The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-10-19

in most ot the Northern states, and in the resi-
due had the utmost difficulty in maintaining
their ascendancy. In the meantime, the Union
sentiment, particularly in the border slave States
whose interests 10 its preservation is pre-emi-
nent. sought expression through the American
party. To such an extent had the Democratic
Party been weakened by the insdious policy of
their Disuni0n allies, that they had the utmost
difficulty in electing an old PRACTICAL statesman
over young man who had nothing to recon-
mend hun beyond few successful explorations
of our wilderness territory.
There were those who foresaw that longer
atfiation with Southern Disunonists would in
evtablv destroy the aScendanCy OF the Demo-
cratic Party, and feeble and fruitleSs effort
made to induce the President TO lay the
foundations OF his Administration on the rock
Of the Union, and cut loose from those who
Were seeking to destroy it. For reasons, no
doubt patriotic, but to me inexplcable, the re-
verse OF that policy was pursued. The support
OF the Lecompton Constitution, which the coun-
try generally believed to be fraud, was made
test Of the Democracy one leading Demo-
crat after another was prescribed because they
would not submit to the test, and as if to de-
prive Northern Democrats Of the last hope Of
successfully vindcating the rights Of the South,
an act Of Congress was passed for the admission
OF Kansas into the Unioa at once, provided she
would consent 10 become a slaye-noidIng State,
bat post tp1ning her admission indefinitely If she
refused.
In your published letter you Justly condemn
the Secedars from the Charleston Convention
who, you lhiuk, ought 10 have IemaiHed, and
prevented he nomination of candidate who is
obnoxious 10 The South. Do you not perceive
sir, that the secession was part OF the program
me for breaking up the Democratic Party 3
And is II not pa pable that after absolutely va
catiug their SEATS at Charleston, thev went to
Baltimore for the mere purpose Of more sffectu-
ally completing the work Of destruction by
drawing oil another detachment /, SIR. en-
tertajn no doubt that the secession was the Te-
suit most desired nv the disunionrsts that the
object OF the new issue then gotten up was mere
y TO fo;m EreteXt Tor secession, and that its
adoption was tie last thing they desired or de-
signed.
Glance 4 momen. at few facts: Alabama,
/ led by an open disunioRist, went TO Cincinnati,
( in 1886. under instructions to Secede unless the
equal rights of all the States IN the Territories
should BE- conceded and incorp0 rated into the
/ platform of the Democratic Party. The con-
cessIon was made, and they had no opportunity
( to secede.
They came to Charleston under the sama lea
/ der, again instructed 10 secedp unless the Con-
vpnion would put into the platform new
! plank, the effect of which, it adopted, would
be- further 10 disgust and ALLEVIATE the Northern
/ Democracy. In this instance the sane gua non
was not complied with, and the DlsUnonStS
I doaed Of Oh the rejected plank into an un-
knowa sea, unfortunately carrying with
them large number Of good and true Union
men.
And what is this principle, the noa-recog.
milton Of which has riven asundsr the Demo
cratic Party and apparently threatens the
dissolution of the Union 1t is that, it is the
right and duty Of Congress to legislate tor the
protection OF slave property in the Territories
Now, take It upon me TO say that more
laitUdtuarian and dangerous claim OF power
in Congress never was advanced by Federal
lists ui the Hamilton school. Look at in a con.
>tituIonal 4nd practical light If Congress
have the right TO IegiSlate for the protection 0
slave property IN the Territories, they have
right 10 legislate for the protection of all othe
property and if they have right to legisIat,
Tor the protection of property, they have
right TO leg.>late for the protection OF persons
The assumption that they can legisate for the
protection of slave property leads, logically
and inevitably, 10 the conclusion that they hav,
power to legslate for the Territories in al
cases whatsoever. If you can put your finger
on the grant of this powe? in the Constitution
please put it also on ITS limitations If any car
be found. 1 pom this principle, Congress may
acquire an empire outside of the organic States
oyrr which ii NAV exercise unlimited power
governing 1t as the Roman Senate did their con.
quered provinces. And this under a Constitu-
ton which jeaIously restricts the exclusive
power OF legislation by Congress to a few spots
of laud purchased with the consent of the
States, torsspecifed objects, and grants no power
OF general legislation over a territory whatSoev.
or.
To verify beSe positions we need only ad
|; vert to the Constitution. Among the grants
of power to Congress is the following, riz
"To exercise exclusive legislation IN all ca
ses whatsoever over such district not exceeding
ten miles square may by cessjon of partcu-
lar States, aud the acceptance OF Congress, be-
, come the Srat of Government of the United
States and TO exercise like authority over al
place spurchased by the consent of the Legisia
iure OF the State in which the same shall be
for the erection OF forts, magazines, arSenalS
dock yards, and other needful buildings"
, Mark the jealousy with which this power
is restricted. For the protection OF the Gov
ernment even il is limited to Territory no
exceeding ten miles square, and it cannot b.
exere ised over the "forls, magazines, arsenals
dockyards, and other needful buildings" situa-
! ted within the States, unless the land on which
| they may be located shall be first purchased
with ''the consent of the Legislatures" OF those
States. Is it conceivable that the wise meE
who restricted the exclusive power OF legisIa