Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-24
~ speaking Out Boldly ,'-.The Protection
Question.

The best excuse Southern men give for their support
of Breckenridge for the Presidency is that he speaks
on, boldly on the great issue of the campaign, and
stands squarey on platform that susains the rights oil
the South in the Territories, without equivoeation or am
biguity.
The Savannah RspE6lieGR well remarks that all the
Breeknrdge platform says on this question, Is, that II IS
the duty Of Congress to protect the property oil SOUTH
ern emigrans in the Territories "when necessary Here
are two antiquities right away In the first place the
Northern men maintain that slavery depends upon local
law for is existence las Mr.. Breckenridge also did some
wears ago in the Kentucky Legslature and furthermore
that the word property" does not necessarily include
,lapes. ANYBODY at the North-except perhaps the
friends Of popular sovereigntywi recognize the duty
Of Congress to protect property" in the Territories
We have no doubt Seward ready to subscribe to such
proposition to-day.
The second ambiguity is to be found in the words
when necessary which seem have been thrown in as
qualifying clause, aordng loop hole for anybody TO
escape from the honest duty to protect whenever he might
ind the pledge little troublesome. When is thing
necessary and who are to be the judges of the happen
ing of such contingency The very who subscribe
to the doctrine may differ very widely on these points,
should the South be willing trust the determination Of
this question to the present Democratic party as the Sc
eeders style themselves? We think not The Democratic
Senate At the very last session. said almost unanimously
and under OATH that the passage of law by Kansas
Territory to exclude Shareholders did not create case
Of necessity in which it was the duty of Congress to in-
ervene and protect the rights of the STAKEHOLDER and
that too in the face Of the fact that there are already
large number of slaves settled in that Territory 1t this
be no, contingency, in the estimation Of our Breckin
ridge friends in which Congress should act for the relief
of the Southern man. pray what possible combination Of
circumstances could bring about such contingency 1t
ia utterly impossible that should arise, fora stron
ger case than that of Kansas could not be put
Thus, while according to the professions of the De-
mocracy the right of protection will be guaranteed to
the South in the event Of their election to office, accord
ing to their practices it would be impossible to get up
case in which the application of their doctrine would
ever be needed.
So much for this boosted fairness and squareness of
,bs Breekuridge Democracy 1t is all humbuggery and
the wonder is how any sensible man at the South can
allow himself TO be deluded into the trap.
The truth is We have not foot Of territory whose
status as regards slavery is not already irrevocaby fixed;
nobody consequently, needs protection and the intro
ducton Of an irrelevant issue upon question that has
done so much HARM is wanton aud wicked trHing with
the peace and best interests Of the country The Seee-
5cr never expect to be called on for projections and,
tIey were, VIC think we have shown eOncusively, by
their past conduct that they the very las; to be trust
ed to give it.