The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-02

leaving their orders at the Counting-room during
the day.
The supporters of Mr.. BELL seldom or never
speak OF Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE except as ''the seces
'sion or "disunion candidate" and if epithet:
were as convincing as facts usually are, the latter
gentleman would certainly have long since los
all hold upon or claim to public confidence. Blu
fortunately mere words prove nothing, and hi:
opponents have not, so far as We have seen, I'M
dertaken the difficult task of demonstrating ths
truth of their assertions by reference to any thing
In his acts or speeches that indicates any leaning
on his part towards the ultra politicians of the
South Carolina school That these extremists are
earnestly advocating his election is true but it is
absurd to insist that this isolated fact affords any
evidence whatever of the charge which is so boldly
and blndly levelled against him. If it could be
shown that Mr.. BRECKINRTDGE's political affiia-
lions or private associations have been mostly or
altogether with men of the disunion stamp, or that
he himself has ever expressed sentiments that in
any way accord with those which the Secession
lists are known to entertain, such circumstances
would go far TO justify the suspicious that have
been set afloat concerning his motives and opn-
ions. If, like Mr.. LINCOLN, he had habitually ia
ken as his friends and councillors partisans as ex-
IRENE and violent as GREELEY, WADE and Wilson,
and had, moreover, in his views and feelings, ri
vailed the intolerance and radicalism of his
companions, his enemies would have been at
no loss to furnish US with the necessary
evidence to sustain their accusations. Bat MOTH
he has
venture TO say that no arguments adj
duced which can lead any fair and reasonable
mind TO the conclusion that Mr. BREcKINRIpGE is
other than conservative and patriotic statesman,
who is as honestly and ardently devoted to the
Union as any man within the limits of Kentucky.
The resolutions adopted by the Convention which
nominated him, present. it has been frequently
alleged, the doctrines of the South upon the sla-
very question In novel, narrow and sectional
!orm; and Dir. BRECKINRIDUE, for his unhesitatinc
approval of those resolutions, has been assaed as
a secdonal candidate. And yet he merely assents
to propositions that the Supreme Court long since
affirmed and the Legislature of Maryland many
years ago, endorsed. The platform on which he
stands, embodies, we are told, new and startling
scheme for the introduction of slavery into the
Territories under the protection of the General
Government. Let us see how far the statement ;S
borne out by the facts. Among the resolutions
adopted by the Breckenridge Convention, the two
following are those which have been deemed oh
jectonable by so many:
list. Resored, That the government of n Territo, :;
provisional and temporary and during its existence oil
~ M o te uned states have an equal right
IN the territory without their rights either of person or
property being destroyed impaired by Congressional
or Territorial legislation.
I'd ReSoired That it is the duty of the Federal Govern
ment in all its departments to protect when necessary
e ghs OF persons and property in the Territories and
wherever else It's constitutional authority extends
Do these resolutions, then, as has been so often
and so vehemently urged, assert for the South any
extraordinary privileges? DO those who maintain
their legality really ask anything that subverts
the established law? Let the Supreme Court
answer. From the notes at the head of the bred
Scott case, in 10 Howard, which were, we under
stand prepared by Chief Justice TANEY himself
Wequo'e the following clear abstract of the Courts
decision upon the point now under consideration:
l. The territory thus acquired is acquired by the peo
PIE Oh he United States for their common and equal hen
eht through their agent and trustee the Federal Cav
eminent Congress exercise power over the rights
OF persons or property of citizen in Territory which
prohibited by the Constitution The Government and
he czens whenever the Terrific open to settlement
Aafn
tied by the Constitution. |
2 Congress have right to prohibit the citizens of
any particular State or States from taking up their home
There while it permits citizens States to do
Nor has it right to give privileges to one class of cit
which it refuses to another The territory acquired
ior their equal and beneftand if omen to any
II must be open to all upon equal and the same terms
Every citizen has right to take with him into the
territory any article of property which the Constitution
oi ue United States recognizes property
Inc Constitution Of the United States recognizes
as property and pledges the Federal Government
10 protect It, And Congress exercise any more
authority over property of that description than IL NAV
constutonaiy exercise property any other kind
D. me ac. OF Congress therefore prohibiting citizen Of
the United States from taking with him his slaves when
exercise of authority private property which ia NOT
warranted by the Constitution.
Our readers will thus perceive that the declaration
OF the BREcKINRlDGE Convention simply reterates
the Judgment of the Supreme Court that all citi-
2ens OF the United States have an equal right to
settle IN the Territory and demand from Congress
protection for their persons and property. Nor
were the grounds upon which that tribunal based
It's decision by any means unfamiliar to the people
Vi maryland, for so long ago as 1871 Wing Leg
lslature Of this State, declared
that The public lands the property of the
several states of this union acquired by the common
Dioou anu common treasure, and held by the Federal
government IN trust for the common use and benefit
In view of all these facts it is hard to unaar-
stand how any man can charge that the platform
on which Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE stands is a sectional
one; and tits still more difficult to comprehend
why any citizen Of this State should hesitate to
support him. The ruling of the tribunal which
was constitutonally empowered to adjucate the
question IN dispute, and which has deliberately de-
termed 1t, Mr. LINCOLN has as deliberately repudi-
ated. 1t is no time for half way measures We
should meet the issue, and Maryland should be
among the first to do so. The cause of Mr.. RRFcK-
INRIDGE is the cause of conservatism against rad-
calism-law against popular caprice-and South
ern rights against abolition interference. Are not
the border States bound to be foremost TO Sis
tain it if they would hope to hold in check in the
future the doctrines and the projects of the party
winch Is so hereby assailing their institutions
In callInO pub1ic otto