Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-07-27
Tne WickIiae Resolution.

On another page will be found a commu-
nication on this resolution from an esteemed
In answer thereto we can
only saw, that whatever Mr.. Douglas may
have said in Illinois when on the stump, IN
the heat ofdebate and amid an exciting can
vass. we are satisfied that he will abide by
the platform Of principles laid down by the
Convention which nominated him. A part
of that platform was the Wickliffe resolution.
This same resolution, in substance at least,
was .offered in the Convention at Charleston
by Mr.. Douglas friends, and, we believe,
by his request. It twas adopted with his con-
sent and expressed wish at Baltimore. I'm
der these circumstances no one can doubt
that should he be elected, he will be gov
erned by its sentiments.
To so much Of our correspondents COM
munication as infers that the resolution is
capable of two constructions, we must dissent,
It expressly leaTes the question Of the pow
.er of Territorial Legislatures to establish or
prohibit slavery to the decision of the Su-
preme Court In our article referred to,
we assumed that the Court would enjoin Ter
ritorial Legislatures from enacting laws on
the subject, for want Of jurisdiction over it.
This assumption vas based. not on the res
olution, nor on Mr.. Douglas expressed O.
pinions, but or our knowledge Of the Con-
gtitution and laws Of the land. IF we are
right, the South have all the protection they
claim If we are wrong, and the Supreme
Court will establish or prohibit slavery in
the Territories before they acqui- sovereign
| 81, -, 4toj nc S+oto ,ua mn
bow to the decision, believing that It is in
accordance with the Constitution our fathers
gave Us, and BIZ which We are bound, the
South and the North equally alike.
| TIE difference between the resolutions of
the majority and ofthe minority Conventions
consists in the one referring the entire ques-
ton of slavery in tie Territories to the Con-
stitution Of the United States as ezpounded
and enforced by the Supreme Court, and the
other embodyihg in their resolution what
they think the decisions of the Supreme Court
on the question will or should be. Now,
although our opinion as TO the true construc-
Sion Of the Constitution may be in accordance
with the resolutions, Of the minority Conven-
ton, yet we must believe that the "W ick-
life resolution of the majority is the most
fair and honorable, and is best calculated to
satisfy and harmonic The entire Democracy
Of tie country. -.
The reasons why We thus believe are that
! the Constitution, and the construction there
of by the Supreme Court, cannot be chang
cd by every ''wind of doctrine" Or by every
breeze Of party politics, and because tie
Democratic party is founded on the Consti-
tuition, and is, in fact; the only constitutional
party which at present exists in the country,
if we except the Union party. What 50
proper, then, when members of that party
disagree in regard to a constitutional ques-
ton, as to refer it for decision to the only
power created by the Constitution itself for
that purpose? Who can object to such a
reference ? What Democrat can find fault
with such decision i? This is what the
Wicklife resolution does, and nothing more
On this resolution, With this exciting cues
ton thus properly referred, stands Mr.
Douglas as candidate for the Presidency
Mr.. Breckenridge, on the other hand, stands
as candidate for the same Office on a resolu
ton fcrestalIing the decision Of the Supreme
Court, and declaring what that decision
should be-. We leave the Democracy, NORTH
and South, to decide which Of the platforms
is the most constitutional and most Demo
cratic, and which Of the candidates standing
on and representing those platforms they
will support.--N. Y. Neeos.
Southern Ng ;TEae Church
Iaa Washington, I'D. G.
From long and interesting letter in the
last issue Of the Richmond Christian Adoo-
cote, dated at Washington, and signed j..
A. PROCTOR, we make The following ex-
tracts:
Our Church in Washington feels more
strongly than ever her alliance with the
great family of Southern Methodism, of
which she is the only representative In this
city, During the past winter and spring,
she received at her alter, members from near
every State in the South, and now that they
have returned to their distant homes, they
carry with them her kindest regards and
most fervent prayers, and she claims and ex-
poets to receive from them all, affectionate
remembrance. Missouri gave us the pious
and excellent Senator Polk, and the Hon.
J. B. Clark, with his truly amiable and
Christian wife. From Kentucky we had
honest brother Bristow, whose heart, unaf
fected by the pomp and splender Of Congress
sional life, was simple enough to prefer the
'class room" as the chest place he could
find in the city," The impulsive but gene.
rous Hatton, the son of veteran Methodist
preacher. and the dignifed and eloquent
Stokes, osme to us from christian homes in
pleasant Tennessee. :Alabara contributed
one of her brightest jewels in the person of
polished brother Cloptcn; and Mississippi
was ftly represented in Hon. Reuben Davis
and excellent lady, and in Mrs. Lamar, the
daughter Of Judge Lopgstreet and wife of
Hon. L. @. G. Lamar. From Georgia, the
EmT5;re State Of the South and Of Southern
Methodism, we had an imposing delegation,
among whom may be mentioned Mrs.
Toombs, the estimable wife of the Senator;
modest brother Jones, true man and
thorough Methodist; and-as have heard
him called-the astute Judge Jackson, with
his accomplished and beautiful wife. Right
proud was I, that North Carolina was so for
tunately represented in the person of Mrs.
Smith, whose ever placid face. together with
that of her amiable husband, Hon. VIM. N.
FL. Smith, SO frequently and so pleasantly
reminded me of my far off boyhood home.