The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-09-12
Hon. A. @. Browns specs

Df0WD5 AZ SIystaA 0pEtuess SuNfe but Ht-
Etle apprehension that the objections which he
urges against che Democlatic platform and the
Democratic candidates. and hisplea for lenity
towards the allied oppositionists. Douglas and
Bell, viii shake in the least degree the reso-
lutte purpose of the Democracy of Mississippi
in the pending election. This trust derives
its strength as well from the insuficiency Of
the reasonings employed by Gov. Brown, in
/ support of his somewhat anomalous position,
as from their known capacity to distinguish
truth from error, and their unwayering devo-
ton to sound principle.
The reader will not fail to observe that in
his treatment Of the platform Of the Constitu-
tional Democracy, as well as of the course Of
Douglas, the candidate Of the disorganizers,
and freesoi Squatter Sovereignty faction at
the North, there is strange tumble of incon-
sistent assumptions, admissions and conclu-
sions. For instance if the Democratic plat
form, recognizes (as he admits the right Of
the Southern citizen to have his property ad-
equately protected and affirms the duty of the
Federal Government, in all ats Departments,
to afford that protection" without limitation
qualification or evasion, it is illogical, as well
IS absurd and unjust, to censure the delegates
who consented toit, with the implied charge
ofeonsenting to creed which 'failed to meet
the issuee' And lift IS mot just" to call
Douglas "a renegade (who by the way,
in the same connection, is beslaYered
with fulsome laudation which is real
y sicksaipg 70 . Southern stssssiacf; and
which does not comport with very high
STANDARD. Southern Simon~ Pureism
after alp it was exceedingly unkind In the
speaker to admit that he had perverted the
true meaning of the Cincinnati Platform-that
aaided by one or two Democrats in the Senate
and less than a dozen in the House," he had
given it "a sectional (or an anti-slavery con-
structionn-and that in the practicable busi-
ness Of legislation aided By SEWARD, Sumner,
Wade q. Co.. he would endeavor to enforce
his (anti- slavery construction p
We assert that II these admissions touching
the aBreckinridge Platform p and these ad-
missions touching the bad faith of Douglas to
his party in misconstruing its creed-and his
cooperation with such arch-fends of Adolf
ton as Steward, Sumner and Wades ewhat a
| trio)-be true-then, it was wrong to leap to
the hasty and illogical conclusion that the
delegates to Charleston had accepted flor all
4 they asked was accorded to them) platform
which does not meet the requirements Of the
South; and it was wrong to conclude that in
transferring Douglas who "marks high" lnot
very ahighn when it strikes to the degraded
] level of Seward } as "a renegade" he is un
Justly censured
Gov. Brown says: "The Breckenridge
Platform recognizes the right of the citizen t
have his property adequately protected, ant
it afirms the duty of the Federal Government
in all its departments to ebord that protection
But adds, "It fails to meet the issue as
(Goy. B. would have had It met. In m,
(his) judgement, we are entitled to have oul
slave property protected in the territories, anG
are entitled to have it protected noa0."
In all candor, we submit if this is not a very
puerile objection we submit, that it does no
rest upon reason or common sense.
| The "Breckinridge Platform according Il
a the admission of Gov. Brown, says in th,
strongest terms that at is the duty Of thu
Federal Government IN all its departments
to afford adequate protection" This covers
the whole ground but, then, says the Gov
ernor, at don't come up to my standard, be
cause want protection noso." Well then
it be demonstfable that protection is needed
"1aoao,n the Democratic party is pledged b,
this platform to giveit "NoW." The princi
pie is clearly laid down without limitation a
the place where, or the time ,cheaa, this .'pro
tection' must be afforded. It applies to al
places where the jurisdiction of the Govern
ment extends; and it applies to all times-t
the present moment-to the next hour, d
the next day, to the next week. to the mex
year, to the next generation, to. the next cen
tury, and down to the last syllable of record
ed time, even to the period when Gabriel vii
sound his trump. Hthere is any limitation
either as to place or date, in the application
of this principle, we have not been able t.
find it. IfCongress at its last session did moi
apply it in the case of Kansas, the fault does
not, rest upon the delegates to Charleston =
They have laid down the principle. or the rule
of action so plain that the wayfaring man,
though fool, cannot err therein, and so plain
that cavillers become bewildered and involved
in painful labyrinths of inconsistencies and
absurdities when they strive to raise objec-
tons against it on the score of its insuficiency
The case Of Kansas may or may not have
been proper occasion for the application Of
this principle by Congress. If is no part Of
our business to argue this point. The dele
gates to Charleston were one set Of men and
the members of Congress were another, and
it is supremacy ridiculous to judge the merits
Of the Breckenridge platform" by what Con-
gress did or did not do in that case We
candidly confess, however, that it would have
better comported with our opinionofthe duty
ofthe members Of Congress, if they had taken
measures for protecting slavery in Kansas two
years earlier; and that the undertaking of that
duty Though well enough of itselD at the
last session was little like locking the stable
door after the exit Of the stolen horse. How
ever, il the National Legislature and our Pre-
sidents will hereafter act up to the rule laid
down at Charleston, there will be no Gauss to
complain Of remissiness in any department Of
the Government, so far as protection to slave
property in the territories, is concerned.
/ After the admission of Gov. Brown, THAI
the "Breckinridge Platform 'affirrns the duty
Of the Federal Government in all its depart
ments to afford protection and after showing
that this rule Of action is so broad chat it APP
plies toall territories, and to all times from
the moment that it was passed. down to the
latest generations furthercomment upon the
charge that it Hfails to meet the issue" wiz:
that the South IS not entitled to protection1
would seem an idle waste Of time. We will
add, however that the liability of language to
misconstruetion renders It proper that the
meaning of any article or declaration of faith
should be judged BY the intention Of ID
authors. II. then. any one entertains q doubt
as to the proper Interpretation Of the "Breck-
| inridge Platform" we would refer him to the
debates in the Convention which adopted IT /;
to the explanation of its authors As to its
| meaning and 70 Che very potent and conclu-
| size fact, that it was this very doctrine Of
protection that caused the ruptare 81
Charleston. This last fact, Il the hnguage Of
the platform itself was not Is plain as the
nose on mans face-and i the debates in
the Convention were not amply conclusive
would carry conviction to the mind Of the.
yeriest doubter in all the land. The repre-
sentatiyes Of 1.-THE true Democracy in the Con-
yention were dstsrrniped not to be cheated,
kks.xr