The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1860-08-31


3; synopsis of the Speech of the Hon
/ Archbotd, until Recently n o. cadinu
Democrat, Delivered mt the Wide.
Awake Meeting In Columbus, Las
Wrek.
e Mr.. Archboli commenced by
showing that ss late "a 1858, the
country was Mt peace, 80 far IA the
r question of slavery was concerned
Both parties had agreed to consider
the adjustment of 1850 "A finality. -
This settlement was upset by the
new doctrine OF popular sovereignty
as embodied in the Kansas Ne ebrasks
bill. This doctrine was endorsed
by the Democratic party, in Cincin
natl platform of 1856. Here that
, party took its first step OF departure
from its old faith. In March 1853,
popular sovereignty was in turn
overthrown by the bred Scott dc.
Icieion, urI .,.:. acetate, VINO andors
ed by the Democratic party in its
!, Charleston Baltimore platform OF
1860. Here again the party stulti
| fed istelf.
! The speaker then entered into a
historical review of the federal leg.
islation in reference to slavery in
the territories, showing that the
Dred Scott decision was opposed to
all legislative and judicial prcce.
ldents. Prior to the formation OF the
Constitution, the ordinance of 1887,
dedicating the North w Western terri.
tory to freedom, was passed by the
Congress OF the Confederation. 1t
was revived by the first Congress
under the Constitution, in the act Of
1889. In the act to erect the ter-
ritory of Mississippi, passed April,
170S, the power OF Congress to leg
islate for the territories, was asserted
in the provision prohibiting the in
PRODUCTION Of slaves born out OF the
United States, and 10 the further
provision reserving to Congress the
right to approve or to repeal tho acts
OF the territorial Legislature.
The same prohibitory and repeal.
ing clauses were inserted in the act
of 1904, to erect the territory ol
Orleans, comprising the present
state of Louisiana. These acts were
passed before Congress- derived the
power under the Constitution to
abolish the slave traffic, which did
not accrue to that body until 1903.
\ fet,Congress even then asserted the
power to cay what kind Of inhabit.
ants should settle in the territories.
In 1912 the territory Of Missouri
was erected ont OF part Of the origi-
nal territory Of Louisiana; the same
prohibiting and repeating clauses
were embodied in the organic act.
In 1920 the same power to prohibit
slavery was asserted in the Missouri
Compromise, which set apart the
territory North OF 80 degrees 80
minutes as free territory forever, by .
a solemn compact between all sec.
tions Of the country.
Again the supervisory power Of
Congress over territorial legislation
was asserted by two statues of ls3G,
repealing u number of the territorial
laws Of Florida. These acts were
approved by Jen. jackson. Again
in the act organizing the territory Of
Wisconsin in 1895, slavery was
prohibited and the right of Congress
to repeal the territorial laws, was re-
asserted. This act also was APP
proved by Andrew Jackson.
The law organizing the territory
OF Iowa, in 1888. contained the same
prohibitory repeating clauses. This
was approved by Martin Van Buren
Ore on came next; and here Con-
gresI went into the minute, Tor
bidding in advance all territorial
legislation establishing banks, or
legalizing the establishment of
branches OF foreign banks, &c
This wac approved by President
Polk, another Democratic President.
In lS45 the Texas resolutions, ex-
GLIDING slavery from all OF that ter
ritory lying North of the compro.
mise line, were passed by Demo
cratic Congress. In 1850 the acts
erecting Utah and New Mexico con
tanned the usual clause reserving
the right to repeal any Of the terri.
torial acrs.
Thus, from tho earliest legislation
OF tie government, down to 1850,
the supervisory power of Congress
over the legislation OF the territories
was recognized and exercised by sue,
cessive administrations, and sane.
toned by the Democratic party. and,
in 'act. by all parties. The diilicul.
ties that arose during that year, out
of the application Of California for
admission into the Union, wore hap
PLY adjusted by the compromise
measures of Congress, which were
re-alfirmed by the platforms OF both
parties in 1852.
Douglas was the first to break this
happy settlement by his Kansas
Nebraska bill, which repealed the
compromises. lie proposed new
method of settlement, which he
christened popular sovereignty.--
This was adopted by the Demo-
cratic party in 1856, and repudiated
by the same party in 1860, when it
basely surrendred it's charished and
short.ived dogma to the Dred Scott
decision, which snnihilated the bant
ling. Never was there more alb.
ject, humiliating, debasing, unprin-
cipled surrender. And il was be.
cause the Democratic party had
deserted it's ancient principles that
the speaker deserted it, and joined
Al \