, 1860-02-02
DOCGLAS' PROPOSED SEDIJI0N LAW.
A Douglas Organ D1syGst-G. /.

The editor of the n. y. 7'm<s douglas Of
gan,} now absent on Western tour, writes a
long letter to his paper from Detroit, in opposi
tion to Douglas proposed Sedi!ion law. We
make roon, for the following extract, itaiieising
portions Of it.: :: *..-
Nj. Douglas has not as yet presented any draft
of Il law for the prevention Of conspiracies to
invade individual Suites. Judging from his
speech, however, he seems inclined TO support
= law much more sweeping in its principles and
or eoasist1at s1ta ts A4dtD*ndtAes aad loeH so1--
+ erttynty oj the States. lie proposes rot onIy
to suppress and punish conspiracies in one
State against the government and authority Of
any other, but to e,a5rac< ordinary crimes aaL
mudtmednort ritAsn The scopecf the Federdlpro-
hiditio7.. He proposes thas Congress shall pass
law to punish couspiracies to run oil slaves.
carry Territorial elections, OF in any way to
disturb the property or the rights Of the peo-
pie Of any State. III might a. tet2t z6etias The
State Gofernn,eafs at oate and commit all crnsi-
nal <gis!4ton TOR tie t0Aote coaat,y to toa9rt*s.
| "Conspiracy" is vague term two persons
mag organize conspiracy as we'll as two hun
| drej, aud it may aim at the perpeirdtiou Of
petty larceny as we'll as ut civil rebellion and
The overthrow Of government. Ar. Douglas
would have all conspiracies put upon the same
footing, md all committed to the care Of Fede-
raj legislation. He Would haya horse stealing,
trnt= them or any other crimes, punished BY
Congress, wheo planned in one State TO be exc
| cute1 IN another. Suea G s::tds"rE seoul1 he q
great sttp toAoards d consolidated gortrnmtnt-
towards committing to the Federal authority
powers aud responsibilities distinctly reserved
for any such law. Each State punishes offend.
| ess within its own im1ts-agaiust rights Of per
sou or OF property-and the constitutional pro
vision for the Surrender Of fug:ives from jns
| tice has proved quite Sufficient Tor the preven
tion Of all such conspiracies for the rerpctra
| tion Of crimes against the common law.
1t is not quite easy to see, moreover, how Nr
Douglas proposes to punish Eouspisucies II
carry eectlons, either In Territories OF in States
| aud we presume be would advocxte no measure
for one which he would not also extend to tb
other. What is conspiracy to carry an elec
tion: What is the National Executise Commit
tee, Of either party, but a permanths consprac
to carry elections in every State? Emigran
Aid Societies ,e1'lue Lodges and kindred orgau
izatious are all legal and justifab E, provide
they restrict themselves TO legal means an
modes oil acton. Men have right TO - cor
spre" to carry IN election, il they do not rcsol
: to force or fraud for the accomplishment {
their object. 1fNr. Douglas will present a ger
J crai law for tue prevention Of ali violence IN
corruption at elections, State aud Territoria
) we shall be vcry happy 10 cooperate with Lii
!, for its enactment and execution.
t 11r. Douglas apparently aluls to secure fro
: the Federal Government tt law yvardntstit
e property in slarcs against theft, abduction,
uny Of the risks to which all property is expo
i ed Everywhere. 7afs il going great deal t
a far. The Slave States have no right to ask Fl
e such u guarantee at the hands OF The GtneE
: Government; aud the General Government h
e no right 10 grant it, whether asked for or nc
e Conyrs*s might j4t os ,oeu de e1ptet<d to insu
# hou:.tin Attc Iork against ineehdiari,s u to
d sar. slaes IN F.fgtAi4 aydinst tttsy stdHttd
rim a.ray. Mr. Douglas is daily contradictit
$ his own theory Of Popular Sovereignty in tt
IS matter. lie holds that property Of uil kinds,
/ tories and in States, depends upon 4
N 1ocat law for its security that eth
II State or Territorial government lid
E. By friendly or unTriendly legislation, strength
j. or weaken that security without rightful init
l. ference from any quarter. VAerf, taea, dos
10 find 1"y authority for conre.ting the F.d<'
&c Gortrun.tnt into insurance nJste fur stdet ~
y perty in the Southern Stutts:'
IN AL these things are beyond the scope Of t
p neutrality Law between the several States viii
te the condition OF the country requires. Whit
| wanted-nud afl that is waDted-is q law
&c prevent armed invasions Of one State from q
to osher-to make consriracics aud organiza.io
n for such Il purpose crimes against the Fedc
Government, ard to punish them according
of John Brown organized his expedition agail
r. Virginia in the Northern States. lie procu.
I'd money and arms, (under false prctences |
III doubleday for that object-recruited NJ
s. formed military companies, and had th
De drilled for the purpose Of invading Virgil
y- and heading an i.lsurrcciion Of her sl1v
IS. This was i crime against Virginia but ,
er against any other State, nor against the Fedc
It, Government under any existing law. It shu'
b. be crime against the whule country. It ut
" mt bc brought within the technical definition
he treason, but il should be made high cri
IT. against the Whole country, thus to ann ut
CT furciblc overthrow Of the authority Of any S
cs sic State; and any conspiracy for such IN
iec:,-any ohject Tor its accomplishment, sho
J." be promptly and severely punished hy the F
tc- cral Government. II Senator Douglas :
re limit lis efforts to the enactment OF such al;
they will undoubtedly be crowned with succs
to and he will obtain not only tue cooperation
d. tLc great body Of the people Of the North
y, States, but a>o that credit tor purely patrit
ds motives which he justly npprehcnds may n
d.: be denied him. u. J. X