Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-03-29
PLYMOUTH INDIANA THURSDAY MARCH 90 1860.

viduals many letters, (too many to be separately
j and have seen in many public journals
articles making urgent calls upon me for such a
statement of my views. re
/. Slavcry--Its extension in the Territories.
On this subject, in the States and in the Terrific
ries, Ihave no new opinions-no opinions formed
in relation to the present array oil parties. / am
cocval with the Missouri question of l6l9-20, hav
ing begun my political life in the midst Of that
struggle. At that time my position required me to
seek all the means OF knowledge within my reach,
and to study the principles involved with all tile
powers of my mind; and arrived at conclusions
then which no subsequent events have induced me
to change. The existence of negro slavery in our
country had its beginning in the early time of the
Colonies. and was imposed by the mother country
against the will of most of the colonsts At the
time of the Revolution. and long after, it was COM
monty regarded as evil, temporary in its nature,
and likely to disappear in the course of time, yet,
while it continued, misfortune to the country
socially and politically.
Thus was taught. by those who made our gov
crnment, and neither :he neS light or modern civi
lization. nor the discovery of new system of Con-
stitu.ional law and so,iIl philosophy has enabled
me to detect the error OF their teaching
Slavery is social relation domestic nstitu-
ton. Within the States, it exists by the local law
and the Federal Government has no control over it
there. The Territories whether acquired by con-
quest peaceable purchase, are subject and subor
dinate; not sovereign, like The States. The nation
is supreme over them and the national government
has the power to permit or forbid slavery within
them. Entertaining these views am opposed to
the extension Of slavery, and in my opinion the spi
rit and policy OF the Government ought to be a
gainst its extension.
?. Does the Constitution carry slavery into the
Territoriesl
Il M Tho Cnp -tifut;an of tho Initial
States does not carry slavery into the Territories.
With much more show of reason may it be said
that il carries slavery into all the States But, il
docs not carry slavery any where. 1t only acts up
on il, where it finds it established by the local law.
In convection with this point. am asked to state
my views Of the Dred Scott cisc.a nd what
ally determined BY the Supreme Court. in that case.
Ii is my opinion, carefully considered that the
Court determined single point Of Law only,
that is, that Scott, the plaintiff, being negro of
African descent, mot necessarily s.avc) could
not be citizen Of Missouri, and therefore could not
sue in the Federal Cour: and that for this reason,
and this alone, the Circuit Court had no urisdic-
ton of the case, and no power to give judgment be-
| tween the parties. The only jurisdiction which
the Supreme Court lad of the cause was for the
purpose of correcting the of the Circuit Court,
in assuming the power to decide upon the merits Of
the Gaze. This power the Supreme Court did ex-
crcse, by setting aside the judgment Of the Circuit
COurI upon ncrltS, anu Dy ul>IniSSin9 SUIT,
without any Judgment for or against either party.
This is all that the Supreme Court did. and all that
] it had lawful power to do.
consider tia great public misfortune that sere-
raj of the learned judges should have thought that
their duty required them to discuss AMI give opL-
ions upon various questions outside of the case, as
the CT was actually disposed of by the Court
All such opinions extra judicial anu Of no author
ty. But besides this. it appears me that several
of the questions discussed by the judges are po-
litical questions, and therefore, beyond the cogni
z,nce OF the judiciary. and proper only to be con-
| sdered and disposed of BY the political depart
ments. II am right in this, and it seems to me
plain, the precedent is most unfortunate, because it
may lead to dangerous conflict OF authority a
moDg the coordinate branches OF the government
3. As to the colonization efthe free blacks.
For many years have been connected with the
American Colonization Society of which the rising
young State of Liberia is the first fruit. consd
or the object both humlnc ami wise, bcnefcent A.
like to the free blacks who cmigrate, and to the
whites whom they leave behind. DU, Africa is dis
tant, and presents 50 many Obstacles to rapid settle
ment. that we cannot indulge the hope of draining
oil, in that direction, the growing numbers Of our
free black population. The tropical regions Of
America. think, offer far better prospect, both
for US and for them
4. As to any inequality of rights among Ameri
can citizensl o
recognize no distinctions among American cit
izens, but such are expressly laid down in the
Constitution. And hold that our government is
bound TO protect all the citizens in the enjoyment
of all their rights every where and against all as
sailants. And rs 70 all these rights, there is no
difference between citizens born aud citizens made
such by law.
5. Am in favor of the construction Of rail
road from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific
Ocean. under the auspices of the General Govern
ment? at
Yes. strongly I not only believe such road
of vast Importance as the means Of increasing the
population, wealth and power of this great valley,
but necessary the means of national defence,
and Of preserving the integrity of the Union.
6. Am in favor of the measure called the
Homestead Bill
Yes; am for guarding the public lands rs far
possible fron the danger of becoming the subject
of common trade e-aRd specuaton-for keeping
them for the actual If the peoplc-and for
granting tracts Of suitable size to those who will
actually inhabit and improve them.
Z Am in favor of the immediate admission of
Kansas, un'ler the Wyandot Constitution
think that Kansas ought to be admitted with
out delay, leaving her, linz all the other States,
the sole Judge of her own Constitution.
Thus, gentlemen, believe have answered all
your inquiries in pain, Ineligible inner, and
hope, to your satisfaction. have not attempted
to support mr. answers by argument, for that could
not be done in short letter; and, restraining my
self from going into general politics. / have conin
ed my remtrks to the particular subjects upon
which you requested me to write. -
Your obliged fellow citizen. istis
Haf sf sl5f eei0 EDWARD BATES