The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-06-29


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Net sound IN the Path.
We showed yesterday by citations from
Douglas and reference to his acts and votes,
that be differs with the Journal in regard to
the great fundamental doctrines OF squatter
sovereignty. The Journal holds that the
Territories stand on the same level and pos.
sess the same rights OF legislation under the
Constitution, that the States DO. Douglas
repadiates this absurd position. The Jour
nal holds that the Territories possess rights
OF legislation not conferred by Congress,
while Douglas expressly declares that all
the power the Territory possesses 10 conferred
by act OF Congress.
The journal has also spread itself some.
what extensively TO establish the proposition
that the Constitution recognised only quol-
fhfd property in man. Douglas, on the con-
trary, declares that the right OF property in
negroes is precisely the same az the right to
any other property Here is a brief extract
from speech delivered by Douglas in New
Orleans, In December, 1858:
81, in common with the Dem ocracy OF H.
linois, Scsept the decision Of the Supreme
Court OF the United States, in the bred
Scott case, as aD authoritative exposition of
the Constitution. Whatever limitations the
Constitution, as expounded by the Courts,
imposes on the authority of the Territorial
Legislature, we cheerfully recognise and re-
spect- in conformity with that decisi on
Slaves arerecognixed as property, and placed
on m equal footing with oil other property.
Hence, the owner OF slavcs--the same as the
owner of any other species OF property--has
right 70 remove to Territory and carry
his property with him."
And, again, in tho speech from which we
have already quoted, delivered In the Senate
February %, 1859, Douglas said
"Slaves, according to that decision, being
property, stand on an equal footing with all
other property. There ID just as much otli-
CATION on the part OF the Territorial Legisla-
ture to protect Slaves as every other species
OF property,-- LAS there 10 to protect horses,
catile, dry goods, liquors, &c."
Here are three leading and vital positions
OF Douglas-the dependent character of the
Territories; the dervative and limited power
of Territorial Legislation; and the absolute
property in Slaves asserted and admitted by
Douglas and confidently denied by the Jour
nal and the Douglas strikers in Iowa.
Under the force of these positions, -repu-
dating the equality OF the Territories with
the States, denying their SOW ereisn power, ad.
uniting that all Legislative power possessed by
them 10 conferred by Congress, aud subscrib-
ing TO the dogmas of the Supreme Court as
TO the Constitutional right of property in
Slaves,-Douglas was reduced to the pitiful
expedisnt of asserting for the Territories the
bare power of " unfnendly legislation -
against slave property.
And here, from the same speech, il his
theory on that subject
eff there 10 q power OF Discrimination az
to other property, and / think there s, then
il applies 10 slave property. Ia other words,
slave property 10 on an equal footing with
ali other property. In my opinion, it the
taxing power 10 exercised against any one
species OF property, IL may have tendency
10 drive IL out. Ii beyond that there ia nm
absence OF legislation. such as would fail to
give 1t efficient protection, that does effectu-
ally exclude II. IL 10 my opinion that, with
out violating the Constitution, such system
OF legislation may DO devised as would ef
fcctusliy exclude any species OF property
that the Legislature attempted 20 exclude,
whether 1t be horses, mules, liquors, dry
goods, slaves or cotton"
Thus this Great Squatter Sovereignty Giant
has fzzled his principle down till its only
operation is limited to legislative war
against one species OF property, which 10 on
an equal footing with oil other property -
just TO realize the meanness Of this PROPOSE
sltion, suppose the Territorial Legislature
engaged 10 a war OF "unfriendy legislation
against horses in order TO exclude them from
the Territory.
But this squatter sovereign doctrine ID
Whitfield down TO . still finer point by it's au.
thor IN bis admission OF the right OF the Su
preme Court TO put stop to this ssanfriendy
legislation Wequose from the same speech:
- saose laws ren1er IL Impracticable &c
hold yonr property, whether il be your horse
or your slave, Why, it 10 your misfortune. but
you are on az equality witt others, and YOU
hold him subject to such laws as may be con.
stitntionaliy made. When the Supreme
Oonrt shall decide upon the consttutionahty
OF the local laws. am prepared TO abide by
the decision, whatever il may be, and have il
executed 10 COED faith, as in other cases.,
Nobody doubts that the Court will YER,
promptly decide against any such s.unfriendl,
legislation" jus; as soon as ii gets chanc,
TO pass 90 il. No question but that the Su.
prone Court will s'squelch OUT this ssmaI
potstoe' remnant OF squatter sovereignty a.
efsctually - she people will do the same iot
for iss author In November next.