The Placer herald., 1860-08-04
Breckenridge and Lane the National Nom
inees...And Whv2

first blush you would draw that inference, but if
it is found upon inquiry, that they were fit
standard-bearers, representing sentiments alike
just to all sections of the Union and the citizens
thereof, fairly meeting the issues of the day and
interpreting them truthfully, according to the
spirit and intent of the written compact-the
Constitution which binds these States together,
and under which they live as family of nations,
then it is apparent that they are national.-
The Federal Government did not make the States,
but the States raet in council, and by written
agreement, gave existence to power known as
the Government of the United States.
This written agreement is the Constitution. If
parties and their leaders would be national, they
must stand by this written agreement, they must
administer the Federal Government under the
specific directions therein contained, exercising
neither more nor less power than was intended
by the parties to this instrument Of writing in
tended when it was solemnly signed sealed and
delivered. Before this chart of the Union be-
came the supreme law of the General Govern
ment the colonies were banded together by what
are called the "Artices of Confederation but
this compact having been found unequal to the
necessities of such government, the States sub
stituted therefor our present Constitution in the
first lines of which they 'lo ordain and establish
it, in order to form more perfect Union, cstab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and our posterity.'
BY this we see that it was designed to work q
general benefit to each and every part of the con-
federacy- impartial justice, equal rights, duties
and privileges to all this family, was to be the
spirit OF this government To secure these ends
IL
different States were left free TO enjoy their code
Of morals without interference from any source.
No rule of property was established but that
power left in the hands of the individual
States, and careful were the trainers of this
! instrument that there should be no conflict be-
tween abstract ideas of morals and the rights of
property in slaves. that this guarded langua ge
wns used--''No person held to service or labor
in State. under the laws thereof. escaping
into another. shall in consequence OF any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from any such
service or labor" &C., &c. By the same authori-
ty the General Government is required to see that
mo person shall be deprived of life. liberty, or
property, without due process of law"
Thus it is shown that this central government
was created mere political power, and provided
with the machinery to carry out its duties and
secure to the people of the respective States
the enjoyment of such moral and property lights
rs established in the States respectively
and it is plain that unless this latter duty wns
conceded and carried out in practice, it would
not be the interest of these States to enter into
the compact With the exception of such powers
rs the States have thus severaly resigned TO the
General Government, each State is sovereign
within itself, and forms and modiies its own gov
ernment at pleasure. Each State may say what
shall be considered property within its own Dor
ders, and enforce snch decision. but it has no
powers for any such purposes beyond its own
boundaries-beyond these bounds the COnstitu-
&c TT,;t bon, .
rule of action.
1t is and has been the practice OF Congress to
establish governments in he Territories. acquired
by the Federal Government, and i. is conceded
that such power of necessity exists there. The
point of division between parties, relates to the
extent of that power. The Republicans declare
that the power of Congress in framing the gov
ernment of Territory. extends to all questions
over which one of the States, can act, and they
demand that the right to hold slaves by the peO-
pie of Territory shall be prohibited in all the
Territories.
This position is plain to be undcrstood-you
shall not hold slaves as property in a Territory
but is in violation Of that theory and of the ex
press terms of the Constitution we have quot
ed. The people of fifteen States out of thirty
three hold slaves as property, under the laws
thereof and they claim that it is their right and
privilege to settle upon the lands of the United
States. not embraced within any sovereign State.
and that the United States Government shall
comply with the contract to keep them secure in
the enjoyment of life, liberty and property-t that
Congress cannot discriminate between classes Of
property.
The Democracy everywhere declare that it is
not within the power of Congress by any act, to
either establish therein slavery, or exclude there
from slave property-that the Ter. tories are
acquired by II common purse and common sacra-
fees of the people of all the States and is held
by the Federal power. in trust for the common
III hnDp nd oil thn of
all the states. Thus far all Democrats agree
Mr.. Douglas and his friends and supporters say
that though it is true that Congress cannot pro-
hibit the Introduction of slave property into q
territory, it can set in motion government in
the territory with ample means for such purposes,
it may create q Territorial L. gislature, that by
unfriendly legislation. will effect what Congress
has not the power to do-nay more may do that
which under the sacred compacts of the Consttu-
tion, it is the duty of the Federal Government
to see Is not done.
These politicians take ground that Con gress
may indirectly do. what it is plainly forbidden to
do-that where there is no sovereign power but
the United States it may discriminate as to what
class of property shall receive protection. in
violation of rights, and in opposition to the de-
crees o. Courts. This is Douglasism. The sup.
porters of Breckenridge and Lane place them
selves upon that broad, firm rock the Constitu
ton. They meet the BLACK Republicans. point to
point-and declare that Congress shall not es.
tablish or abolish slavery in Territory, shall
not do that which only sovereign State may do
declare what is property within its bounds
they declare that whilst it is the territory of the
United States, the rights of the citizens of the
United States shall be held sacred come they
from what source they may. and that it is the
bounded duty of the Federal Government to pro
tect him in his rights, and to see that the Courts
have means of protecting him in the lawful and
secure enjoyment of ''his life. liberty and pro-
perty." They declare that obligations, rights
dnties and privileges shall be reciprocal, east
west north and south-that law shall, every
where our flag is supreme, be recognized and re-
spected. Therefore are they national.