr.. Everett, and woult
! not, il could, detract grain from
9 that just repute for patriotism, intog
D rity and ability, which constitute
e their honorable title to the respec
{ and confidence Of their countrymen
: Applause,) But the difficulty wit
8 these respected citizens and tn
y political organization which support
y them, is that they do not meet tn
@ want Of the times. They have n
10 response for tho great question G
of tho day, and, therefore, the peopl
!. cannot accept their leadership, c