Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-03-29

of the Opposition, in this State; and now
the Republicans Of Missouri, in their sepa-
rate Convention, just held in st. Louis, have
re-affirmed the nomination, and proposed,
by their delegates, to present me to the Ma
tlonal Convention, st on to De heis al onl-
c"so, 20 TT, TI, 49,, Jor,onstra,;ons in
nv own State are doubly gratifying to me,
because thew afford the strongest proof that
INV name las been nut forward only in a
snirit of harmony and peace, and with the
hone of nreyontinp all division and contro-
vcrsv among those, who. for their own safety
and the public good, ought to be united in
their action,
For all this am deeply grateful, and, as
far as concerns me personally, must de-
clare in simule truth. that if the movement
90 no farther. and produce no national re-
suits stu am paid, and overpaid for life
of labor. and for whatever of Jealous efforts
and patient watching ] have been able to
bestow in support OF a line of governmental
policy which believe to be for the present
and permanent good Of the county.
And now, gentlemen, | proceed to answer
your questions, briefly indeed, but fully,
plainly, and with all possible irankuCss. And
to do this the more willingly because have
received from individuals many letters, too
many to be separately answered. and have
seen in many public journals articles making
urgent calls upon me for such statement
of my views.
| Slayerv-Its extension in the Terrific
''es'
| On this subject, in the States and IN the
Territories, have no new opinions-no o.
pinions formed IN relation TO the present ar
ray OF parties. am coeVal with the MIS-
souri, question OF 1880, having pesuh my
political life in the midst OF that struggle.
At that time my position required me 10
seek all the means oil knowledge within my
reach, and to study the principles involved,
with all the powers OF my mind ana ar
rived at conclusions then, which no SUISSE
quent events have induced me 10 change
Inc existence OF negro slavery III our coon -
,Lo Cnlnn;os al y,ns imnosed bv the mother
country. AGAINST the will of most of the
colonists At the time of the Revolution and
long after il was commonly REGARDED as an
evil Temporary in its nature. and likely t.
disappcar in The course of time, vet while II
continued = misfortune to the country. So
ciolly and politicallv
Thus was | taunht, bv those who made
,ur government md neither the new licbt
ar modern civilization. nor the discovery of
a new system of Constitutional law and So
ciol rhiinsopLv has enabled me TO detect the
error If thtir teaching
slavery is "a social rclAtiou-a domestic
institution Within the States it exists hv
tbo local law and tbe Federal goyerumen.
hos no contrib over il therc The Terrific
r;os wbethrr orouired bv conquest or peace-
ala mr., bosn are subject and subordinate
moi snvorc;ur like fine States The nation
;s sunreme over them. and the national gov
orrmont has thc mower to hermit or forbid
sIovo,y within them Entertaining these
y;avs am onnose1 TO tho extension of
slavery and in my opiuinn the shirt and
nnlicv If fine government ought to be against
i,S oyto, sion
~ a., r.,.,..,; .,. .,a,.o.r
%-Dous ."0 oo"''''''''" ''"
INTO the territories
/ answer no. The Constitution Of the
United States does not carry slavery into the
Territories, With much more show of rea-
son may it be said that 1t carries slavery
into all the States. But, it does not carry
slavery anywhere. 1t only acts upon II,
where il finds it established by the local
law.
In connection with this point, am asked
to state my views OF the bred Scott case, and
what was really determined by the Supreme
Court, in that case. 1t is my opinion, care
| fully considered, that the Court determined
one single point of law only-that Is, that
Scott, the plaintiff, being negro OF African
descent, mot necessarily sIave), could not
he citizen OF Missouri, and therefore could
not sue in the Federal Court; and that Tor
this reason and this alone, the Circuit Court
had no jurisdiction oil the cause, ana no
power to give Judgment between tue parties
ro mu h.J IF tho couso WAS ror tlc nnrnosc
lof correcting the error of the Circuit Court.
in assuming the power to decide upon the
merits of the case. This power the Supreme
Court did exercise. by setting aside the udg-
ment of the Circuit Court upon the merits,
and by dsmissing the suit. without any judg-
mcnt for or against either party. This is
all that the Supreme Court did, and all that
it had lawful power to dc.
consider it great public misfortune that
seyera! of the learned Judges should have
thought that their duty required them to
discuss and give opinions upon various ques-
, tons outside of the case, as the case was ac-
tually disposed OF by the Court: All such
oPih'ons are eH''"";''eia' anu VI nv "u'n Nv
scyor,j If the Questions so discussed bv III,
,, ;mdses arc nolitinal questions and therefore
i",.orJ ,ho corn;y,rno IF tho rJ;,;,rv onl
, nronor only 70 bc considered and d;snosef
IF XIX v tbc nolitical Jenortmcnis If an
riohi in th;s and il seems to mo nlain III,
nreoccdnnt Is most unrnrtnnatc because i, ma,
IPoaJ to n dangarous conflict If authority n
r mono the coordinate branches of the GOV
o 80
, w. A., o.,,..;o = A.. euo
.. As " '''o '0'ohiN'''o" Vi 'io '''
backs:
, For many years | have been connectc,