The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-11-01
Inhn nj. Roiis ON Slavery.

One Of the remarkable Incl ents OF the
day, which we have top briefly noticed
heretofore, is the speech Of Mr.. B Its at
Richmond, Virginia. Let it be observsd
that his speech was made TO great audi
ence, and all its strong points oppluuded.
The Richmond Enquirer says the sp ech
is revolutionary. But mark, there stood
a Virginia audience to sustain it; and mark
slso, that it is in its political aspect, Ms
Republican doctrine.
The posi- ion affirmed by tie Il publ.
cans IL that Slavery is mol national 1T ex
s's by local law only. and, ofcourse can
not exist in The Territories iii there 10 10
cal law there to maint,in it. This was
also the doctrine Of all the old Virginia
statesmen. The doctrine OF the Breckin-
rdgs and Secession party, on the contra.
ry, is a modern herssy.
But let us hear Mr.. Bolts.
In tho early history Of Slavery in the
American Colonies. slaves we're rccogni-
zed as property; Lrt at last the question
was te.ted by the celebrated Somerville
case. 10 which Lord Mansfield decided
hat slaves were not property under the
common law, and from that day 10 thi,
they have been SO regarded in this coun.
try. A horse is property everywhere-so
recognized by the common law-and
therefore needs no protection; but human
beings must be reduced to properly by
special Jaw, and they cannot be held as
property except wh'rO such law prevails.
and this was the constitutional view.
Lord Mansfield male his decision short
" before the American Constiuti was
written, and the authors OF that doru'
m-nt recognized the legality OF that de-
cision in one Of the Articles Of tho Con
4titntion, as thus: "No person held To scr
vice or labor in ono State under the law,
therefore, escaping into another" &c. II
they were held under the common law
no State law would be necessary; and nc
surh clause in the Constitution would
lave been inserted. Again. il they arc
property under the common law, no spe
cial protection is necessary. No man in
the T,rritories asks to have his horses
protected, because his right to that spe
cieS o. properly is everywhere recognized
The phrase of tho Constitution, nc
person held 10 service or labor urder III,
lars Mtreof escaping" NC, is conclu
sye to any fair mind that no Slavery ex
ists, or is acknowledged by tie Cons,iu
lion 10 any shape, except such MS exists
By lie laws of State, and hence tho
Constitution rejects wholly the idea o
Slavery IN a Territory where no such law
exisls.
Virginia is iud bled to Mr.. Bolts, for n
clear, manly exposition ol the true doc
rrioe on this subject. Tho people know
i, Ia true, and Virginia will sustain tia
truth, in spite ofall the howlings Of The
Secessionsts. The great political here's,
lat slaves can be held in Territories
equally with horses. without primitive
law, is now on trial bef,rc the people o.
the Unit d States. 1t is already explo
ded in theory, and will be condemned
practically at tho South as we'll as at ,l'
North, We hazard nothing IN Saying
, that The great body Of tbs South will re-
'ct il, and that ali patriotic parties vii
} bo at last nnilsd on Two propositions; ths
Slavery is iocol Institution. and that thu
control of tho Territories JeiOa9 to III
Government Of The United States.