Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-10-04
Our Position.


In the first number Of the Bulletin issued
under the auspices of the present editor a
series of questions was propounded to us, to
all Of which we had given explicit answers,
AS we are accustomed to do on all occasions,
as We bold no opinions that we wish to con-
ceal. In reply to the editor we informed him
of this fact and iutmated that his haste in
in assuming to catechise his brethren sayoured
strongly of an uncommon amount of assu-
rance. In his next ssue he persued the same
course limiting himself to one question which
we suppose be considered poser. To this
question we gave an answer stating that the
event to which we referred had not TRANSFERRED
and that therefore the time for carrying out
our purpose had not arrived. In his Issue of
las; Saturday, he devotes a whole column to
our special benefit in which he complains at
our not answering his questions categorically,
as they we're couched in courteous TERMS
he now abandons that style and takes on the
most indecorous and offensive form Of address
that he could possibly assume even to the
extent Of intmsting that we have uttered
what is false. We are sorry that our broth
er editor allows himself to be betrayed into
such improprietes and 10 SO far step aside
from editorial courtesy towards his reighbors,
AZ even to lead tho mild and courteous editor
OF the Alleganian to doom II his duty to pro-
nounce him "a liar and base slanderor." No
good personally or to the party whose organ
he purports to be can grow out Of such a
course. We hope it will DO abandoned for
the future.
AS however the editor Of the Bulletin con-
s'eves ii to be matter of such vital impor-
. lance that we should answer his questions,
notwithstanding the exceptionable character
OF his last article, wo will cndeavor to Crafty
him.
The following are the questions he pro-
pounds to us in his issue of the 9Th ultimo:
|. Do you believe that under the Constitu-
tion Of the United States, Congress has the
power TO lsgisate AZ she sees proper. relative
to tho retension or abolition Of slavery In the
Territories?
ii. Do you entertain tho opinion that uu-
der the Constitution Of the United States, tho
Territorial Government possesses the power to
exclude the institution of slavery therefromf
III. If SO, does the Territorial Government
derive this power from the Constitution, OF
from any "inherent" and "inalieuable" right,
existing in the people thereof; or does it de-
rive it from the ''wants and cor veniencies Of
the local communities 7"
Nv. Do you acquiescc in the Dred Scott
decision, as the true exposition, intent and
meaning of the Constitution. relative to the
slavery question in the Territories and if 30,
that the prohibition placed upon Congress,
regarding her interference with slavery in the
Territories, s.cqually binding and valid on the
Territorial Government
V. DO YOU believe the Territorial Govern
ment to be an organic ii body polite, and as
such then and there acquiring its sovereignty,
or that such sovereignty under the bred Scott
decision, is not obtained until she forms her
self into State? If you believe tho former.
how can it DO so, whom the essential element
of sovereignty in Government, consists in
the fact that that Government is responsible
to the people, when Oh the contrary tho Ter
ritorial Government is responsible alone to
the Federal Government,
wi. Provided Abraham Lincoln is elected,
and under his administration the South should
be debarred from having her Constitutional
rights, its peace and safety endangered. and
the security of its property destroyed, will
you elect TO remain iu the Union, or choose
the honorable alternative Of separation
BY reference to our ISSUE of tho 18th OF
April at the conclusion Of an article under
the caption "Arc We," will be found the fol-
lowing words: 1--WE are clearly of the opinion
that Congress has the right to legislsts to pro-
hibit slavery in the territories"
We consider that an explicit answer TO tho
first question.
As il regards the 81, 81, and 4th, tho ans
ger given to the first is all sullcisnt, for Il
Congress has the right to lceislsts On the rub
iect Of slavery in the territories. territorial
Legislature has no such right unless delegated
by Congress.
As i. regard. the 9th question. wo don't
believe in The so sereignty of terri.ory--that
belongs to States. tf
The 9th and last Of this series we told the
slitor we had also answered.
III our issue Of Doc. 10th, 1859, we quoted
he following words from theStaunton Spec
,.tor: sThers seems to BE- but ono course left
r tho South, and that is to adopt every
,ceabls measure Of defence and protection
,ithin the Union and the Constitution, and