The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-05-17
The Issue at Charleston.

Many persons who have not followed very
closely the proceedings Of the Charleston Con
vention may not comprehend the real ground
of the division in that body, and the secession
Of the delegates Of the nine States of the South
Even the well Informed Bee processes its ina
bility, to appreciate the difference between thu
two parties. 1t is, therefore, necessary that W.
should state clearly and distinctly the real issue
The Committee on Resolutions divided onl,
on the question of the status Of slavery in TIN
Territories. A majority Of seventeen State
reported the following resolutions
RESOLVED, That the platform adopted at Cincin
natl be affirmed, with the following resolutions:
\ !. ResolUed, That the Democracy of the Uni
ted States hold these cardinal principles on thu
subject Of slavery i'll the Territories: First tina
Congress has no power to abolish slavery il
the Territories. Second, That the Territorial
Legislature has no power to abolish slavery ir
any Territory, nor to prohibit the introduction
OF slaves therein, nor any power to exclude
slavery therefrom, nor any power to destroy OF
impair the right of property in slaves by any
Legislation whatever.
The Minority Report, voted for by sixtecr
States, is as follows:
| ~ - Ate'o'octs' AH"t We, tne democracy OF the
Union, in convention assembled hereby de-
clare our affirmance Of the resolutions unani
mously adopted and declared as a platform Of
principles by the Democratic Convention al
Cincinnati, in the year 1856, believing thai
Democratic principles are Interchangeable in thei,
nature, when applied to the same subject mat
tiers; and we recommend as the only further res
olutions the following:
z Resolved, That all questions in regard tc
the rights Of property in States or Territories
arising under the Constitution of the United
States. are judicial in their character and the
Democratic party is pledged to abide by and
faithfully carry out such determination Of these
questions as has been or may be made by the
Supreme Court of the United States
The radical differences between these two
platforms consists in the denial by the majority
Of the right of Territorial Legislature to pro-
hibit or exclude slavery, or pass any laws hos
tile to that institution, and the assertion by the
minority that this question as to the status of
slavery in the Territories is judicial one, to
be determined by the courts of che land
The first consideration suggested by a COM
parison of these resolutions is the outspoken
candor and distinctness of the one, and the
evasiveness of the other. There is no misundcr-
standing the majority resolution. The Cincin-
natl platform left the subject of slavery in the
Territories unsettled. 1t was bclieyed-the
subject being then before the Supreme Court
that those who were in doubt would yield to a
decision i'll favor of The right to hold slaves in
the Territories, and ofthe uncoustitutionality
OF the Missouri Compromise. The point was
saved on their account, and at their request.
rms concession was not made by the South
from any want of confidence in the Justice and
soundness oftheir position, or from any beliefin
the authority of the Supreme Court to settle
and determine political questions, and prescribe
political doctrine, but it was made as favor To
those whose views were not clear on the point
and who were willing to defer to the decision
Of the Court The bred Scott decision settled
the question, and now there is no longer a rea-
son why the Democracy should cvadc or post
pone the declaration of its opinion on this sub
ject. When The friends ofMr. Douglas, there
fore. ask for rc-submission of this question
which it took the Supreme Court thirty four
years to consider and dcterminc--it is a nal
pablc dodge, transparent, dilatory plea, of
party which is afraid or has not the honesty to
meet the issue at once, or which intends to de-
ceive and betray its confedcrates, by protesting
to hold doubts on asubect upon which, in truth,
it has already fixed and determined opinions,
Mr. Douglas declares himselfin positive and
terms, in favor of this view and
opposed to that expressed in the majority res
inf 4
supreme Court to determine his opinion in the
matter. Nor does he intimate, whatever might
be that decision that he would yield his con-
'ictons thereto. And herein Mr.. Douglas is
light 1t is not Democratic doctrine or prac-
ice to refer political questions to the decision
'f the Supreme Court That is, in fact. the old
federal doctrine. 1t is the doctrine of the old
Wig party when it sought. by the authority of
thief Justice Marshall and the Supreme Court,
o establish the constitutionality of the Nation
i Bank and of the tariff There is, therefore
gross Inconsistency in the Douglastes pre-
ending to adhere to the old Democratic plat
orms, and proposing adoctrine which is op-
osed to the uniform faith and practice of the
arty in all its previous history. The South
ever has and never will submit to this new ar
cle of faith.
1t adopts and supports the doctrine of the
upreme Court in the bred Scott case, not be- J
ause it is the decision Of the Court, but be-
ausc it is right. Those who would do more
IAN this have straycd from the old faith, and
ill becomes them to prate of interpretations
nd new ideas. We should have far more res t
Get for the Douglasitcs, if they would march
to the qacstion squarely and at once, and !
ssert the docrine--which they doubtless hold =
that the Territories have the right to exclude G
avery. In their foregoing resolution, they t
'mbine two offenses against Democracy, to- q
it the false doctrine of submitting to the Su- Y
'eme Court the determination of questions of Fl
'litical right and opinion, and the deception b
concealing and covering up in vague and 81
practicable suggestion, their real sentiments. f
either view they stand in direct antagonism ft
it'll the Constitutional Democracy. An hon 81
combination and union between such di. y y
rse elements are impossible Della.
Our Delegates to Charleston, \. u
'llgarlic prcmaturely applauds Messrs. McHat- OF