The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-09-27

49, ASI5 AoA0euAVftV ShA IuV pGUQ0Ety
Of non-residents higher than the same
property of residents.
"The committee think that congress
should always protect the property Of
citizens of the United States when sub.
jected to the operation of unjust legis-
lation by Territorial governments. In
the case above referred to, that prin-
ciple of protection is asserted, and
maintained in practice; the same prin-
cip!e requires the same practice now,
and for that purpose the committee
herewith report bill"
Pardon me-the two sections are
short. will read them:
"Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the U.
$. of America in Congress assembled,
That all such acts or parts Of acts,
passed by tho legislative council Of
Florida, as may impose higher tax
on the slaves or other property of non-
resident citizens, be and the same are
hereby repealed and declared null and
void"
Not content with that, the second
section provides that if any person
shall attempt to enforce the law, he
should be liable to punishment. The
section reads thus:
''And be it further enacted, That if
any person shall attempt to enforce
any of the acts OF the Territory of
Florida, as aforesaid, by demanding or
receiving any tax, imposition or as
sessmcnt authorized or prescribed
thereby, such person shall on convic-
ton thereof be punished by fine not
exceeding 5000, or by Imprisonment
not exceeding six months, or either
or both of said punishments."
Oh, gentlemen, would it not be an
insult to your understanding to say
that was not an interference of Con-
gress to protect private property from
the encroachment of territorial legis.
lation? Yet that gentleman says ICON
gross never yet passed law for the
protection of any mans property in
Territories" Of course, do not doubt
that he believed the statement but
believe him at the expense of his in.
telligence. applause
The principles I have tried feebly to
vindicate here, arc the principles on
which the constitutional democracy
stand to-day; the only principles upon
which any human being will pretend
to charge them with the purpose Of
disunioD. Ii they are the principles Of
the constitution and the Union, then
we are constitutionalists and unionists.
Yet, fellow-citizens, for two or three
months back yon have heard one loud
and inccssant clamor, that I and the
constitutional democracy belong to a
disrnion organization, and that our
aim is to break up the confederation Of
the States.
hardly know, MS far rs that is a
personal charge against myself, how
to answer it
A voice-"Call them liars"
hear it repeated by anonymous
writer's and wandering orators all over
the country Their whole stock in
trade is "disunion! disunion! These
men belong to a party intended to
break up the Union Of the Statcs."-
You appeal to them, by reason, in
vain. You say, gentlemen, these arc
The principles of the constitution, as
determined by the practice of the Gov
crnmcnt. The answer is "disunion."
You say to them, they arc the princi-
pies of the Union and the Constitution,
as determined by the highest tribunal
in the land. The answer is, "disunion."
You say we arc asserting those prin-
ciples sanctioned by practice and
judicial authority. We arc asserting
them by the ballot-box, and under
and by the forms of tho constitution.
The answer is, "disunion." We say,
how can principles be sectional or dis
union which have their root in the
constitution, and which arc as broad
as the constitution itself, and the large
number Of young gentlemen who are
engaged in ringing with tongues as
long, and heads us empty as the bells
which they ring, cry "disunion.' Pro
longcd laughter and cheers.
Though in very different manner,
and by something like argument, and
by means above those to which have
been abiding, from sources yet more
iminent, comes the information that l,
and the political organization with
which l am connected, arc laboring for
the disruption of the confederacy. /
do not reply now to what Mr.. Douglas
says all over New England, in Virginia,
or wherever he goes, because it is
quite natural for gentleman as much
interested as he, to think that any man
who opposes his principles must be a
disunionist. Cheers aud laughter. -
Indeed, by his declaration we must be
all disunionists in Kentucky, for he
declared that those who assent that a
territorial Legislature has no power to
exclude slave property, and that Con.
gress should interfere for its protec-
ton, are disunionists, and that is what
the old opposition Of Kentucky said
last year, and which will prove to
have been their position, expressed in
every form that it could be.
citizens, even in my own
State, where thought certainly my
character and antccedents were pref
ty well known, one Of the oldest, one