Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-16

mitted into the Union State upon the same foot
ing with the original Ststes-''
Do you s1ppose that Daniel Webster, afler the
opinion Of the Supreme Court which have read to
you. would have considered it becoming In him, a.
an American SdtesldH to point out contriYsncs
or device BY which the Territorial Legislature could
vioste the Constitutional rights Of the Stslesi Not
he Ncr would Mr Clay nor any Of the great and
good men who illustrated the earlier days Of your
history. (Cheers)
Why, how is It with these Territorial govern
ments 7 From the beginning they have besn re-
| ga-ded as subordinate and temporary, without any
OF the attributes Of sovereignty. Their judges
and governors, and most Of the other oficers are
appointed BY the President and Senate and paid
out Of the public Treasury and even the daily ez-
penses Of the Legislature which they invoke to sx
elude your property from the Territories are paid
| out Of the Treasury, from the money which the
very property contributes BY taxation GApplanse
Tue practice Of the Government never has war
ranted this new doctrine. Take an illustration
| which has always seemed to me conclusive. The
theory is that in the common domain Of the United
States the States and their citizens on footing
OF equality, and entitled to the protection Of their
persons and property. This sounds like national
and Constitutional doctrine. Now, suppose that
vessel were going out Of the port Of Norfolk for an
other port laden with freight, and having on board
also number Of slaves. II is said that prouarty
in slaves under system is local, and cannot get
beyond State limits without special legislation.
This ship gets heyend one league from shore, and
is in the open sea, beyond the limits Of any State
Can British cruiser come up and take the slaves
from the deck Of the vessel, and say they free,
because slavery is local and they not within the
limits Of any StaIei No What then, protects
then? Nothing but the deck Of m American ship,
and the flag Of the United States. The property Is
upon the common domain Of the Union and the
flag Of America protects and if it does il on The
deck Of ship, it does it in the Territories which
likewise the common domain Of the Union.
loud applause
One other word on this general subject see
in q speech made by the Senator from Illinois Ia
Petersburg, Vs., he uses the following language to
the people Of that State
"YOu have the same right, under the Constitu-
tion, to 90 and carry your properly into the Terri
tories that have mine. You have the same right
to carry your slaves, your cattle, or your horses
that have to carry any property that may pos
sess. When you get there, you and l stand on .
footing Of exact equality under the Law. You bring
your property with you, subject to the local law,
and bring mine with me, subject to the same To-
cal law"
Observe. He says you have the same right,
under the CoAStgtiOB to 60 and carry your property
into the Territory that he has to carry his; and
have shown that he declared previously in the Sen
ate that If the Constitution carried it there, no
power on earth could take it away. Now, he says
when you get there, it is subject to local Law,
made by subordinate legislative authority, and the
sum Of it is, that the moment il gets there, under
the Constitution, they drive it out against the
Constitution. Laughter and applause. Gentle
men, Whati is this but the assertion Of wholly ineon-
sistent pOsitiOnsf What is it bat triAing with the
intelligence Of the people?
Again, says that distinguished gentleman, in the
same speech:
congress never yet passed law for the protec-
tion Of any mans property in Territory. Every
man who goes to Territory with his wife, his chill
dren, his servants and his property, is subject to
the local law aud reles upon local Law for his pro-
lection"
Let US see if that is so. Congress has done it in
many instances. happened to meet, the other
day, with striking case in which it did so. In
1884, when great statesmen we're in the Senate and
House. and jackson was President Of the United
States the territory Of Florida undertook to lay tax
on the slaves Of nOn-resdents higher than the tax
on the slaves Of residents. The non-Fesidents Of
Virginia, and other States appealed to Congress to
oblige the Territorial Legislature 10 refrain from
discriminating against their property. The com
mittee Of Congress say they "thiSk hat CJhgress
should always protect the property Of the citizens
of the United States when subjesle6 ~ the opers-
tions of unjust legislation BY Territorial govern
ments;" mi they reported bill enseting that all
such acts as those complsirei Of should be "null
sad void = and further, that an attempt By Eny one
to enforce said acts, passed by the Legislative
Council Of the Territory Of Florida, should be pun
ished by fine and Imprisonment. The bill passed
Congress, and was approved bc President Jackson.
