Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-05-19


It will at least teach men the follyof at
tempting to jump on TO the platform of a |
train having backward motion. 1t is diff
cult for us here, among the confused ru-
mors whichreaeh us, to determine what the
Charleston convention has done or will do. |
The Democrats North will / have no doubt, |
as heretofore, yield substantially to the de-
mauds Of the slave power and the party
will incorporate into its platform the protec-
tion Of slavery in the Territories. The con.
test is now mainly between those who main
tain the positions that slavery exists in the
Territories by virtue of its property charac-
ter. under the Constitution, and those who
deny the predicate and the conclusion.
There is, or has been, middle ground of
polioy. (ror cannot discover any principle
in it.) of which Senator Douglas is the ex-
pounder, if not the originator, which l can
not at this moment better characterize than
to call it the Priest and Levite policy;
passnr by on the other side of slaves in the
Territories, and allowing them to perish as
persous or property, as the case may be,
among the thieves of Jericho, who may first
happen to squat upon the public domain,
"not caring whether slavery is voted up or
voted down" This position and its artful
author and advocate will soon be, it they
are not already, politically ground to pow
/, der between the controlling forces of the
uppor milestone Of freedom and the neither
milestone of slavery.
, Mr. Chairman, slavery has sought refuge,
as q last hiding place, under the protection
of the Supreme Court and if the present
{ policy of the Democratic party is to prevail
that tribunal is hereafter to control and de-
! termine what laws shall be enacted by the
law-making power for the government o.
the Territories The slaveholding power
: expect to convert the national domain into
slave Territories by the decree of a court,
instituted to detrmine the rights Of individ
uals properly before them. Neither Con
gress nor the people of Territory are here
; after to have any say or responsibility upor
the question Of slavery. The Slave power
is unwilling to trust the popular will; as re
2 fected through Congress or the people of {
Territory, who are more Immediately inter
ested in the question of slavery, with thi
, question. .....
Mr. Chairman it is not the first time ",
have heard of an effort of despotism t.
S shield itself behind technicalities and court
for protection and point gentlemen to
case in English history, where Charles l. con
tended, unconstitutionally, that he had {
right to exact ship-money from English sub
Q ects without the authority of an act G
= Parment lie undertook to do it an
= the question was submitted to the court {
e exchequer John Hampden tested tn
!, matter and he and his lawyers argued
for twelve days with the lawyers Of th
Crown The King got his decision from
3 perhaps venal, at all events willing. j
dietary. The judges stood eight to four
, about the same majority as there was in th
e Drcd Scott case.
\; But did he succeed in collecting his shiI
u money? He did not and an indignar
', public opinion compelled reversal of tn
be judgement and this will be the result of tn
We Drcd Scott ruling. The people have til
G lawful power to recognize the judiciary, if n
to cessary, giving all the people fair represen
% ations on the bench and the inevitab
). course of events will vacate the seats no
: filed by the present Judges, and other me
ic will occupy their places, and then we sho
see how long the Democratic party and II
q, slave power will sing hosannas to the judy
+. r, ment of the Supreme Court The sla'
n power will then repudiate it, as the Dem
go go cratic party did when it decided bal
constitutional. While l admit that d
cision made by that court, in a case propG
its Iy before it, is binding upon the parties,
or fully concur with the able argument su
ot mitted to this House few days since,
re the gentleman from New York, Mr. Cox
,ts LING, that it is not binding upon Congre'
We are bound to support the Constitute
g. as we understand it. The gentleman fro
to Virginia Mr.. MILLsoN] very pleasant
nd told US yesterday, and l have no doubt 81
ot cerly, for bis candor and ability comma
ne the respect of his side of the House, tn
,se the Republicans were about as powerless
10, if struck with lightning, on account of tn
lc- decision. If that court is not struck wi
of something worse than lightning, then {
;Iy mistaken in the effect of popular thund
"' The free people of this country will not 81
Ill NIT to have their Territories converted il
slave States at the dctation of the Supre
N'' Court of the United States.
no. MAYOR OF New YORK. 1t may be
soD,o tc lynOm ybot HEorno N,