Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-08-21

asifss ~. But ~ vsshss 10 protect ana ~seeurss
srisfi.g rigAts and like true patriot no 10 will
ing TOT to - Cpsstsul1pD o sintxrweted BY
ols1iaI ps G ps.i,u,iosai 4 hM, So. .hss sscer-
tatned IKE - honest mso ensesr and wherever
sch rtghtsar attached nd in1perilled, - the
next ffssdsnt q ths unitsa States, he Si!l dis
charge his pain duty" by using the whole Fed
erai Government, to defend and "secure" them.
We hold that our Union us . confederacy OF
equal, Sovereign States, for the purposes enurner-
ated in the Federal Constitution That what
ever the common government holds in trust for
All the states must be equally enjoyed by each"
That 1T controls the Territories in trust for all
the States" That nothing less than Sovereignty
can destroy or impair the rights Of persons or
property" Tina, the Territorial Gov ernments are
subordinate and temporary, and not Sovereign,
and hence they cannot destroy impair tas rights
OF persons or property" That "whie they con-
tinue to be Territories they under che control
Of Congress bus that the Constitution now here
confers on any branch Of the Federal Government
tho power to discriminate against the rights Of
the states or the property OF their citizens in the
Territories That it therefore follows, "tha the
citizens of all the States may enter the Territories
Of the Union with their property OF whatever kind
and enjoy II during the Territorial condition,
without loss or hinaerapce either BY Congress or
~ the Subordinate Trrttoriai Gorernments.'
We aver the one hand .'the absence of Sove-
reignty in the Territorial Governments" and on
hscato property Ito discriminate against the
rights OF the States the property of their citi
zens."
We wage war against Territorial Sovereignty
as well as Congressional prohibition. We esteem
them equally unconstitutional and equal de -truc-
tive Of the cardinal doctrines Of State rights
State Sovereignty and State equality, and equally
calculated to endanger the fraternal relations
which should ever exist between sister States
With an hsncst and sincere desire for the truth,
l.tlt
the light of the Constitution, determined 10 fol-
low whence it leads. We seek not to create new
rights. but to protcc ex sting ones. Ii Slavery
Is not in the common Territories by virtue of Con-
stitutonal right, we seek not to establish it there
either by Congressional or Territorial law But
II Slavery DC there by virtue of the Constitution
we protest against Congressional or Territorial
prohibition. We ask only for our rights and
equality under the Constitution. We only desire
to know to what our fathers pledged rs in the
Federal compact and having entire conf fence in
their patriotism, INTEL gence q ID morality. we are
willing to carry out with alacrity and good faith,
every obligation they have assumed for Us. We
wish for no alliance with covenant breakers, we
have no "higher law" than the Constitution and
we regard the Union under the Constitution as
the most perfect form CT government, and are de-
tersDiHe to maintain it.
The National Democratic party has always
gloried in being law abiding party. Founded
upon "the rock of the Con stituton as interpreted
ny the supreme Court, we have ready and safe
solution for all Constitutional difficulties. The
man who appeals from this tribunal to q "higher
law, or who will Cot consent to take the Consti-
tuition as interpreted by the supreme Court, for
his rule Of action, is without the pale Of the
Democratic party. To such we make no appeal
but VIC warn them that when this beautiful ten
pie of liberties shall be destroyed by the hand
Of the political incendiary and chaos and con
fusion, murder AMI rapine, shall stalk abroad in
this fair land, that an incensed people, aroused at
last to sense of their loss, will hold them to
fearful accountability for their direct agency in
the fearful tragedy.
"The Constitution and tho equality of the
) states? These are the symbols of everlasting
uni H." These are the rocks upon which the
National Democracy have planted their feet.
Let us then examine thep rty issues of the day
in the light of the Constitution; let us inquire
what is the Bond which our fathers made to what
have they pledged us, and are we willing to re-
deem pledges so soemnly entered into?
We know of no more safe and satisfactory way
to arrive at the true meaning Of the Constitution
than by considering the circum: tances under
which it made; the debates in the Constitu-
tional Convention co temporaneOus instruction
the opinion Of lawyers learned in the law and the
decisions of the highest judicial tribunal in the
land.
We must confess that to our minds such sources
of information are much more conclusive and re-
liable than the fcrvid and impa ssioned assertions
of stump orators and politicians, devoid of legal
learning, and moro anxious for political victory
than constitutional truth.
1T has been necessary more than once in our
history, to pause and solemnly assert the true
character of this government" We believe the
time has fully come when every American citizen
should deli berately review his political creed and
take his position firmly upon the stand point OF
sornd constitutional principle.
We aver in the first lace, then, that slaves are
recognized property, by the Federal Constitu-
ton thar the citizen of n Slaye State has tho
right to take his slaves into the common Terrific
res hat there is no power in Con.res or in the
Territorial Government to impair destroy such
property; that such citizen is entitled to the full
enjoyment and protection Of his slave property in
the Territories while the same remain in Terri
tora condition, and that 1t is the "plain duty of
the Federal Government in all its departments
when necessary" to afford adequate protection.
We desire no equivocaton or evasion on this sub
ect We understand that the Constitution re-
CARDS slave equally the subject of PR perty as
horse any other per onal chatte, and that the
same qua antees which are furnished for the pro-
lection OF the one, more, no less-are equally
applicable to the other.
Before the adoption of the Constitution, the
States were Sovereign and independent, and were
in condition to settle the terms upon which they
choose to form more perfect Union They made
a Constitution and a treaty in the same instru-
ment. 1t is well known that when the Coustitu-
tonal Convention assembled, composed Of the
representatives from thirteen States, that twelve
Of those States were Slave States, that slaves
were considered and recognized by the laws of
those twelve States as property and that slavery
was considered highly essential to their interest
and prosperity and As very important subject OF
treaty and consideration. 1t was there 'ore mani
testify the intent and purpose OF large ma ority
Of the trainers Of the institution to enlarge, ex
tend and secure as far a. possible the rights and
powers Of The owners OF slaves within their own
limits respectively as we'll as thin the jurisdc
ton of the co, federacy about to be formed. Assem-
bling under such circumstances and impressed
with such convictions. is it not reasonable to sup
pose that the INTEL gent trainers of the Constitu
ton would afford ample security to the owners Of
slaves throughout the entire Territorial limits of
the proposed confederacy? What we may reason
ably expect to find in tie Constitution we do find
there in fact. We say that the Constitution
ornizes the lawful existence of slaves property
for it apportions the representation among the
States on the basis of distinction between free
persons and other persons (meanng slaves) it
provides in Art. 2, Sec. for their surrender when
escaping from one State to another, and provides
for the continuance OF the Slave Trade until
certain specified period.
tut we are not left to doubt and speculation
upon this important subject. The highest jued-
cial tribunal in the Union has authortatlveiy de-
cided the question. In the much abused and
much misunderstood bred Scott case, 10, How
ard D. 394 which decides little new, but recognizes
well established principles N delivering the opin
ion of the Court, the Chief Justice, in speaking
Of the Territories acquired by the Federal Gov
eminent, says: THE Territory thus acquired, %
acquired by the people Of the United States. :cr
IL cir common and equal benefit, and every citizen
has right to take with him into the Territory
any article of property, INCLUDING HIS SLAVES
which the Constitution recognizes as property, and
pledges tie r. ieral Government for sts protection
Now, fellow citizens, is there any escape from
such language? Can it be explained away by
IL