Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-08-16

q constitutional government ever before
announce a decision so cunningly calcula
ted to lead the nation into a course of in
Justice, anarchy and war? Chancellor Kent
says-'.The law Of nations is a code of
present, active, durable and binding obli-
CATION. AS its great fundamental princi-
Piles are founded on the maxims OF eternal
truth, in the immutable law Of moral OBJ
legation. and in the suggestions of an en-
lightened public interest. they maintain a
steady influence, notwithstanding the occa-
sional violence by which that influence may
be disturbed The law of nations is placed
under the protection of public opinion"
Again Mr. Kent says:-"When the United
States ceased to he part Of tn, British
Empire, and assumed the character of an
independent nation, they became subject to
that system of rules which reason, mOrsli-
ty, and custom had established among the
civilized nations of Europe as their public
law. During tie war Of the American
Revolution, Congress claimed cognizancc
of all matters arising upon the law of ma
tions. and they professcl obedience to that
law, according to the general usages of
Europe" Vattel says:--"The law of
nations is certainly natural law, since the
law of nations is not less obligatory with
respect to States or to men united in polit-
ical society than to individuals"
President Buchanan. in speech made
at the Breckenridge and Lane ratification
meeting at Washington city, on the 9th OF
July, said:
..The Supreme Court Of the United
States have dccilcd--what was known to
us all-that slaves are property" =
"If you hold property as an individual, you
hold it Independent of Congress. or of tho
State Legislature, or of the Territorial
Legislature; it is yours. and your Constitu-
ton was made to protect your private prop
city against the assaults oflegislativc pow
err
"What would l, as a Pennsylvania,
say or do, snpposins anybody was to con-
tend that the Legislature OF any Teraitorv
could outlaw iron and coal within the Ter
ritory?"
The platform of the Breckinridge wing
Of the Democratic party declares
That it is the duty Of the Federal Gov
ernment. in all its departments, to pro-
tect the right of persons and property in
the Territories, and wherever else its con-
stitutional authority extends"
Mr.. Breckinrilgc, in letter accepting
his nomination. says that
They assert, Fortified by the highest
judicial authority in the Union). the plain
duty of the Fedora, Government in all its
departments, to secure, when necessary, to
the citizens of all the States, the enjoy.
ment of all their property in the Terrific
ries. as everywhere else within its jurisdic-
ton"
The platform of the Douglas wing Of the
Democracy says:
Rcsoired, That it is in accordance with
the Cincinnati Platform. that during the
existence of Territorial Governments. the
measure of restriction, whatever it may be,
imposed by the Federal Constitution on
the power of the Territorial Legislature
over the subject of the domestic relations,
as the same has been or shall hereafter be
decided by the Supreme Court of the Uni
tel States, should be respected by all good
citizens, and enforced with promptness and
fidelity by every branch of the General
Government.
Mr.. Douglos. in speech in the Senate
of the United States, said:
Bear in mind that the report introdu.
cling the bill was that these questions touch
| ing the right of property in slaves were re-
fcrred to the local courts. TO the territorial
courts. with a right of appeal to the Su-
prcmc Court OF the United States. When
that case shall arise, and the Court shall
pronounce its judgment, it will be binding
on me. on you. sir, and on every good cit.
izen. 1t must be carried out in good faith;
and all the power of this government-the
army. the navy. and the militia, all that
we have-must be exerted to carry the de-
cision into effect in good faith, If there be
resistance"
Taking this positive declaration of Mr..
Douglas in connection with the decision
already made. and that unequivocally in
dicated, by the Supreme Court, his posi-
ton is practically the same as that taken
by the Breckinridge party. The difference
is one of time and form alone. Until the
Supreme Court decides that the people oil
a Territory possess no sovereignty over
the subject of slavery. Mr.. Douglas will
insist that they do possess it. The mo-
ment the Court decides that his great fun
damental principle Of free government. .
as he calls it. is a humbug. and that the
Territories have no power over slavery at
all. he will meekly hold his hands and
say. Yea. verify SO it is" He says he
will. and his followers say they will, and
who doubts them? The above extracts
show what the Court has decided, and what
it will decide. and thus shows that Mr..
Douglas is only waiting for decision that
will surely come, to maintain exactly the
same position as Mr.. Breckenridge. Will
linglv or unwillingly. consciously or nm
consciously. Mr.. Douglas and his party, in
thus absolutely giving mp to the Supreme
Court the despotic power of fixing and
limiting the rights of the people. have Civ
en- mp all that makes the least practical diff
ference between them and their opponents.
Popular sovereignty" as asserted by Mr..
Douglas. is now mere catch-word. silly.
empty lie, the strangling breath Of a body,
which the Supreme Court holds by the
throat with the avowed determination of
choking 10 death. M M so ,
Now review all these opinions. the con-
fiict between them and the law of nations,