The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-09-19


FELLow CITIZENS As the General Election
of 1860 approaches, We deem it our duty TO adj
dress you upon those great questions OF national
polity which enter into the present contest, ana
also TO discuss the local issues which, as citizens
Of Michigan, appeal exclusively 10 your consid-
Grafton.
Knowing the folly of Misrepresentation and
abuse. and rejecting these as contrary 10 our IN
eliussion and sense of right, We shall appeal
solely to the facts Of history and the deductions
OF logic, to sustain the cause We present.
-Four years have passed by since the last Pres
idential election, yet the battle-ground OF Free
dom persus Slavery has not shifted, while the
principles involved in the contest have only be-
come more salient and commanding.
Kansas, struggling through long and weary
wears for the rights of Free Labor and the boon
of State Sovereignty, still remains in her Terri
toria condition; kept there by the will of the
Democratic party, that has unblushingly employ
ed the most disgraceful and despotic meals, IN
violation Of solemn pledges to prevent her ad-
mission into the Union as a Free State.
Scarcely had the smoke OF the contest vi 1886
cleared away, ere the Supreme Court q the Cnl-
ted States, in a decision hcraided by President
Buchanan in his Inaugural Address, put forth
the startling declaration that the Constitution OF
the United States, of us own force, carries Sa.
very into all the Territories belonging to this
great Republic.
Among numerous other endorsements of this
oJiter dictum of the Supreme Court, the FRESH
dent in his last annual message, says: " cor
daily congratulate you upon the final settlement
by the Supreme Court OF the United States Of
the question OF Slavery in the Territories, which
had presented an aspect so truly formidable at
the commencement of my administration. The
IL -i.ol .f a., 90,
take his property Of any kind, including slaves,
into the common territories belonging equally
to all the States of the confederacy, and to have
it protected there under the Federal Constitution.
NEITHER CONGRESS NOR y TERRIFIC.
RIAL LEGISLATURE, NOR ANY HUMAN
POWER HAS ANY AUTHORITY TO An
null OR IMPAIR THIS VESTED RIGHT
Adherence to this " final settlement 10y the
Supreme Court OF the United States vi ihe ques-
ton of Slavery in the Territories is to-day q
cardinal principle Of Democratic faith
The Democratic press have given the logical
deductions of the President from that decision,
the assent of silence, OF have openly endorsed
them, as did the Michigan State Journal, which
declared that 'ayery citizen may well feel proud
of his country, and proud # the ability aud an
teqrity that now control rs pDscy; and that to
every measure Or recommendation developed IN
the message, the Democratic party vii! heartily
respond"
Thus modern democracy has taken another
step in its departure from the old landmarks Of
democratic faith. 10 has thrown oil the disguise
it has hitherto found convenient TO wear, and its
real purposes sta.d before the Country in all
their naked deformity.
| The SlavehOlding Uigarchy have been labor
ing for years, with u zeal worthy of better
cause, to undermine and destroy the temple of
our Constitutional Liberty, and build up in its
stead the Bastilc of Despoiisn. To accomplish
this unhOly purpose they have appealed to the
strong arm OF their natural ally, the Demo
cratic party; and it has been in the sacred
name of Democracy that the tFeacherons and
deadly blows have been struck that have shaken
| the pillars of our Constitutional rights.
THE DRIED SCOTT DECISION.
We canno. pass from this subject without pla-
cling before you some of the principles embraced
in the opinion of the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States, known "a the Drcd Scott decision
The slave, bred Scott, had been taken by the
voluntary act OF his master and held for two
years slave in the State of Illinois, and for two
subsequent years a Save in Territory from which
slavery had been excluded by the prohibition of
1920.
BY the principles OF the Common Law; bv adj.
Indications of the courts of Virginia, Louisiana,
Missouri, Georgia and other savehOliing States;
and by repeated decisions of the Supreme Court
Of the United States; ne was entitled to his free.
dom. To obtain this he instituted an action in
the Circuit Court of the United States for the
District of Missouri, and the case was brought
up, by writ of error, before the Supreme Court
for decision. 1t was held by the Court that
neither "persons whose ancestors were negroes
Of the African race imported into this country,
and sold and held slaves, nor the descendants
of such slaves, when they shall be emancipa-
ted, o. uho are born Of porsats rho had be-
come tree before their birth, are citizens of n
State the sense in which the word citizen is used
in the Constitution of the United States So the
suit was dismissed for want of jurisdiction"
Not content with cxhausting his authority in
the case, Chief Justice fancy proceeded to de
liver, at length, his opinion upon the political
questions which divide the two great parties of
the Nation-to few points OF which we desire
to call your attention. The first labor OF this
modern Hercules is TO belle the facts of history
and SANDER the patriotism OF the men of the
Revolution, by declaring that "this opinion was
at that time fixed aud universal in the civilized
portion of the white race, that they (the African
race had no rights which the white man was
bound to respect; and that the negro might
justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his
benefit; and though the general words of the
Declaration OF Independence would seem to
embrace the whole human family, and If Hey
scere used an similar instrument at tbs dan
scomid be so understood, yet he soemnly declares
it to be too clear for dispute, that the ensiaved
African race were not intended to be included"
Having settled this point to his satisfaction,
Judge fancy takes position, which, we apprc.
bend, will startlc the adherents o. Douglas de.
mOcracy. He re-atfrDts the pocer OF CONGRESS
to govern the Territories! He quotes the de-
cision Of the Supreme Court in the case of the
American and Ocean Insurance Companies rs.
Canter II Pet. DID as follows: Perhaps the
power OF governing Territory belonging to the
United States, which has not, BY becoming a
State, acquired the means of seif:government,
may result, necessarily, from the facts that it is
not within the jurisdiction of any particular
State, and is within the power and jurisdiction
of the United States. The right to govern may
be the inevitable consequence of the right to
acquire territory. Whichecer MAY be tie source
from achieh the po,cer is dericed, TIE possess ION
of Il Is questionable"
To this Judge fancy adds: +" 1t is thus clear,
from the whole opinion on this point, that the
court did not mean TO decide whether the
power was derived from the clause in the con.
stitutiOn, Congress shall make all needful rules
&c. or was the necessary consequence of the
right to acquire. They do decide that tie fo.rey
an Congress as anquestiOsaJie, AND IN THIS
WE ENTIRELY CONCUR, and nothing nil
be found ia his TO the contrary. THE POWER
STANDS FIRMLY on THE LATTER ALTER.
NATIVE PUT BY THE C0URT-that is. as
tie iaes1ta6fe consequence of the right to oc-
0uirc Ieyritoryn