Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-09-15

were Wiling, he continued, 10 nave the
question decided by the courts of the Unit
cd States. Again l say it was contended
upon one hand, upon the idea of the c.
quality of the States under the Constitu-
ton and their common property in the
territories, that the citizens Of the slave
holding States may remove to the Terri.
tories with their slaves and there legally
hold them until the Territory is resolved
into State. In that capacity it may cx-
clude them. On the other hand, it is said
that slavery, being in conflict with COM
mon right, can exist only by the force OF
positive law, and it is denied that the
Court ever furnished the law. l said that
we demand that all citizens Of the United
States shall be allowed to enter the CON-
mon territory with the Constitution alone
in their hands, for that instrument pro-
tects the title of the master to his slave in
this common territory. You cannot COM
plain if it does not protect his title. We
ask no help from Congress. If difficulties
occurred, we were to let them be submit
ted to the Court.
Now upon my own personal vindica-
ton: The doctrines announced by me in
that speech were just as | have ever de-
clarcd in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
such as | have ever declared in every pub
lie address that l have made in Ohio, In
diana, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Af-
forwards, when it was understood that |
had been charged, or that had admitted
that this power belonged to the Territori-
al Legislature, in tue month of September
or October, 1856, the editor Of the Ken
tucky StG'emon, published in this city,
alluding to this charge, made the following
statement, to which beg leave to refer
you. Mark you, this was before the Presi-
dental election of 1856
Mr.. Breckenridge then read from an
editorial in the Kentucky Statesman of
October, 1856, in which it was stated that,
during his tour through Indiana and Ohio,
he (Mr. b. avowet the sentiments he had
often proclaimed in Kentucky, and which
are already embodied in the Cincinnati
Platform, that he denied that the Demo,
cratic party was in Federal relations pro-
slavery party; that it was neither such a
party nor an anti-slavery party; that it
ncgativcd the interference Of the Federal
Government whether to introduce or ex-
cludc slavery, and left the Territories open
10 common settlement from all the States ;
that each State was entitled to form its
own Constitution, and enter the Union
without discrimination by Congress on
account of its allowance or prohibition of
slavery, and that the statement that Mr..
b. advocated squatter sovereignty was un-
true.
Mr.. Breckenridge then continued.-In
the autumn of the same year | received a
Louisiana paper containing some remarks
nude by General Mills, who heard my
speech, in which he denied that | had adj
mttcd this doctrine of the Territorial pow
or. lie sent me a slip containing his
speech In the same month, before the
Presidential election, answered him, say.
ing: Hands off of the whole subject by the
Federal Government except for one or two
protective purposes mentioned in the Con
stitution the equal rights of all section:
in the common territory, and the absolute
power of each new State to settle the ques
ton in its Constitution. These are N,
doctrines and those of our platform, ant
what is more, of the Constitution. (Grea
cheers.)
Now, fellow citizens, against the state
ment of that distinguished Senator, il
which he undertakes to prove allegations
against myself by himself, l thus oppos'
my own statement Next in proof, l rcat
to you from my speech in 1854, in Con
gress, the article in the Lexington paper
before the Presidential election, the testi
mony of Gen. Mills, who heard that speecl
at Iippccanoc, and my own letter in an
swer to the latter gentleman, containing
my opinion of the question at that time
and what has ever since been my opinion
c'You are talking right.") think | hav'
proven as fully as could be expected in thu
limits of speech, that the charge is un
founded in fact, and | will add that thu
position | assumed, was that taken by al
the Southern friends of the Nebraska bill
and by portion of its Northern friends
These were our private opinions-thes
were opinions we urged on all proper oc
casions, but we did not undertake to fore
All oIucrS W aSreo W lhChi' We nav
agreed to refer that to the highest tribuna
in the Union. Now, gentlemen, havini
vindicated myself and the constitutions
Democracy from the charge of having aban
doncd the position they took in ls54-5-d
| turn upon my accuser and undertake t.
show that he himself abandoned the agree
ment he solemnly made at the time tn
Kansas Nebraska bill passed the Congress
of the United States, (great applause an
l do not make myself a witness again'
him to do it. Twill prove it by himscl
(Applause,) On the I'd of July, 1856, j
the debate upon bill to authorize the pee
, pie of Kansas to form Constitution pre-
paratory to admission into the Union as
State, when the question arose as to wh'
was the true meaning of the Kansas-N,
braska bill, and the limitation of the pow
: or of the Territorial Government, NJ
5 Trumbull offered the following amendmel
t as an additional section to the bill /; "Ar
u ~