The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-06-27


States Senate, May "a, 1860
(C0ncluded from last ueek)
At State Convention in Pennsylvania,
Colonel Samuel Black, of Pittsburgh. Of
fered the following resolution, which was
adopted unanimously
"Resolrsd, That the democratic party adheres
now, as it ever has done, to the constitution OF
the country. Its letter and spirit they will Meth.
er weaken nor destroy; and they re-declare that
slavery is domestic local Institution of the
South, subject to State legislation alone, and
with which the General Government has nothing
to do. Wherever the State law extends its juris.
diction, the local institution can continue to ex-
ist. Esteeming it violation of State rights to
carry it beyond State limits, We deny the power
of any citizen to extend the area of bondage be-
yond its present dominion; nor do We consider
it part of the compromises of the constitution,
that slavery should forever travel with the ad-
vancing columns of our territorial progress"
This same Colonel Black is now Cover
nor of Nebraska, and recently vetoed bill.
which had been passed by the Legislature,
prohibiting slavery in that Territory The
exact progress of Democracy in eleven
years is here made quite apparent
The Democratic members of the Legis-
lature Of the State of New York, in 1913,
in q series of resolutions, included the fol.
lowing:
"Resolred, That while the democracy Of New
York will faithfully adhere to all the compromises
of the constitution, and maintain all the reserved
rights OF the States, they declare--since the
crisis has arrived when that question must be met,
their uncompromising hostility to the extension
OF slavery in territory now free, which has been
or may be hereafter acquired, by any action of
the government Of the United States"
Similar resolutions were adopted the
same year at Utica, in which Hon. John
Van Buren, and Hon. John Cochrane par.
ticipated.
At State Convention of the Democrat.
ic party Of Ohio. in the year 1913, the fol.
lowing resolution was adopted:
"Resolved, That the people of Ohio now, as
they have always done, looking upon the institu.
ton of slavery as an evil, unfsvorable TO the full
development OF our institutions, and that, enter
tanning these sentiments, they will feel it to be
their duty to use all the powers consistent with
the national compact, to prevent its increase, tC
mitigate, and finally eradicate it."
Want of time, Mr. President, compel,
me to omit many similar resolutions O
State Legislatures and Democratic Con
ventions; but | wish to call the at
tention of the Senate and of the coun
try to one Democratic authority in ia
vor Of the prohibition of slavery IL
tho Territories. 1t is that of the distin
guished and lamented Silas Wright. In
letter written by him, dated the 18th O
April. 1S47. he uses this emphatic Ian
gusge:
"If the question had been propounded to m
at any period of my public life, shall the arms
the Union be employed to conquer or the none
of the Union be used to purchase territory no,
constitutionally free, for the purpose of plantin
slavery upon it? should have answered no
And this answer to this question is the Wilmc
proviso, as understand it. l am surprised tbs
any one should suppose me capable of entertain
ing any other opinion, or giving any o.her answe
to such proposition"
Mr.. President the Democratic Repre-
sentatives from the free States responde
with great unaninity to the wishes and col
structions of their constituents. Among tn
distinguished Representatives of the Wi
mot proviso in the war appropriation, an
in its application to the organization of Or,
gon Territory. may be mentioned Hon.
McClelland, Senator'S Felch and Stuart,
Michigan; Senator'S Dix and Dickinson,
New York; Allen. of Ohio; Bright,
Indiana Douglas and Breese, of Illinois
Dodge, Of Wisconsin f; Broadhead, of Penn
sylvania; Atherton and Norris, of Ne
Hampshire Bradbury and ex.Govern,
Dunlap. Of Maine; Benton. of Missouri
and Houston, of Texas. General Cass e.
pressed his great regret that the hour of a,
journment in 1916 arrived before he cou
record his vote in its favor; and in 1S4
he made a speech upon the subject,
which he doubted the expediency of
adoption at that time, and said:
at would be quite in season to provide (
the government of territory not yet acquir
from foreign countries after We shall have obtai
ed it,"
: With the aid of these timid counsels. al
|. : the patronage and influence of the Admi
' istration, the slave power gained temp
rary advantage BY thepcstponemsnt of 1
II measure, and time to concoct new schem
to defeat it. The Presidential election
4. lS4S was approaching. 1t is we'll kno,
that several Northern Democratic polit
% ians were aspirirants for the nomination
Baltimore and among the most promint