The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-06-27

cnanan, OF fennsylvanla 1ne Pian aoops'
ed was to make an onset upon them to
prescribe a new test. as the condition Of
giving them Southern support, by which
their ambitious hopes would all be smoth-
cred, unless they changed their opinions.
They undertook to debauch our public
men. and. with the glittering prize Of the
Presidency before our eyes, they demanded
a surrender of their principles. consent to
the expansion Of slavery. and submission
to the behests of this tyrannical power.
As the State Conventions in Alabama,
Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. met to
elect delegates to the Baltimore Conven-
tion. they passed resolutions, that under
no political necessity whatever would
they give their support to the nominee OF
Convention, unless be renounced the here.
sy that Congress could prohibit the intro
duction Of slavery into the Territories.
The State Convention in Georgia met on
the 22d of December, and passed the fol-
lowing:
| "Rssolped, That the Democratic party of Geor.
gia will support no man for the Office of President
or Vice President, who shall not have clearly and
unequivocally declared their opposition TO the
principles of the Wilmot proviso.
Resolred, That it il the constitutional right OF
every citizen to remove and settle with his
property into any of the Territories of the Uni
ted States"
This adroit and well.managed scheme
was successful. General Cass could not
doubt that "a great change was going on
! in the public mind A." as be admitted there
had been in his own; and en- the 3lst Of
December, 1S47, the Nicholson letter was
published in the Union newspaper. The
Senator from Mississippi says that it was
shown about for several days among the
Southern members, for their approval. 1t
is also due to truth for me to say that is was
read to the Michigan Delegation in Congress
at that time, and that they'unanimously
disapproyed both of its principles and Of
the policy of promulgating it. 1 am sorry
to be obliged to add, that their worst fears
were realized
The Nicholson letter denied the power
of Congress to prohibit slavery in the Ter
ritories, and claimed right for the people
Of the Territories to regulate that and all
other internal matters. l will not stop
to discuss the doctrine. which. although ac-
quiesced in at the time, is now so unsat:s-
factory to the propagandists of slavery but
l beg leave to quote one single Southern
authority againt it. 1t is that of the cello.
brated John Randolph.
In the year 1903, petition was pre-
sented to Congress, signed by General
Harrison, Governor of the Territory of
Indiana. which set forth that he had been
requested to call Convention for the pur.
pose of taking the sense of the whole peo.
pie upon the subject of suspending. for the
period of ten years, the operation of the
sixth article of the ordinance which prohibi
slavery; that such Convention had met
and united in the petition, which declared
that more than nine-tenths of the inhabi.
tants were Of opinion that the enforcement
of the said article was prejudicial to their
interests. This memorial was referred to
a committee, majority of whom were
Southern men. and at the head of which
was the distinguished Virginian. On the
ID of March, of the same year, Mr.. Ran
dolph reported against the prayer of the
petition. and, among other things, said:
"The committee deem it highly dangerous and
inexpedient 70 impair provision wisely calcula
ted to promote the happiness and prosperity O
the Northwestern country, and to give strength
and security to that extensive frontier. In the
salutary operation Of this sagacious and benevo
lent restraint, it is believed that the inhabitant
of Indiana will, at no distant day, find ample re
muneration for a temporary privation Of labo
and emigration"
Sir, the great State of Indiana. with bel
million and half of people, and with al
the privileges and glory of free institutions
is witness today Of the truth Of TIE pre-
diction. What is now the State of Mici
gan was then included in the Territory O.
Indiana and the people of both of those
States will ever hold in grateful remem
brance the efforts of the noble Southerner
against "squatter sovereignty" to preserv'
; unimpared the provision which dedicate'
that Territory to free men. and free labor
1t may also be proper to say. that th
: question of suffrage and eligibility to Of
fee in the Territorial organizations in whicl
those rights were prescribed and define,
by Congress. Is slavery Of higher momen
or more sacred than the right Of suffrag
: : and the eligibility to Office ? If Congress
: can determine the one, it surely has tn
: power to arrest the desolating march of tn
: other.
! The abandonment Of the doctrine s
. |. dearly cherished by jefferson, and whic
). had secured freedom in the great States {
r the Northwest, brought defeat to Gener.
Cass and the Democratic party in 1S4'
: but it installed the slave power in complet
j control. The Northern section had bee
+ caught in the web, and they could not II
Q lieve themselves from tie thraldom. A
!. first they undertook to quiet the conscienc
i Of the people, by the assertion that slsver
: was the creature Of local and positive Law
!. and that it could not obtain foothold i
# the Territories until it was there lawful
If established and General Cass, in a speec
If in his own State, said:
/; "Slavery is the creature of local law, and cs
/. claim neither protection, existence, nor recogr
y ton, in the constitution. Slavery does not ar
" cannot exist in Kansas whilst it remains Ter,
;. tory. The constitution neither protects nor r
, cognizes slavery in the Territories"
!, Henry Clay offered the following res
!, luton in the Senate on the 20th of Jan
u airy, 1850: