Daily national Democrat., 1860-10-21
"Federal Protection"

Our party alone, of those now seeking
| popular support, recognize the equality Of
the right Of the South to the common terri.
tories and pledges there. FEDERAL PRoTEo-
TIoN to the property of our citizens. -Jefer.
son DaUis
Federal protection to slave property in
the Territories is here meant. 1t is new
doctrine. During the whole course of the
government, even when every State was a
slave State, there was no demand for such
legislation as we here have indicated. We
have had vast territorial possessions; some
well fitted for slave labor, many occupied by
slaves, but Congress never felt called upon 10
interfere for their protection.
The men who occupy the territories are
of the same character as the citizens of the
States. They have interests of family. per.
sonal rights, public rights, as well as proper
ty, that require the protection of the law.
But does Congress interfere to regulate the
domestic institutions, to enforce the rights OF
proper ty, to guaranty the public rights OF
citizens? ? 1t has never done so. Murder.
theft, bigamy, forgery, can be committed in
the territories with impunity, so far as acts
OF Congress are concerned. The government
has wisely concluded that local legislation
will suffice for the wants of the people-and
that life, person and property can best be
protected by those who have the most inter.
est in them.
Nor is our government alone in this let
alone policy Great Britain does not legis-
late for its Colonies. The Canadas pass their
own laws. India has its local councils and
even in Australia, the affairs of the people
are left to their own provincial parliament.
What means this new creed of federal pro-
lection TO slavery? We have found no ne
cessity yet for federal protection, for anv
other species of property. Is there any ne
cessity that calls for this Intervention On
the contrary, when the Senatorial resolutions
were offered by Mr. Davis, in which this doe
trine was foreshadowed, an additional reso-
luton was proposed, for which he and nearly
every Senator voted, declaring that no pres
ent necessity called for the exercise of this
legislative power. And to illustrate this
more forcibly, we point to the remarkable
passage in Governor Hunts letter, in which
he says he is authorized to offer thousand
dollars to any one who will find a southern
planter who Is willing to emigrate with his
slaves to New Mexico or Utah; the only ter
ritories which the Republicans affect to be-
lieve in danger of slavery.
We can imagine some great political ne
cessity Justifying resort to the extraordinry
powers OF the federal government. But here
no pretence of such necessity exists Demo-
Gratis, however, have been accustomed to
scrutirize closely and regard iealouslv the
claim of federal authority. They have de-
MED all doubtful powers, and foregone the
exercise of some that are conceded. thinking
it more expedient and more in accordance
with our Democratic system, to refrain from
the exercise of constitutional prerogatives. if
the forbearance would add to the sum of
popular liberties
Federal protection" The phase is full of
evil soundings to Democratic ears. 1t is full
of danger, too. 1t is the assumption of the
federal government to legisate over a vast
extent of territory, absolutely, and without
consulting the people, or permitting them
representation in the legislative body. When
the British government put forth this claim
to tax the citizeus without consulting the
people through their representatives, the
British Liberals took the alarm at once -
They regarded it as an attack upon their lib
critics and 1t Is easy to see, now, that if the
policy of Lord Noith ha i been successfully
asserted and maintained, the British Grown
would have been superior to and independ-
ent of the British people.
There is much in the present aspect of DO
litical affairs-the growth of sectionalism,
the disruption of parties, the disregard of the
Constitution, the threats against the Union
Ito alarm patriotic men; but not the least
alarming of all is this assumption of the doc
trne OF federal protection. ."-Aibany AHas
and 1r0los