The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-09-13

bis statements as We find them scattere,
about in numerous speeches aud manifes
, toes. After ultifarious cruisings upoI
the sea of platforms and arguments, Mr.
Douglas has at last landed at the follow
Ing point:
"a slave," says he, in his famous Harpe
Magazine article, ga slave within the mean
ing OF the Constitution, is person held tt
service or labor in one State, under the la,c.
thereof f--not under the Constitution of tht
United States, or under the laws thereof, MOI
by virtue of any Federal authority whatever
but UndeT the LGDS Of the particular State
iohere such service or labor may be due" -
This is clear; and with his eyes firmly fixed
upon the people of the North he goes on =
"If, as Mr.. Buchanan asserts, slavery exists
in the Territories by virtue of the Constitu.
ton OF the United States, then it becomes
the imperative duty of Congress, TO the per-
.formGRce Of achich eUery member is bound
by has conscience and has oath, and from
'chich no consideration Of policy or erpedi-
eRcy can release him, 10 provide by law such
adequate and complete protection as is essen.
tlal to the enjoyment OF an important right
secured by the CONSTITUTIONAL one word to
enact general slave code for the Terrific
rles," But MIR. Douglas is not satisfied with
this. In order To strengthen his assumption,
and to annlhilate Mr.. Buchanan's construc-
tion of the Nebraska bill still more, he pro-
ceeds: 'The Constitution being uniform ev-
erywhere within the dpminions of the United
States, being the supreme law of the land,
anything in the Constitutions or laws of any
OF the States to the contrary notwithstanding
why does not slavery exist in Pennsylvania,
Just as well as in Kansas or in South CARROLL
ma. by virtue of the same Constitution, since
Pennsylvania Is subordinate 10 the Constitu-
ton in the same manner and to the same ex-
tent as South Carolina and Kansas 3"
just SO. Mr Douglas having been SO
positive, be cannot deDY US the privilege
of II skiDg few logical deductions from
his own premises. We expect him to
proceed iD the following manner: "Siuce
q slave is held under the laws of State,
and not under the Constitution or the
la@s of the Uuited States, S5acery exists
0nly Jy clrtue Of local laac," OF, as the
Court of Appeals OF Kentucky expressed
it, the right to hold sIave exists ouly
by poSjtjre lar Of q municipal character
aud has 90 foundation iu the Law Of nature,
or the unwrittcD and common law" II
slavery cannot exist except By virtue of
local law of municipal character, it fol-
lows, as an Irresistible consequence. that
STAKEHOLDER cannot hold slave as prop.
erty in Territory where there il no To-
cal law Of a munical character establish
iug that rig at of property. And, furth-
iher, the right to hold slave having no
foundation ia the law Of nature, or the
unEritleD and common law, We are for.
by bis owner upon the soil OF Territory
before the Territorial Legislature have
enacted laws establishing slavery, be-
coaes OF necessity iree, for there is no To-
cal law OF a municipal character under
y hich be might be held as a slave. This
principle is recognised By tho decisions
Of .eyeral Southern courts. Having gone
so far. (and, indeed. cannot see how a
logical mind Gao escape these conclusions
from Mr.. Douglass own preuises.) Mr..
Doua las would be obliged to define his
popular sovereignty to be the light of the
people of Territory, represented in the
Territorial Legislature, to admit slavery
by positive enactment, if they see fit, bit
1t being 1ceU underStOOd that q SlaUeholder
las not Tie least ShGa'oao of q rigt to take
his stare property into the Isrr5tory bejore
such 720sttlUe legislation has been had. -
This definition would have at least the
merit Of logical consistency.
But what does Mr. Douglas say, "Sla.
very" so be tells us in bis Harper Mag
aziue article, "slayery being the creature
of local legislation, and not OF the Consti-
tuition Of the United States, it follows that
the Constitution does not establish slave
ry 10 the Territories beyond The poacer 01
tie people TO control ii by LasO.' What
The Constitution does not establish slave
~ in the Territories beyond certain
something! What does that mean! II
slavery is the creature of local Law, how
can the Constitution. By its own force per.
init slasery to 20 into Territory at all
Here is dark mystery-a pit-falI; and
We may we'll take care not to fall into the
trap of some sopbiStry. Why does be
not speak of the admission of slavery by
positive enactments! Why not even o.
the poser of the people to ercIuo1e it By
lawl We look in vain for light in Harpers
Nag azine, (apd is it indeed true, wba
Judge Black intim mates, that that article
is oDe of the obscurest docume nts By
which ever politician attempted to befoe
his followers y but We may gather Mr.
Douglass real opinion from another nan
ifcsto preceding this. In HE New Or.
leans speech. delivered after his recen,
success in Illinois. be defined his position
in substance, as follows: 1.-The Democra
ey of Illinois hold that STAKEHOLDER ha,
the same right to take his slave property
into a Territory as any other man has t.
take bis horse or bis merchandise"
I Whatl Slavery is the creature of 10
cal law, and yet slaveholder has th'
right to take his slave property into {
Territory before any local law has givel
him hat righti A slave does not be