Gazette and sentinel., 1860-07-21

subordinate territorial GOVERNMENTS.
These principles flow directly from
the absence of sovereignty in the Terri
torial Governments and from the equal.
ity of the States. Indeed, they are es-
scntial to that equality, which Is and
ever has been the vital principle OF our
constitutional Union. They have been
settled legislatively, settled judicially,
and are sustained by right and reason.
They rest on the rock Of the Constitu-
ton. They will preserve the Constitu-
tiou-thcy will preserve the Union.
1t is idle to attempt TO smother these
great issues, orto misreprescnt them by
the use of partisan phrases, which are
misleading and delusive. The people
will look beneath such expressions as
intervention Congressional Slave
Code" and the like, and will penetrate
to the real questions involved. The
friends of constitutional equality donot
| and never did demand a Congressional
Slave Code" nor any other o III re
gard 10 property in tie territories. They
hold the doctrine Of non~-iutervcntlon by
Congress, or by a Territorial Legisla-
ture, either to establish or prohibit sla-
very: but they assert fortified by the
! highest judicial tribunal in the Union)
| the plain duty Of the Federal Govern
ment. in all its departments, to secure,
when necessary to the citizens OF all
the States. the enjoyment OF their pro
pertv in the common territories. The
! only logical answer to this would seem
to be to claim sovereign power Tor the
territories, OF to deny that the Constltu-
ton recognizes property lnthe services
of negro slaves, or to deny that such
property can exist.
lneXorable logic, which works ITS
steady way through clouds and passion,
compels the country to meet the issue
There is 10 e~vasive middle ground. Al
ready the signs multiply of a fanatlcal
and growing party, which denies that
under the Constitution, or by any otner
law. slave property can exist; and ulti-
mately the struggle must come between
this party and the National Democracy,
sustained by all the other conservative
elements in the Union.
| think it will be impossible for a can
did mind to discover hostility to the
Union or a faint Of s~ectionalism in the
resolutions adopted by the convention
The Constitution and the Union repose
on the equality of the States, which lies
like a broad foundation underneath our
whole political structure. As / con-
strue them. the resolutions simply as
sert this equality. They demand Moth
, ing for any state or section thai Is not
I. cheerfully conceded to all the rest. 1t
+, is we'll to remember that the chief dis
orders which have afflicted u country
: have growno out of the violation Of State
/ equality; and that as long as this great
. principle has been respected, we have
Y been blessed with harmony and peace.
Nor will it be easy to persuade the
= country that resolutions are sectional
which command the support oil Il MAJOR
ity of the States, and are approved by
the bone and body of the old Democra'
p CIV. and by a vast mass of conservative
opinion everywhere, without regard tc
| party.
o Ii has been necessary more than once
Elm. our history to pause and solemnly
# assert the true character OF this Gov
If ernment. A memorable instance &C
n Cured in the struggle which ended II
sf the civil revolution of 1900. The he
: publicans of that day, like the Democ
" racy of this, were stigmatized as disu
ID nionists, but they nobly conducted TIN
m contest under the Constitution, am
O. saved our political system. by a Tx
st Constitutional struggle, it is intendet
Nv now to assert and establish the equal
ty of the States, as the only basis O
70 Union and peace. When this object, $
ar- national. so constitutional, 50 Just, shaI
lie be accomplished, the last cloud will di'
of appear from the American sky, and wit
common hands and hearts the states an
m. the people will unite to develop the n
sources of the whole country, to bind
IN. together with the bonds Of intercours
and brotherhood, and to impel it onwaT
for in its great career. The Constitute
and the Equality of the States ! Ihe'
of are symbols of Everlasting Union. Ia
ate these be the rallying cries OF the pc
es- pie. .r..
)ur trust MS WIN oe onu
,er- without rancor, and that temperate q
cuments will take the place OF b
,at- words and passionate accusations
in Above all. venture humbly to hope tn
Divine Providence, to whom we oV
rri- our origin. our growth, and all our pre-
9TH perity, will continue To protect our |
loved country against all danger, II
pro- eign and domestic.
.nts am, with great respect,