The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-28

surrendering the fugitive slaves, it has ex-
hausted all the power it possesses under the
Constitution, over the question of slavery.
Slavery existed in these colonies before
the Declaration of Independence and before
the Constitution of the United States, by
virtue of local law and local authority and
independent of the federal power. l hold
that the right of man to his slave is be-
You'd the reach or control of the Federal
government in every respect whatever.
Applause.
The extreme southern States, when the
Constitution was adopted, foresaw that the
time would come when the northern free
States would have the majority, and hence
they required in the Constitution the rec
ognition of slavery as local institution ex-
istiDg in each State under the laws thereof,
and not by virtue of Federal authority.
(Cheers.) They were not willing to entrust
the Federal government with the control of
the question of slavery, lest the northern
freesoi] majority might control the Federal
government and thus divest the title the
southern man had to his slaves. "a voice
"That's rightly
Hence they denied the right of the Fede-
raj government to interfere with the question
of slavery, except to provide for the return
of the runaway slaves. I stand by that
fundamental principle at this day. I deny
the right of Congress either to prohibit or
to interfere with it in any case whatsoever,
except as provided in the Constitution, in
the clause to which have referred.
The abolitionists do not like this doctrine.
They wish to organize parties on sectional
lines so as to rally every man North under
one banner, and every man South under
another banner, and then have Presiden-
tial election determined by geographical
lines, so that the strongest section will out
vote the weaker one. That would be very
nice arrangement for these modern Republi-
cans, but l regard the organization of see.
tional parties as the greatest calamity that
could possibly befall this country, although
l belong to the strongest section. When
ever we shall govern this country by Sec
tional lines instead of the principles of
equality and justice, the Government will
become curse instead of blessing
(Cheers.) Remember that the Father of
his Country, in his valedictory address to his
cOuntrymen, cautioned US to beware of sec.
tional parties as the greatest calamity that
could befall this glorious Union. (Cheers.)
And what do we find 4? Two sectional
parties-one North, and the other South
the one demanding possession of the Federal
government for the purpose of prohibiting
slavery wherever the people want it, and the
! other demanding possession Of the govern
ment for the purpose of maintaining and
protecting slavery wherever the people do
not want it. The northern Republicans or
Abolitionists tell you that they do not wish
to have Congress interfere with slavery in
the Territories where the people are opposed
to it, for the reason that in such case the
people will prohibit it themselves.
Hence they only want to have Congress
interfere to prohibit slavery when necessary.
When is it necessary, in their estimation, for
Congress to prohibit it? Why only where
the people want to have it. Laughter and
applause. On the other hand, this Southern
sectional party, known as the Secessionists
from the Charles ton and Baltimore Conven-
tion, demand that the Federal Government
shall interfere, maintain and protect slavery
whenever necessary. When is it necessary,
in their opinion, for Congress to interfere to
protect it? Why it is not necessary, they
tell us, in any case where the people want to
have it, for the reason that wherever the
people want it, as in New Mexico, they will
pass laws to protect it. Hence they do not
wish to interfere except where the people do
not want it, they insist that Congress shall
pass laws to force them to have it. Re.
newed laughter and applause.1
Thus you find that these Northern Abo.
litionists and Southern Secessionists agree
in principle. They agree, first, that it is
the duty of the Federal Government to
control the slavery question in all the Terri
tories and they agree, second in denounc-
ing the doctre of popular sovereignty and
non-intervention because they are not will,
ing that the people shall rule and make their
own laws, and establish their own institu-
tions in obedience to the Constitution.
[Cheers.]
Now let me inquire of you how you ever
expect to have peace in this country so
long as either of these sectional parties is
in the ascendancy? Each demands that
the slavery question shall be decided by
Congress. The Northern abolitiOnists and
the Southern secessionists wish to have
Congress debate, decide and control the
question the one wishes to have Congress
control it one way, and the other the other
way. You are bound to have sectional
strife, sectional bitterness and heartburn
ings if either of these two parties triumph.
1 need not tell you, gentlemen Of the
slaveholding States, how the question will
be decided if you allow these sectional par
ties to control the country Voices
ave never will" g" We don't intend they
SHALL" Sci Then let me ask you what is
the remedy for this sectional strife ? There
is but one and that is to stand by the old
Democratic creed [applause the old
platform of the Democracy, which declares
the doctrine of non-interference by Con-
gress with slavery, either in the States, or
in the Territories, or in the District of Co.
lumbia. Great applause.
L1NCoLN's CAB1NEr.-If Mr.. Lincoln is
elected to the Presidency, and, if he rewards
men in proportion to their influence in the
production of the result, James Buchanan
will probably be bis Secretary of State, Mr..
Yaucey his Secretary of War, Mr.. Breckin-
ridge bis Secretary of the Treasury, Mr..
Keitt his Secretary Of the Navy, Mr.. Wise