The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1860-02-08
Democracy III the Northwest.

Elsewhere in our present issue will be
found the resolutions adopted by the State
Democratic Conventions of Illinois and
Indiana, at both Of which Mr.. Douglas
was recommended as the choice Of the
Democracy for the Charleston nomination 70
THE enunciation OF opinion in these docu-
ments is so distinct and was made with
the concurrence of SO large a part of those
bodies that we are at liberty to assume
the platforms as expressive Of the views
entertained by Douglas There is even a
strong probability that he is either the
author Of the resolutions or that they were
prepared By those who have his entire
confidence OF who exactly coincide with
him in political tenets
1t will be perceived that the Illinois and
Indiana resolutions take decided ground
in favorso the assumed right Of the peo-
pie of a territory to govern themselves,
without any other limitation to this power
or reservation in favor of territorial mir
nority than an expressed willingness to-
abide by and uphold all decisions of the
U. s. Supreme Court They declare; in
equivalent terms at least, that the inhab-
itants of a territory may govern them
selves as completely as those Of a State,
intending that within these assumed pow
ers thatsof prohibiting the Importation OF
slaves Dy territorial law should be in-
cluded yet if the Supreme Court shall
hereafter declare such prohibitory law
nullity, they will assent to and sustain
that as well as all other DEGREES of that
tribunal. They appear to have overlooked
the fact thelegislation which they assume
as being within the province of territorial
poweris Of the very kind, and bearing
upon the very subject, with that which
this Court has declared to be unconstitu-
tional and null in the bred Scott decision
Had not the so-called Missouri Compro-
mise line been obliterated by the bill for
organizing Kansas and Nebraska, it is
conceded by all Democrats that the bred
Scott decision would have effaced it for
ever.
Nor can we applaud the candor of those
who drew up the Illinois resolutions in
quoting an isolated sentence from the let
ter Of acceptance of Mr.. Buchanan, instead
[ of quoting from the more elaborate and
more explicit declaration concerning ter
Iritorial powers as contained in that
Statesnan's late able and profound annual
message. When he delivered his inau-
gural address he deferred any lengthy
comments upon territorial matters barely
stating that in his opinion the appropriate
time for the people of a territory to de
eide for themselves upon the matter Of
slavery was when forming Constitution
which when ratified by Congress would
constitute the territory a member Of the
confederacy Of sovereign States. 1t will
be remembered that he referred to the
case of bred Scott then before the Supreme
\ - i ~ +
Court and anticipated from the decision
| to be rendered therein final and authori.
tative settlement of the extent and scope
! of the powers Of the inhabitants of a ter
rtory. To his recent message he has set
4 the Democrats of Illinois and Indiana al
example worthy Of their imitation by
adopting the principle Of that decision as
Iworthy'of being inscribed on the Demo
| cratic platform. They would do far bet
/ Ter to welcome an enunciation of Consti-
tutional rights from the great national
tribunal than attempt to incorporate a
Red Republican feature into their platform
and bolster it up with sophistry. The
principle established in that memorable
case will be embodied into the Charleston
Platform, even if no other step in advance
is taken, and it will hereafter be cherished
as one ofthe most valued, safest and mos
stedfast of Democratic tenets.
We are pleased to see that the Demo
Gratis of Indiana have recorded their de
termination to- maintain the nominee O.
the Charleston Convention they nigh,
u withequal prepriety have declared them
selves ready to adopt and sustain ths
Charleston Platform
MiSsiSSinni TngislatJIra Con,