The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-04

I ciple, that there are some men who are ever
more fierce in their assaults, when they know
/ they can be assailed for the same thing. They
seem to delight in dragging others down to their
own level and to have a concealed joy in thAk-
ing that others partake Of their own deformity,
But This Is not the only unfoundcd charge
which the Douglas men have made against Us in
connection with the Charleston Convention. It
is said that we are seeking to inculcate new doe
trines 10 interpolate new principles and new
I planks into the party platform; that we are the
men who are seeking 70 drive the cid ship Of De
mocracy into unknown seas. If by this they
mean that we asked definite and distinct cSpla-
nation of the true intent and meaning Of certain
/ portions ofthe platform which are vaguely ox-
/ pressed, and which experience has shown are
susceptible Of two constructions, then We confess
+ the charge and the head and front ofour Of
fanding hath this extent, no more.
/ But is It an offence? II so, then every Demo-
crate Convention which has ever assembled has
been guilty ofthe sclfsame crime. In truth, the
present platform ofourpaTty is bat the acereton
of great truths and principles which time and
circumstances in the onwardmarch Of our great
republic, have eliminated We had party plat
form prior to the Convention Of 1919; and yet,
in that convention, a new plshk was added hav-
ing reference 70 the power Of Congre over the
question of slavery. Gen Cass was placedupon
that platform and defeated
The next convention met in 1852, and a new
planl, was again adlad--a planl, which was in
tended as an explanation of those previously
adopted; it was putthere, as is declared upon
itsface, to show what ''the foregoing proposition
covers and was intended to embrace
In 1856 we again met in Convention, and again
new planks were added to the platform to suit
the then position Of alrairs-and in order, in the
language of the platform, chat we may morc
distinctly MEET The isae, on which a sectional
party subsistns exclusively on slavery asita-
lion relies, &C.
From these facts, from this history Of our plat
form, 1t is most evident that the mere effort to
introduce new plank into It, and that was sim
ply explanatory Of the true intent and meaning
Of what was doubtiuly expressed in it, was no
departure from Democratic usage, twas in strict
accordance with the practice and principle the
party. But it Is further charged that ourohieet
was not simply to add new and explanatory
plank, but that we were asscrtinga new dlctrine
and principle which we had surrendered and
bound ourselves not to assert. Both Of which
proposition most cmphatically deny.
1st Was the doctrine new? refer, gentle
men, to the history Of our country, to the legis-
lation Of Congress when Monroe was President,
and your own loved jackson, Governor Of Floli-
IA, to show that Congress then inteliercd pre-
vent what was regarded as unjust legislation in
the Territory ofFloridl
Chap. LXXyL An Net 10 relieve thcpcoplo
ofrlniila from certain ordinances.
BE II enacted by the Senate and House orRcp-
rcscntatycs of the l'nitod States in Congress as
scmbled Tint an ordinance numbered three
made and passed ON the eighteenth day Of JGly
eighteen hundrodand twculy-onc, BY Mlior-Gcn- .
cral Andrew jackson, Governor ofthe Provinces
orthc Fiorda9 entitled ''an ordinance by the City
Council ofSt. Augustine, on the seventeenth DIV
OF October 1921, imposing and laying certain .
taxes on the Inhabitants and al Other laws, or I
dinancos, or resolves, SO f!r as they enforce or /.
REPEALED ASD prcLhHTD Null AND yOD-pagc .
695 3d Vol L. S. stats, at Large
But as this was simply an Interference with .
an ordinance passed By the Governor and notify .
the Legislature Of Florida, now call your atten-
ton to the same Territory, which comes right
home to the issue presented Il directly meets
and oycrlhrows the doctrine Of Mr. Douglas, that
the Territorial Legislature can Discriminate by
taxation and by "uuficndly legislation keep
out slavery from the Territories. Tho citizeusof .
Virginia dcsircdto send lhcir slaves into tho Ter
ritory Of Florida and work them there without
themselves removing to the Territory. The in
habtants Of the Territory were opposed 70 this,
and by "uufiendly lccisrtion," BY imposing
taxes on the slaves ofthe Yirgnians, they sought
to put stop to their introduction in this manner.
Upon a petition from the citizens Of Virginia
Congress passed the following law:
"Be It enacted by the Scnais and House OF
Of the United States Of America
IN Congress assembled That all such oct, ora
part of acts passed by The Legislative Council
Of the Territory Of Florida, a may impose high
.r or greater tax in slaves or other property of
nonresident CttiLcuS, Ali3N Is imposed M inc
slaves or other property Of resident citizens of
said Territory Be ant EcsfWc ARE Aer,'y y,fps8L
sH a,d dcclgreR auN anil r0d
SEC. >. And be it further enacted, ThstG
aly person shall attempt to enforce any Of the
acts or parts of acts passed by the legislative
Council ofthe Territory Of Florida & aforesaid
by demanding or receiving any Tax, imposition
Or assessment, authorized or prescribed thcTebv.
such person. on conviction thereof be punished
BY fine not exceeding two bundled dollars or hv
mprisonment'not,a exceeding ten months or either
1r both of said punishments."-U. S. Statutes,
( Vol. p. 7l0.
Bnt here let me call your attention to what
Mr. Calhoun said upon the subject ofprotcction,
N his address 70 the Southern States, in reply to
Mr.. Benton.
"Such is clearly tie character and object Of
The general Government, and Of the power and
authority conferred on It. Having for It's object
he more perfect protection and promotion fthe
safety. rights Of each and ALL n Is bouHdto pro
'ert bv their ua't1d posrer. NE sgftfg tie right
Ne property and the interests Of the citizens of
III. wherever the authority extends That was
he object for comforting whichever power andau-
horitv it has, and If it fails to fulfil that il fails
10 perform the duty fer which Il was created
It is enough for It to know that it IS the right,
interest or property Of citizen Of one Of tic