The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1860-08-22
The Record of John C. Breckenridge.

Nor nil wciasp a secret book and read you matter
deep and d1gtaiag!"
The opponents Of judge Douglas lay great stress up
on the fact that he has claimed for the people of
territory the right decide tor themselves what shall
be the character Of their Institutions in other words
that he is advocate of socaled squatter sovereignty
In alhs political career, the most extreme reeaerS
among his assailants cannot lind but this solitary sin
They have picked it in vain to find something else
with which to make capital-it is not to be found.
We propose to show that in supporting John c.
Breclurdge the opponents OF judge Douglas are stul-
Jtyng themselves and that in elegant parance they
have simply "swapped the devil for WITCH We
propose to show, II mans own speecheS-his own
published words-amouRt to proof that Breckenridge
for the six years Immediately preceding his nomination
by the boters held to the identical doctrine Douglas is
charged with. We ask candid investigation OF the
facts shall present and conde the reader to render
an impartial judgment thereon.
AT the time the Kansas Nebraska bill was before
congress, Mr.. Bgeekinrdge a member of the lower
house he had already made his mark in the halls of
legislation and well yersed in the politics of the
country La the discussion which arose upon the bill
referred to- Mr. B. took a very prominent part and de
Evered one speech which he seemed to have prepared
with great and forethought. Hence, it must be
acknowledged he made no assertion and used no Ian
guage the correctness and effect of which he did not
fully comprehend. From that speech so carefully set
to music make few extracts, the first of which is
the following. Speaking of the operations of the
Kansas-Nebraska BILL Mr. b. said:
1t will be observed that the right of the people to
regulate in their way their domestic institutions
is left wholly untouched except that whatever is done
must be done in accordance with the consttuton-the
supreme law for all And the right of property under
the constitution well as legislative action is properly
left to the decision of the federal judiciary This avoids
contested issue which it is hardly in the competency
ocongres9 to decide and refers to the proper tribunal
"All their domestic institutions" includes slavery as
,,,faN Il I, IL
touched plainly implies that the people of territories
should 60 to work unettered by congress and simply
with the constitution in their precisely
what Mr.. Douglas claims. Douglas and Breckenridge
both agreed to that in regard to Kansas.
Buthereis another extract from Breckinridges Speech
The language is strong, unequiyoca and unmisakable
Says Mr.. Brecknrdge:
Then, sir neither the purpose the effect of the
bill is to legate slavery into Nebraska and Kansas
BUTTS Effects tosweepaway this vesge fcongressson-
al dctaton on this subject to allow the free citizens of
this Union the common territory with the con-
sttuon and the bill alone in their hands, and to remit
the decision of their rights under both the courts Of
the country. Who 80 before his constituents re-
fuSng to stand on the platform OF the constitution?
Nho can make case to them of refusing to abide the
decision OF the courts of the Union?
Will the reader just read that extract again? etc
sweep away this yesting of congressional dietaton
What does that mean Simply that congress should be
stripped OF all control over the domestic Institutions
of territory This, Mr.. B. would leave the people Of
territory he would those OF State unfettered and
untrammeed Congressional interference or dcta
ton, if you please. What more has Douglas claimed?
Positively nothing But what is meant by renting
ther rights under both to the IS of the country?
What rights are referred to? any partic liar right"
referred to? Not at all but all the rights of the people
in the territory referred to. The speaker then
included the right" hold slaves in territory as also
the right to recover fugitive slaves escaped into
territory, and lie included those rights intentionally
because they were the leading questions then under dis
Gus ion in congress His friends cannot get behind the
plea that this language uuguarded on the contrary
every word well studied before ut erance There
they are, plain aud clear They cannot be misrepre-
sented. Southern Times