Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-01-28

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legislation of the TcrribriM Govern
ments. The Supreme Court ofIhe United
States has settled the principle that
must rule: neither Congress- MOI the
Territorial Governments cam constitu-
~tionalIy exclude slavery fromzthe Terri
tories. 4 Southern man can therefore
light[ully take his slaves into the Ter
ritofies. As the Territorial Govern
incnts arc without the legal power to
exclude slavery, it is difficult to under
stand how they a be allowed to do i'll
directly that which they arc prohibited
fromedoing directly. 1t is the duty of
Congresssto protect the property which
is taken to the Territories under the
sanction Of the Constitution, and to
gaafdthat property from the neglect
or unfrie;fdfiiless of the Territorial Gov
crnment, which is but the creature of
Congress. The Southern States deny
nothing to the Northern which they
claim for. themselves. They insist only
On equality, and it remains only to be
decided in the struggle now pending
whether this equality will be conceded
to tbem-and I am one who does not
despair that it will. 3@ >aS
There is a patriotic minority in the
non-siave holding States who are faith
fully unfolding the rights of the South
and battling for the maintenance Of the
Constitution. The entire South makes
common ca,lse with this minority, con-
shutting a great national party, all
striving. to conquer and annihilate that
sectional party, whose success will i'm
mediately leopard and finally sever the
Onion. The triumph Of this great na-
tional organization will be the begin
nsfsg of . return to that perfect union"
that general welfare and that do
mestic tranquility" which the Constitu-
tion Of the United States was intended
to promote and secure. Such a triumph
would greatly restore the old harmony
and awaken again the old sentiments
and it is the last hope of those who, like
myself, desire to see the Union pcrpetu-
satcd. Louisiana does not wish to see
these States severed from their present
political connection. But no man who
has watched the course Of the public
mind can fail to have observed that in
Louisiana, as in the other Southern
States, the progress of disunion feeling
has been marked and rapid. | am sure,
however, that all concur in this, that
Louisiana, dearly as she loves the Union,
will never separate herself from her Sis
ter slave States. Identity Of interests
and the sympathy growing out Of like
social institutions, would without the 1
compulsion Of political necessity, lead !
her to take whatever position the dan
gers Of the times might demand her to
assume. The dangers are grave and IN {
deed appalfing; and it is proper that we
prepare to meet them, as q sister slave
States propose to do, by a thorough Or
gsanization Of our militia system. This
would be judicious under any circnm-
stances, and its good effects will be en-
during, y if the present emergency
pass away. It is my belief, as well as
my hope, that it will, and that there will
yet be allowed to, all the States indie
,pendence and equality, and that harmo-
ny and peace will be restored to our
people without. a sacrifice Of interest or
- 1870 @Gf - a5 s3&lsH