The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-05

F'LHElc t!fc ScRltclGN dH9 i4NothSH HSS
Encuts.
{fsER SCOTT GEcTsIoN.
cordially congratulate you upon tht
6raI settlement BY the Supreme Court O
STE Cniicd S,ates Of fhs qGestioa of ;S!av
s.ry ju the Territories. which Iad present
81 an aspect SO truly formidable at the
s,ournlRHeehept Of my administration
The right has been establiihed of every
tfttzen 10 take his property OF any Kind
lncludin1 slaves, info the common Terri
tories bulonging equally to all the States
1T sbs Essnfederaey, and to have 1t pro-
tectca there unaer the Federal Constltu-
ZION. Neither Congress nor Territorial
Legislature, nor any human power has any
Eu,holity to annul or impair this vested
ti.bt. The supreme judicial tribunal Of
The county, which is a coordinate branch
ls fhe government, has sanctioned aud
affirmed these principles Of constitutional
law, so manifostly just in themselves, and
swell eaienia'cd to promote peace and
harmony among the States. Itsa strik-
lpg proof of the scnse Of justice which is
}nhcrcnt in our people, that the property
IN slaves has never been disturbed, to my
II, wledgc. in any Of the Territories
Even throughout the latetroub!es in Kan
sas thcie has not been any atteaipt, as |
am ero4itiy informed, to interfere, in 4
single instance, with the RIGHT Of the ma
Ter Ia any such attempt been made,
III" judiciary wtnld doubtless have afford,
"a 81 adequate remedy. Should they
fail TO do th;s hereafter, it viii then be
time enough to strengthen theiY hands by
further !, gislatioa. Had it been decided
that either Congress or the Territorial
Legislature possess the power to enLsl or
impair the right to property in slaves.
the evil you'd be intolerable. In the
latter event, there gould be struggle fo-
majority Of the members Of the Legis-
l1ture at each successive election, and the
sacred rights of property held under the
Federal Constitution would depend for
the time being on the result. The agita
tion uld thus be rendered incessant
while the territorial condition remained
and its baneful Influence would kee alive
a dangerous excitement among tbs pco-
fie of the several States.
Thus has the status of a Territory, dur
ing the intermediate period from its first
settlement until it shall become State,
be irreyocably fixed by the final decis-
ion Of the Supreme Court Fortunate has
this been for he prosperity Of the Terri
tories, as we'll as the tranquility Of the
States. Nov. omigrants from the North
aud South, the East and he West, will
meet In the Territories on a common plat
form, ilayin. brought with them that spe
A., cies of property best adapted, in their own
opinion, TO promote their welfare From
natural causes, the Slavery question will,
in each case, soon virtually settle itself !;
and before the Territory is prepared for
admission as 4 State into the Union, this
decision, one way or the other. will have
been q fQregone conclusion. Meanwhile,
the settlement If she new Territory will
proceed without serious interruption, and
its progress and prosperity will not be en-
aapgered by violent political struggles.
When, iu the progress of events, the
inhabitants Of any Territory sha!! have
REACHED the number required to form Il
State. they viii then proceed, in regu-
lar manner, and in the exercise of the
rights Of Popular Sovereignty, TO form a
Constitution preparatory to admission in
10 the Union. After this has been done,
to employ the language Of the Kansas and
Nebraska act they ".hall be received into
the Union with or without Slavery, as
their Constitution may prescribe at the
time of their admission" This sound
principle has happily been recognised, in
some form or other, by All almost unani-
nous vote of both Houses of the last
Congress,