American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-01-12
pREsIpENT,s MEssAGE.

President Buchanan. 1t is well written
dignifed, and in most particulars, able
document. With It's style and most Of its
principles we have no fault 10 iind, but so
far as ii relates to the subject Of "slavery
in the territories" i" "lhe annexation OF Gu.
ba," and Whe protection Of American
merchant vessels" we are at issue with
the message, and hunsJty beg isaus to differ
with the executive OF the nation in those
mat ers Of national interest and policy:
sLANERY IN THE TERRITORIES.
Upon this all important question the
President holds the following language;
"The right has been established Of eve
ry citizen to take Lis property of every
kind, including slaves. into the common
territories belonging equally toall the Estates
in the confederacy, and TO hare IL protected
there under rhe federal constitution. -NeiM-
sr Congress nor Territorial Legislature
nor any human po,Oer has ary authority to
annul or impair that Vested right. The su'
preue Judicial tribunal of the country,
which is a coordinate branch Of the gov
ernment, has sanctioned ard affirmed these
principles of constitutional law, so mani
testify Just in themselves, and so well cal
culated to promote peace and harmony a
mong the States"
Thus it will he seen that the President
not only resffirms the doctrine of his spec
ial Kansas message, (that slavery is car
ried into, established, aud protected in the
territories by virtue Of The Constitution, J
but he has taken position far in advance
OF this. That it is thus established, held
and protected bey ond the control of"Con'
gress," the territorial legislature" or any
human power" and that the courts have
so decided, that if the judiciary sboult
hereafter fail to carry out these principles
fail TO protect the stakeholder ia his righ
Of property in slaves in the territories
"it will then be the duty Of Congress II
strengthen their hands by further legiGla
ton" .a
!, In all these things we differ with tn
President and without further prefator
remarks will proceed to give our reasons
First, the Courts have not decided tha
slavery is fxel upon the territories be
yond the power of Congress, "the terri
torial Legislatures" or any "human pow
er" to control it, This question neve
was before the Courts, and if it was it re
mains undecided.
We agree with the President that the ter
ritori4s acquired by common blood an
common treasures are the common proper
ty of the nation and that slsveholde
A has an equal interest in that common prop
h erty' with ctizsn OF the North. But thi
n principle by no means recognizes the righ
i, to take hold and be protected in the Ell
! Ijoyment Of slaves in the territories sgain
!, the will legally expressed Of majority
the citizens Of that Territory. True it i
n that the Citizens Of the States are equ
g and have equal interests in the territor
70 and for this cogent reason; paramount ar
above all, is It that a Southerner cam
. take his slaves into territory AMI no
= them there as SUCH oss The principle
equal rights" guarantee any principle
y the South that it forbids to the Nortl
does it fix an odious institution OF one SO
ticn upon the citizens Of another again
their will and with out their consent? do
it entitle o STAKEHOLDER to a representa-,
~ for his property, three votes for every 4
@ slaves and deprive me Of representati
in for mine? does it fix upon me, beyond n
en- power and control an institution that q
o' y" tracts from the value and dignity Of my
RI Dor? that makes my property less valu
an BILE, that violates my religion, that poisc
I'D the morals of my children; that encou
Gu ges the traffic in. "humqn flesh and boo
!, that degrades me socially and POLITICAL
At. These things are the inevita le results
= Mr.. Buchanan's doctrine and they are
iy more founded upon the doctrine OF "equ
IA, M rights, THAN right is founded upon wror
to The South already without this prncip
ad conteuded for by the President has
i've equal tights" in the territories, her c.
his zens can already go to the territories uF
';s 'HI equal footing with the citizens ofthe Nor
,an They can take all property of univer
viii recognition, they are entitled to the sa
RS privileges, all the rights and immuni
Ok conferred upon them by the Constitute
sLo 10 or guaranteed them BY the laws Of the
ey. tion. This cry about equal rights
nothing more nor less than an effort to {
ry under the gar5 of the Conststut
,ho the local laws OF one section into the te
ch, tories, and not thoIe of another.
w. Slavery is not creature of conn
law and can claim no existence by vir
tha thereof. [Sse Blackstone and Kent
Gu. is not thing Of natural right an has