Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-15
Do the Democratic Party Advocate
the Doctrine that Slavery Is Ma

We must confess our utter establishment
ct the declaration made by r. W. Thompson
in his speech before the County Conven-
ton on Saturday: THAT the DEMOCRATIC
parfv did not advocate the doctrine that the
Federal Constitution carried Slavery into the
public Territories" We say we were as
tonished to hear any other but an lily in
formed Douglas Democrat make this asser-
tion. We fear Mr.. Thompson, since he has
ceased TO belong to either of the great par
ties Of the country, has neglected to keep
himself posted, as regards the progress /
this modern Democratic party has been
making in this particular. Formerly OF
course, in the days when the old Wing par |
ty was led to battle by the clarion voice Of
HAnaY CLAY, no Democrat was ever so bold |
as to assert this as party doctrine. But
now, in these latter days, the right of the
stakeholder, under the Federal Constitu-
ton, to take his slaves into our Territories, |
and hold them there, is asserted by ma
jority of the Democratic party everywhere.
Every single Southern State, in which
Democratic Convention has been held du-
ring the last six months, and every South
cru Democratic Legislature that has sx-
pressed itself on the question Of slavery,
have, on every occasion, laid down the doc
trine, as part of the Democratic faith, "that
the Constitution of the United States, Of
itself, gives the STAKEHOLDER the right to
carry his slaves into the public Terrific
rie.." This, we think, Mr.. Thompson
cannot, and no one else will, deny.
Not only is this true, but the Demo-
cratic President Of the United States-the
Democratic Cabinet at WashiDgton-the
large majority of the Democratic members
Of Congress-Democratic Office holders ev-
erywhere, and the Democratic members oil
the Supreme Court of the United States,
ell, every one, individually and collective
ly. so far as they have expressed an opin-
100, have asserted this very doctrine.
Let us now inquire into the proof we
bsye, to sustain these assertians:
The opinion of the Judges in the bred
Scott case is, that slave is the property
of his rnaster-that he is a mere chattel.-
Judge fancy expressly says that, "there u
no distiretiOn bet,OeeH property in a stace, and
other property" No one, We presume, is Sc
ignorant Of our Constitution, and of th'
institutions of the country, as to question
th, right of an American citizen, to carr,
his property anywhere, eyerywere, into al
Territories protected by the Constitution
the United States. This is right givei
20 Us, by virtue of our very being, and
right recognized by the common law o
this country and of the world. If citi
Zen Of Indiana has a right to take his hor
.e-. cows, mules and hogs into Territory
tesaass thy are his property" slave
holder has the same right to take his slave
il The slave is Gas other property" Thu
daearine then, that slave, human being
y the mere properly of his master, being
asserted by the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States, the following. the 5th amend
ment 20 the Federal Constitution determine
IL:
Nor shall any person be deprived o
life. liberty, or property, without due pro
cess of law
Due course of law must mean, bJ
trial in our courts Of judicature; anC
- 'hs Supreme judicial tribunal of thu
Cove nment has asserted that slave il
property, how can the right to hold him il
the Territories be taken away, when every
las recognizes the right OF citizen to g
witt his property whatsoever he pleases.-
AID if citizen of Indiana has a right t.
sake his properly into the public Territories
snd il a slave is property. mere ehattel
ho0 can the tight, on part Of the slave
hoider to do the same thing. be interfere,
wit, when the d section of the 4th arti
Gle Of the Federal Constitution reads:
u he citizens of each State shall be en-
tr'iei to all privileges aud immunities G
eiizens in the several States"
taking, then, this assertion of the Su
yrsTpe Court, as interpreted by the Demo
srsuc party, aud adhered to aud recognizes
by them, and the Federal Constitution i
one Of slavery, and not Of freedom. Ant
rizhL here Mr.. Thompson may get clea
.d..I Of what be also asserted in his speech
he could not understand, the doctTin
sscged by the Republican party, tina
avery is sectional and freedom nation
al
III the reader Of this article will examin
carefully the above argument, and kee
each position clearly in his mind, we will en-
deavor, in this connection to show that tn
Democratic party Of Indiana, have in lh
platform they recently adopted in thi
State, most cunningly given in their sd
herence this to very doctrine. that the slave
holder has q constitution al right to tax,
his slaves into the public Territories. On,
rssolve in this platform reads as follows
ResOloed, That we accept the decisioni
q the Supreme Court of the United States
"a the best evidence of the true meaning o
he Constitution, and will respect and
maintain them with the fidelity we owe Il
he Constitution itself
What is the decision here referred to g
Let the President Of the United States, the
head and front of the Democratic party, ex
plain it, In his recent message be says:
~ cordially congratulate you upon the
final settlement by the Supreme Court oi
the United States of the question of slave
yin the Territories. which had presented
an aspect so truly formidable at the com
mencement of my administration. The
right has been established of every citizen
20 take his property of any kind, including
slaves, into the common Territories be.
longing equally to al the States in the
CoDfederscy. aud to have it protected there
under the Federal Constitution. Neither
Congress nor 3 Territorial Legislature nor
any human power has any authority TO an
null or impair this vested right"
This We think settles the question pretty
eonciusively, that the Democratic party does
advocate the doctrine, which Col. Thomp-
son says it does not.
Were we to desire further proof we could
giTe the following as part Of Gov. Blacks
message, 10 which he vetoed the bill Of the
Territorial Legislature Of Nebraska. pro