Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-01

ernments. and from the equality of the States.
Indeed, they are essential to that equality
which is and ever has been the vital principle
of our constitutional Union. They have been
settled egislatively-settled judically and
are sustained by right and reason. They rest
on the rock of the constitution. They will
preserve the constitution-they will preserve
the Union
1t is idle to attempt to smother these great
Issues, or to misrepresent them by the use of
partiEan phrases, which are misleading and
delusive. The people viii Look beneath such
expressions as Intervention. J" "cOngression-
al slave CODE" and the like, aud will pene-
trate to the real questions involved. The
friends of constitutional equality do not and
never did demand a Congressional slave
CODE" nor any other code in regard to prop
erty in the Territories. They hold the doc
trine of non-intervention by Congress or by
territorial Legislature, either to establish
prohibit slavery; but they assert Fortified by
the highest judicial tribunal in the Union, }
the plaiu duty of the federal government in
all Its departments, to secure, when necessary
to the citizens of all the States the enjoyment
of their property in the common Territories,
as everywhere else within Its jurisdiction
The only logical answer to this would seem to
be to claim sovereign power for the Terrific
ries or to deny that the constitution recogniz-
ed properly in the services of negro slaves, or
to deny that such property can exist.
Inexorable logic, which works Its steady
way through clouds aud passion, compels the
country to meet the issue. There is no eva
sive middle ground. Already the signs mul-
tiply Of a fanatical and growing party which
denies that under the constitution, or by any
other law, slave property can exist; and ulti-
mately the struggle must come between this
party aud the national democracy, sustained
by all the other conservative elements in the
Union.
L think it will be impossible for a candid
mind to discover hostility to the Union, or a
taint of sectionalism in the resolutions adopt
ed br the convention. The constitution and
the Union repose on the equality of the States
which lies like a broad foundation underneath
cur whole political structure. As l construe
them, the resolutions simply assert this equal
ity. They demand nothing for any State or
section that is not cheerfully conceded to all
the rest. 1t is well to remember that the
chief disorders which have afflicted our coun-
try have grown out of the violation of State
equality; and that as long as til, great prin-
ciple has been respected, we have been bless
GU WIN ohU pSaSCs &NOl Will II OG
easy to persuade the country that resolutions
are sectional which command the support of
the majority of the States, and are approved
by the bone aud body of the old democracy.
and by vast mass of conservative opinion
everywhere, without regard to party.
1t has been necessary, more than once in
our history, to pause and solemnly assert the
true character of this government a mem
orable instance occurred in the struggle which
ended the civil revolution of 1900. The Re
publicans of that day, like the Democracy of
this, were stigmatiZed as disunionists, bn.
they nobiy conducted the contest under the
and saved our political system.
By like constitutional struggle it Is intend
ed now to assert and establish the equality of
the States as the only basis of union and
peace When this object, SO national. so
constitutional, SO just, shall be accomplished
the last cloud will disappear from the Ameri-
can sky, and with common hands and hearts
the States and the people will unite to devel-
ope the resources of the whole country, to
bind it together with the bonds of intercourse
and brotherhood. and to impel it onward 10
its great career The constitution and the
equality of the States, These are symbols of
everlasting union. Let these be the rallying
cries of the people.
| trust that this canvass will be conducted
without rancor. aud that temperate argument
will take the place of hot words and passion
ate accusations. Above all. L venture hum
bly, to hope that Divine Providence, to whom
We owe our origin, our growth aed all our
will continue to protect our below
ed country against all danger, foreign and
domestic l am, with great respect, your
friend,
JoHN G. BREcKIsRIDGg,
Hon. c. Gushing, President of the Democrat
Ic Convention.