Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-02-03


in another.
What was the intont and design Of the
Constitution What did it do to carry out
that designl The two most prominent
conclusions Of earth, that we can have as to
what il was intended to do, is by what they
said was to be done and intended to be-
done, and by what they practically did,
Eight and six, or for-'een times did this
Congress carry out the power asserting
that Congress had all the power to make
s'all needfulrules and regulations for the
Territories" even to the prohibition or en-
actment of Slavery.
HOW HE CHANGED AN OPINION.
am going TO own up myself. confess
that always believed, until / read the
opinion of Justice Curtis, always believed
with the old Free Soil party, that under the
Constitution of the United States, you could
not establish Slavery in any Territory. l
do now confess, that after reading the de-
csion of Justice Curtis, that it was so clear,
and the argument so irresistible that they
could practice legislation in either way, that
l was bound to acknowledge that the pow
er to prohibit also carried with it the power
TO establish, and the converse that the pow
er to establish Slavery, also gave the power
to prohibit it. l therefore yielded up my
old opinion, Il know not what Others may
do,) because in this dicta Of Justice Curtis,
il Congress has power simply because there
is no limit put upon it, that it has power on
either side; that is, it has omuipoteut sover-
eign power, although this is government
in general of limited powers, inasmuch as
the Constitution does not limit Congress
from establishing or abolshing Slavery
The power is not denied by the Constitu-
ton, therefore it has it. There l am bound
to change my opinion upon that subject,
and now l agree that Congress has the
power to establish or prohibit Slavery, be-
cause as said, the acknowledgment of the
one power compels us to acknowledge the
possession of the reverse.
Well now it is at last brought to this -
Congress has the right to establish Slavery
or to abolish Slavery in the Territories. 1t
is then matter upon which we appeal to
the country for decision. Will you 90 for
Slavery or Freedoml believe that to be
the doctrine of the Republican party, and
that is tho whole sum and substance Of the
controversy between us. We say with
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Henry
and Lee, and all the distinguished fathers
of the Republic, not that Slavery is a bless
ing and Divine institution and all that, but
we admit it to be an evil, morally, socially,
and politically, and weakness in the Com
monwealth.
SLAVERY A WEAK INSTITUTION.
Well now, gentlemen, it has gone forth
in this commonwealth that should not be
able to speak in Frankfort. Why is that 2
Why is it that John Brown spread such
CONSERVATION through all Virginia! Are
we to believe that the Virginians are all
cowardsl Mol There is in Virginia Just as
gallant blood as flows in the world it was
simply because Slavery was weak instl-
tuition from the beginning to this time /;
that il was what James Madison told South
Carolina and Georgia; it is because slavery
is what Mr.. Randolph told Mr.. Everett
We tell you that it is source of weakness
in the State, and therefore as patriots and
lovers of our country we say to the several
States enjoy your institution as long as you
choose, but so far as we are responsible we
90 against it all the time. There is the
whole front of our offending. Is it not
right9
THE ADMISSION OF SLAVE STATES.
Another charge made is, that we purpose
"to prevent the admission, in any latitude,
of another slaveholding State" l deny
that that is tho platform of the Republican
party as made up in 1855, or as it is to be
made up in 1860, and if you will allow me
l will refer to the record. l cannot read
all of the platform, but / give you my word
there is no such clause in it. l will read
one clause however:
"Resolyed, That with our Republican
fathers we hold it to be selfevident truth
that all men are endowed with the inalien-
able right to life, liberty, and the pursuit Of
happiness, and that the primary object and
ulterior design of our Federal Government
was to secure these rights to all persons un-
der its exclusive jurisdiction;" Mark me,
now, that does not apply to States ''that
our Republican fathers, when they had
abolished slavery in all our National Terri
tory, ordained that no person should be de-
prived of life, liberty or property, without
due process of law, it becomes our duty Ia
maintain this provision of the Constitution
against all attempts to violate it for the pur.
pose of establishing Slavery in any Ter
ritory Of the United States, while the pres
ent Constitution shall be maintained"
In that part of the platform l have said,
/ believe we were in error. For that reas.
on, in the call of the present Convention
we leave out all that which has reference
to the last sentence which / read. l will
read that call TO you:
ga National Republican Convention will
meet at Chicago, on Wednesday the 18th
day of June next, at IL o'clock noon, fol
the nomination of candidates to be support
ed for President and Vice President at the
next election.
"The Republican electors Of the severa
States, the members of the Peoples party
OF Pennsylvania, and of the Opposition
party of New Jersey, and all others who
are willing to cooperate with them in sup
port of the candidates which shall there be
nominated, and who arc opposed to the
policy of the present Administration; tc
federal corruption and usurpatiou; to the
extension Of slavery into the Territories: tc