The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-10-06

The Journal calls our attention to the
speech of Douglas at Hamilton, O., wherein
that distinguished politician tries still fur
ther to mystfy and mislead the people n
regard TO the right Of the Territories to ex.
clude Slavery. 10 that speech Douglas as
serts that Slavery is local institution, and
that negroes are held as slave property only
by virtue of the laws Of the States within
the jurisdiction of those laws, and be quotes
Chief Justice Marshall's decisions to that
effect. This is sound Republican doctrine,
which has been repeated, in substance, mil
lions of times by Republican orators and
editors.
But Mr.. Douglas did not 90 on to tell the
people in that speech that Chief Justice Ia
ney had reversed that decision and declared
that slave property may be held BY virtue Of
the Constitution throughout the Territories
Of the United States. Here 10 the proof
from the bred Scott opinion delivered by
Chief Justice fancy:
Now, 90 we have already said in nm earlier
part of this opinion, upon a different point,
the right Of property in SLAVE IL distinctly
and expressly affirmed in The Constitution.
And no word can be found 10
the Constitution which gives Congress a
greater power over slave property, or which
entities property Of that kind to less protec-
ton, than property Of any other description.
The only power conferred is the power
coupled With the duty Of guarding and pro.
tecnng the owner in bis rights. Upon these
considerations, II Is the opinion of the Court
that the act OF Congress which prohibited
citizen from holding and owning property
OF this KIND IN the territory Of the United
States north OF the line therein mentioned
Is not warranted by the Constitution, and 10
therefore void and that therefore neither
Dred Scott himself, nor any Of his family,
were made free by being carried into this
territory, even ii they had been carried
there by the owner with the intention OF be
coming permanent resident.
Thus the Supreme Court decides ia con !.
prevention Of the idea that Slavery is local
and declares that the right Of slave property
Is affirmed by the Constitution, and that
slaves may be beld permanently in the Ter
ritorles Of the United States by virtu. Of the
Consultation. The Territories are therefore
slave Territories, as the matter now stands.
according TO the Supreme Court. Now lie,
US see what the Court has to cav as to the
right CT the Legislatures OF the Territorie,
- interfere with the Shareholders right OF
property.
The Court held that Congress has powe,
to acquire Territory and to establish gov
ernmenis for the Territories, and that 9Th,
form of the government to he estahl;sh.a !.
necessarily vested in the discretion Of CON
gress."
But the Court contended that this authori
ty to establish governments for the Terrific
ries does not give Congress absolute pow
ers Of legislation. IL does not, for instance
amongst other matters enumerated by tn,
Court, authorize Congress to pass an act de
priviDg citizen Of property in slaves which
be may bring to the Territory, and then .h
Court proceeds
And il Congress itself cannot 10 this
ii 10 beyond the powers conferred on tn
Federal Government--it will be admitted. a.
presume, that it could not authorize Ter
ritorlal Government to exercise them
coald confer DO power on any local govern
msnt, established by it's Authority, to violat
the Constitution.
And again, more distinctly to the sam
purport, the Court says: