Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-19

= AA-a
: DoueIAs and BREckHRDGE are q long way apart |
upon the Territorial issues. We place in juxtaposi
ton extracts from DouGLAs' Freeport speech and
BaEokISRDGE's Frankfort speech Of December last.
They need no comment
EXTRACTS FROM DOUGLAS FREEPoRT SPEECH
LiacoIn's Qllestion.-Can the people of the United
States Territory. in any lawful way, against the
wishes of any citizen Of the United States exclude
slavery from their limits prior to the formation of
a State Constitution? r
Douglas Anscsf-The next question propounded
to me by Mr.. Lincoln is, can the people of Terri
tory in any lawful way, against the wishes OF any
citizen Of the United States, exclude slavery from
their limits prior 70 the formation Of State COnst
tutionl ] answer emphatcally, rs Mr.. Lincoln has
heard me answer hundred times from every
stump IN Illinois, that in my opinion the people Of
Territory can, by lawful means, exclude slavery
from their limits prior to the formation OF STATE
Constitution. Enthusiastic applause.) Mr. LIN
coin knew that had answered that question over
| and over again. He heard me argue the Nebraska
bill on that principle all the State IN 1898, IN
1855 and in 1856, and he has no excuse Tor pre-
tend ing to be in doubt as to my position or the
question. 1t matters not what way the
Supreme Court may hereafter decide as 70
the abstract question, whether slavery may
| or NAV not 90 into Territory under the Con
stitution: the people have the lawful means to
Introduce it or exclude it as they pleasef or the
reason that slavery cannot exist day OF an hour
| anywhere unless it is supported by local ponce
| regulations Fright, right Ihose ponce reg uia ,
tions can only he established by local legislation and
if the people are opposed to slavery, they Will elect
representatives to that body who will by untriendy
legislation, efectualy prevent the introduction OF
it into their midst Ii, the contrary, they are Tor
il their legislation will favor its extension. Hence,
no matter what the decision of the Supreme Court
NAV be on that abstract question, still the right OF
the people to make slave Territory is perfect and
complete under the Nebraska bill hope Mr.. LIN
coin deems my answer satisfactory on that point
EXTRACT FROM MR.. BRECKNRIDGEs FRANKFORT SPEECH
LAST DECEMBER.
Mr.. Breckenridge had been speaking of the bred
Scott decision and continued as follows:
Well that being the case, and it having beef9iu
thoritatively determined by the very tribuniA tc
which it was referred, that Congress had no power
to exclude slave property from the Terrltorysano
iudicialy determined that the Territorial Leg1sla
ture-authorities created by Congress-had not the
power to exclude confseate slave property, con
TESS that had not anticipated that the doctrine o.
unfriendly legislation would be set up. Hence,
need say to you that do not believe IN the dOc
trine of unfriendy legislation that not believe II
the authority of Territorial Legislatures to do by in
direction what they cannot do directly. repos(
upon the decision Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States as to the point that neither Congress
nor the Territorial Legislature has the right to OBJ
| struct or confiscate the property OF any citizen
slaves included. pending the Territorial condition
(Applause)
/ do not see any escape from that decision if you
admit that the question judicial one, If you
admit the decision of the Supreme Court, and you
stand by the decision OF the highest court OF thu
country.
The Supreme Court seems to have recognized 1t a.
the duty of the Courts of the UnOn in their proper
sphere to exact this constitutional right, thus adJu
dictated by the Supreme Court IN the following Ian
guage. In speaking of the acquisition of Territory
they pronounce it political question for Congress
to determine what Territories they may acquire, anC
how many. Now mark the words of the court
There follows Quotation from the decisiOn.l
So that in regard to slave property as in regar'
to any other property recognized and guarded b.
the Constitution the duty, according to the Su
| preme Court, of all the Courts of the country Il
protect and guard it by their decision whenever tn
question is brought before them. To which onl.
add that the Judicial decision In favor must b
maintained-those judicial decisions must be sus
tanned. (APplause)
If present remedies adequate to sustain thes
decisions would have nothing more done. |, witt
many other public men in the country, believe the
are adequate. If they cannot be enforced for wan
of the proper legislation to enforce them, suficien
legislation must be passed, or our government is
failure. (Applausc)
Gentlemen, see no escape from that conclusion