Now, would it not be an insult to your understand
ings 70 say that this was not an interfersnee By
Congress to protect property against the encroaeh
nents Of the Territorial Legislature. Yet Mr..
Douglas says that Congress ''nsver yet passed
law for the protection Of any mans property in
Territory" but that che must always rely on local
law" OF course / do not doubt that he believes
the statement, but relieve his truth and integrity
at the expense of his information Laughter.
voice wouldn't care to be so relieVed"l
Fellow-ctizens: The principles / have tried
feebly to Vindieate here, the principles upon
which the Constitutional Democracy stand to-day;
and they are the only ones upon which any human
being will pretend charge them with purposes Of
iisunion. If they the principles Of the Consti
utou and the Union, then the Constitu-
iOusl Union men. Cries Of ''Thsts so."1 And
ret, for two or three months back, you have heard
oud and incessant clamor that ], and those Demo
rats with whom 1 an connected, are disunion or
who seek to break up this Confedersoy
# States. Ny friends, 1 hardly know, so far as il
s personal charge against myself no to answer
/. A voice" Tell them iTs lie T"
The whole stock in trade Of many anonymous
writer's and wandering orators all over the country
S 'sdisunion''-'' disunion." "This man and his
,arty attempt to break up the Union Of the states
Iou may appeal to them by reason, in vain. Ysu
sy these the principles Of the Constitution, as
determined by the practices Of the Government.
'he answer is "disunion" You msy say they are
he principles Of the Constitution, as determined
y the highest Judicial tribunal Of the land. The
nsWer is a. "disunioul" You may say, "We are as
erting principles taus sanctioned, By means Of rsa
on aud the tallot-box and under the Constitution"
he answer still Is, "disunion," aad no other an
Wer.
And still, the large number of young gentlemen
rho are engaged in enlightening the people upsn
be Constitution Of the country, by the ringing Of
ellis, with tongues as long, and heads as empty ss
be bells they ring, shout-'disuniOn." (PrOlong-
4 laughter aid cheers)
From at amiuAnt the
ion that l and the political organization with
Thich am connected, are lsbering for the dtsrup-
ion OF the Confedersey. 1 do net reply nov TO
That Mr.. Douglas says all over New EngiGnd, IN
Tirgin:a, and wherever he goes, because Is may pc
uite natural for gentleman who feels as pro-
ound personal interest as he does IN penang
usstions to think that any man who opposes MIN
1ust be disunonist lCheers ana laugnter)-
indeed By his declaration We must all be dlsunion-
ats in Kentucky; for be declares that those who as
s, tbat tbe Territorial legislature has power
xelnde slave property, and that Congress should
0tsrSsra for lis. protection when necessary, are
|, sffsct disunienists; and that Is what the whole
legislature and ali the people Of Kentucky said
TsiloV-cilizens. even in cur own State, where
srtainly thought my character and anteeedents
ere known, one Of The Oldest and most eminent Of
ur public men hss not indeed said am disuAion-
t. but intimated that if I an not one myself an
,nnected with an organization whose bone and
ody is disunion. refer to MIR. Crittenden, and
q speech recently made By him at Louis
lie.
Gentlemen, l have known and admired Mr.. Crit
nden since was q boy. He also has kuoWn nc;
wards him and his ! have ever cherished and
Ipeot to cherish relations Of the most respectful
nd cordial esteem. There are reasons / do not
IRE to sllude 10 in public, which, even IL had
rounds for an opposite course, would prevent any
ut the most perfect courtesy in reply. AfteE speak
Il Of Mr.. Lncoln in terms fully IS complimentary
his principles merit and Of Mr.. Douglas in terms
? warm auia,v- he oor,aa IA snaak ef his own fell