The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-11
The Right Of Protection...The Demo
cratic Platform.

The end and object of the federal Union IS,
not only the protection of the person and
property of tho citizens of the several States
against aggressions from abroad, but against
aggressions and unfriendly ction or legisla-
ton of any one OF more States, or the People
thereof, against the rights, under the constitu-
ton, of the citizens of any other State This
principle should be affirmed ID the platform Of
the Democratic party, which claims to be the
party Of the constitution and equal rights.
The Supreme Court has decided that negro
slaves are property, and as snch entitled to
protection, like any other species of property.
Neither Territorial Legislative nor the fed
eral legislature have any authority, under the
Constitution, to confscate that property and
to carry it off without leave. pr to raise an IN
friendly hand against it.
The States are sovereign, bat every State
is inhibited by the terms Of the Union from
exercising its sovereignty to the prejudice of
the person or property of the citizens of any
other State. The Union wolldbe mokcery
and delusion if it were not Whether the
property be negro slave, trunk or asteam-
boat belonging to any American citizen, he
and his property have under the constitution
right of unmolested transit through any
State of the Union, and to settlesif he chooses,
with the negro slaves in any Territory, the
common property of all the States That the
people off Territory have no right to confis-
cate the property of any citizel of the COM
mon Uaiea would he4spa - 3 nroposition
Co any poiltical party to dispute, If coupaed
with the broader and more practical political
truth, that the citizens of no State in the
Union can legally confscate the property Of
any citizen of the United States, or encroach
on any Of his rights as an American citizen.
The federal government was instituted for the
purpose of protecting the citizens of every
State and every Territory in the Union in all
their rights of person and property, both at
home and abroad. The federal system would
be failure if it did not. Q
In contravention of the constitutional COM
pact, the legislature of Michigan has passed
law setting free any slave hiatt may be
brought within the limits Of the State by the
owner, even for the purpose of transit, and
incareerating in the Penitentiary as a common
fslon any one who attempts to pass within the
borders of the State with slave. Other
States have passed laws no less violative of
the principles which necessarily result from
the nature of the confederation.
Douglas and portion of the northern De-
mocracy, seeing the impunity with which the
Abolitionists of the northern States trespass
on the rights of northern citizens in transitu
through those States with their negro proper
ty, or going into them to look for fugitive
slaves, have made known to the people Of the
South, that they may expect to encounter
the same unfriendly legislation in the Terrific
ries, where the Abolitionists have majority,
as they already encounter in the northern
States.
The Union would not be worth preserving
as far as the Southern States are concerned if
it acts the part of a faithless and partial trus
tee in the control of the territories which are
acquired at the expense of the common blood
and treasurer Southern citizens cannot
travel through the northern States with as
much safety to their persons and the negro
property that may be with them, as the north
ern pedlar travels through the southern States
with his Jersey wagon, or northern vessels
plough southern waters without danger of be-
ing seized and run off, as southern negoes are
by the Abolitionists. The federal government
is mockery, it fails to execcise those rights
clearly delegated to it under the Constitution,
for the protection of American citizens against
the aggressions of State or Territorial legisla-
lures or other bodies of men, in States or Ter
ritory, tresspassing on the constitutional rights
s-r-Tr1Ts-ess-s-v. .rffsss---l1sssszen.
On the other hand, ,the federal government
would degenerate into tyranny too intolera-
Bile to be borne, if it is encouraged to assume
rights not clearly delegated to it thereby, en-
croaching on the rights of the States.
While in many instances it has failed to ex-
ercise its clearly delegated constitutional pow
sr to protect southern citizens in their rights
If person or property in the northern States,
t has been decoyed by the wiles of British
diplomacy, under the cloak of philanthropy,
% build up grant of power on a mere limi-
alton of power most unwarrantable pro-
,eeding directly in the face of all the received |
Jules Of constituting statutes known to law or |
'eas on.
Witness its unauthorized and tyranical as
sumption of power in the matter of the Afri-
an slave.trade. Upon clause in the Consti-
luton, which was simple guarantee to pro-
ect South Carolina and some few other States
n the right to import negroes for certain
ime, both against any direct legislation pro-
libiting the importation, or by any amend
nent Of the Constitution, it has built up the
grant Of power to condemn the
oreign trade in negroes as piracy.
We merely cite this instance to exhibit how
Unfairly the South has been dealt with BY the
ederal government. 1t may or may not be
xpedient to import African laborers, whether
allied slaves or apprentices, or to interdict the
'reign trade in negroes. That is not the
uestion coming up for decision in the Presi-
al election of 1860. The question then to be
ecided is not the bringing in Of more negroes
ON Africa, but whether the citizens of the
outhern States are entitled to equal rights in
erson and property with the citizens of the
orthern States.
Let the Democratic party take this position
Oddly and without equiyocation and while it
ill lose the support of the abolitionized
ouglas Democrats of the North, it will rally
} its standard the sincere friends of the Con-
tuition and genuine patriots of every sec
on.