Des Arc citizen., 1860-08-22
BREcKINR1paE vs. DOUGLAS.

bhEVAlN h1OGE V5. UUUULho.
 Douglas and Breckinridge are long
 way apart upon the Territorial issues We place in juMaposi,ion extracts from Doug las Freeports speech in December lest.
 They need no comment:
 EXTRACT FRoafD0UGIAS' FREEPeRI'
 SPEECH.
 ,LrHcoLS's SPEFeH.--Can'tt the people Of the
 United States Territories. n any lawful way, against the wishes of any citizen of the Uni ted States, exclude slavery from their limits prior to the formation of a State Constitu- .a poueLAs' ANswER-- The next question propounded to me by MT. Lincoln is, can the people of Territory, in any lawful way, against,the wishes of any citizen of the Uni ted States, exclude slavery from their limits prior to the formation of State Constitution? l answer emphatically, as MT. Lincoln has heard me answer hhndred times, from every stump in Illinois, thatin my opinion the peo- pie of Territory can, by lawfnl means, ex- clude slavery from their limits prior to the formation of a Slate Constitution. Enthus- astic applause Mir. Lincoln knew that had answered that question over and over again. He heard me argue the Nebraska bill on that principle all over the State in 1854, in 1855, and in 1856, and he has no excuse for pretending to be in doubt as to my position on that question. t matters not what way the Su- preme Court may hereafter decide as to the abstract question, whether slavery may or may not go into a Territory under the Consti- tuition the people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist day or an hour anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regulations. [Right, right. r. These police regulations can only be estab- lished by local legislation, and if the people are opposed to slavery, they will elect repre- sentatives to that body who will, by unfriend- ly legislation, effectually prevent the intro- ducton of it into their midst. If, on the con trary, they are for it, their legislation will favor its extension. Hence, no matter what the decision of the Supreme Court may be on that abstract question, still the right of the people to make a slave Territory or free Territory is perfect and complete under the Nebraska bill. I hoIe MT. Lincoln deems my answer satisfactory on that point.
 EXTRACT FROM MIR. BRECKINRIDGE's FRANKFORT SPEECH, LAST DECEM-
 aBER. f s
 4osMr Breckinridge has been speaking of the Dred Scott decision, and continues as follows:
 m We'll, that being the case, and it having been authortatvey determined by the very tribunal to which it was referred, that Con gress had no power to exclude slave property from the Territories, and iudicially determ- med that the Territorial Legislatures--au- thorities created by Congress-had not the power to exclude or confiscate slave property, confess that had not anticipated that the doctrine of friendly legislation would be set up. Hence, need not say to you that I do not believe in the doctrine of unfrendly leg islation; that l do not believe in the authority Of Territorial Legislatures to do by indirection whatthey cannot do directly. repose upon the decision of the Supreme Court of the Uni ted States, as to the point that neither Con- gress nor the Territorial Legislature has the right to obstruct or confscate the property of any citizen, slaves included, pending the Ter Titorial condition. [Applause.J
 lfdo not see any escape from that decision, if you admit that the question was judicial one, If you admit the decision of the Supreme Court, and if you stand by the decision of the highest Court of the country.
 q The Supreme Court seems to have recogniz l ed It as duty of the Courts of the Union, in | their proper sphere, to execute this Constitu- tionai right, thus adjudicated by the Supreme Court in the following language In speak Ing of the acquisition of territory, they pro- nounce It apo political question for Congress to determIne what Territories they may acquire, and how many. Now mark the words of the | Court. AA
 [Here follows a quotation from the de- cision.l '--..s
 So that in regard to slave property, as in regard to any other property recognized and guaranteed by the Constitution, it is the duty, according to the Supreme Court, of all the Courrs or the country. to protect and guard it | by their decision whenever the question is brought before them To which l only add that the judicial decisions in our favor must be malntalned--those judicial decisions must be sustained. [Applause.l
 IT present remedies are adequate to sustain these decisions, would have nothing more done. with many other public men in the country, believe they are adequate. If they are motif they cannot be enforced for the want oP proper legislation to enforce them, sufficient legislation must be passed or our Government is a failure. fApplause Gen. tiemen, see no escape from that conclusion.
 KEEP IT BEFoRE THE PEOPLE 7-To show how thoroughly MT. Douglas is con- mitted against the decision of the Supreme Court, on the question involving the pow CTS of Territorial Legislature, we pub- fish below in parallel columns their re- spectiye views on this subject. s
 i" The right of pro- The people of a perty Tn slave IS dis Territory can, by law Einctly and expressedlyful means, exclude sla- affirmed in the Consti-very before it comes in .ution,'' and that :" las State ;'' and "no tribunal acting undermatter what may be she authority of the;the decision of the Su United States, whether;preme Court on that t be legislative, exc abstract question. still ,utive, or judicial, has'the right of the people ! right to draw dis of the Territories to :, inction or to deny to itimake slave Territory he benefit of the pro- ior free Territory is [ 'isions and guarantees, ,perfect. and complete. 5 which have been pro-:[S. A. Douglas.