Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-03-22
PLAIN QUESTIONS.

terrogated by "A Mississippi Dem.
ocrat' to this effect:
First. Do you believe that a
Territorial Legislature Can exclude or
abolish slavery?
Second. Are you willing to sup
pert any man for the Presidency who
does 50 believe:
He adds: -'My questions are
plainly and kindly asked. l hope
they will be kindly answered.
The Appeal answers:
To the first question we answer.
that we do no! believe that a ter.
rltorial Legislature Can exclude or
abolish slavery. We believe that
the Territories are the common do
main Of all the States, slaveholding
and non-slavehohing alike; that the
Constitution alike recognizes the
property of all citizens of the States,
and, therefore, that the citizens Of
the States have the right to 60 into
the Territories with their property,
aud are entitled to the recognition
of the right of property in them
which attached to it in the States
from which they emigrated until
sovereignty is acquired by the Ter
ritories and acknowledged by their
admission into the Union as States.
This is, and has ever been, our opin.
ion as promulgated through our col
umns, for years past.
To the second question, we reply
that We are willing to support any
man for the Presidency who does
SO believe, provided be is the nomi.
nee of the Charleston Convention,
and stands fairly and squarely upon
upon its platform: and further, pro-
vided that platform reaffirms the
Cincinnati Platform, and particularly
that portion of it which asser That
we recognize the right of the peo-
pie of all the Territories, including
Kansas and Nebraska, acting
through the legally and fairly ex-
pressed will of majority of actu.
al residents, and whenever the nam
Der of their inhabitants justices it
to form a constitutions, nth or With
out domestic slavery, and be admit,
ted into the Union upon terms of per
feet equa.lty with the other States.
We understand Mr.. Douglas tt
be emphatically in favor Of III,
reatfirmation of the platform in whicl
this section is contained, and t.
have advocated strongly its readop
iion at Charleston. II he is not i!
favor Of maintaining the bred Scot
decision Of tho Supreme Court 0
Of the United States. then we ar
not "willing to support" him for tn
Presidency of the United States.
Then the Appeal says:
: We d6re now to ask "a Missis
sippi Democrat, whether or not h
will support any man for the Pres
dency douglas iucladed) who stand
upon the Cincinnati platform, if real
firmed at Charleston, and upon tn
. bred Scott decision of the Suprem
Court O. the United States?
And Second. If not who will
Mississippi Democrat support as HI
candidate for the Presidency agains
such nominee Of the Charlesto
, Convention? He will not supper
} the Black Republicans Of course
Will he then give bis vote and in
fluence to third candidate, an
; thus. throw the election into tn
House of Representatives, or wi
be fold bis arms, remain neutral, an
3 by his default allow the Black Re
, publicans to triumph?
We desire a plain and kindly
answer to our questions from GU
Mississippi friend.
just at this time, if these tw
questions we're fairly and SQUARED,
answered by those who are so proll
fic in their abuse and opposition t
, certain aspirants fer Presiden.ia
} honors, it strikes US they woul
have less to grovl about. We hay
, confidence that the Charleston Con
. vention will put forth a souDd man
, and We, as we believe all good dem
ocrats who desire the success OF par
ty principles more than political pet
will do, stand ready and willing t
give whoever he may be our vote
End unwilling to throw anything inth'
scales which NAV clog his chances