St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-07-26
The Breckenridge Movement in Iowa.

The Breckenridge men have lately
held an enthusiastic meeting in Du-
buque. Various speeches were made
and measures taken to organize the
National Democracy thoroughly
throughout the State. The following
platform was adopted:
Whereas, The Supreme Court of the United
States is the only tribunal recognized by the
Constitution rs the final arbiter and exponent
of that sacred instrument, we, rs National
Democrats and lovers of law, protest against
the dictation of any man, or set OF men, who
by evasion, special pleading, or technical
phraseology, attempt to foist upon the demo
cratic party, an Interpretation of the bred
Scott decision different from that which the
| Court has given in Towards Report, vol. 10,
page sos, as follows:
list The Territory thus acquired is acquired
by the people of the United States for their
common and equal benefit, through their
agent and trustee, the Federal Government
| Congress can exercise no power over the rights
of persons or property of citizen IN the Ter
ritorv, which is prohibited by the Constitu-
| ton The Government and the citizen, when
ever the Territory is open to settlement, both
enter it with their respective rights defined
and limited by the Constitution.
2d. Congress has no right to prohibit the
citizens of any particular State or States, from
taking no their home there, while it permits
citizens of other States to do SO. Nor has it a
right to give privileges to one class OF citizens
| which it refuses to another. The Territory Is
acquired for their equal and common beneflt,
and il open to any it must be open to all upon
equal and the same terms. -,
Sd Every citizen has a right to take with
him into the Territory any article Of property
, which the Constitution Ut the United States
recognizes as property.
All The, Constitution of the United States
recognizes slaves as property and pledges the
Federal Government to protect it. And Con
gress cannot exercise any more authority owe
property of that description than ii may con
stitutionally exercise over property Of any 9th
J or kind
I, 9TH, The act of Congress, therefore, prohib
I iting citizen of the United States takins
with him his slaves, when he removes 10 inc
Territory i'm question to reside, Is an cXercl.'
of authority over private property winch Is
not warranted by the Constitution, and the re-
moyal of the plaintiff by his owner to that
Territory gave him no title to his freedom.
9Th. While it remains Territory Congress
NAV legislate over it within the scope OF Its
constitutional powers in relation to citizens OF
the United States, and may establish a TERN,
torial Government, and the form OF this loca
government must be regulated by the dlscre
ton of Congress. but with powers not exceed
I ing those which Congress itself by the Constl
tuition is authorized to exercise over citizens
the United States in respect to their rights
person or rights of property.
A full report of the proceedings o.
the convention, accompanied by al
address, prepared by Col. II. II. Heath
has been printed, and distributed II
all the Nationals" (Which we sup
, pose means the postmasters and othe
Government officials throughout tn
State all of whom arc expected t
: keep step to the music" OF Brecke'
l. ridge. There can be no doubt tina
if there is Democratic party" a
ter the present year, that party WI
D be the Breckenridge party.