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

nearly All democrats, and southern men.
In the House Of Representatives it received
eigbty-two votes. among which l find the
names of Messrs. Bocock, Albert G. Brown,
Burt Clingham. Howell Cobb. Iverson.
Andrew johnson, r. ". johnson, G. W.
Jones, Mcdowell, McLane, Phelps, Steph.
ems Of Georgia, Rhett, Jacob Thompson.
and Toombs. 1t was also voted for in
1850 by most of the distinguished men
whose names l have just repeated
No pretext was urged for the repeal of
the Missouri restriction, that it was asked
for by the people of the Territory. Every
possible demonstration was given. that it
was repugnant to the feelings of the people
in the free States. In my judgment, it
was passed to appease the inexorable de.
mand Of the slave interest for dominion.
AS Ahab coveted Naboth's vineyard, SO
did the propagandists of slavery cast long
ing, wistful look upon the great plains of
Kansas.
l will not detain the Senate, Mr.. Presi.
dent, with a recital Of the atrocious and
persistent efforts for years to establish slave
ry in Kansas. up to that elimination Of
villainy, the LecomptOn Constitution. L,
is sufficient for me to say, that the unequal
struggle Of the friends of freedom upon
those blood-stained fields was worthy of the
best days of the Revolution and that the
Democratic party of the North had become
so completely demoralized and debauched,
that they neither felt nor dared to express
the slightest sympathy for their brethren,
who were contending for their rights against
the brutal mob of border ruffians, and the
power and influence of the Administration
Their distinguished leader and candidate
for the Presidency. the honorable Senator
from Illinois, MIR. Douglas, has avowed,
upon the floor of the Senate that " it was a
matter of perfect indifference to him, whe,h.
er slavery is voted in or out ;" and his fol.
lowers, unmoved by the love of humanity
or national glory, are apparently alike in.
different.
Thus. step by step. Mr.. President, has
the Democratic party of the North ceased
to be the party Of freedom and been
brought under perfect subjugation to the
interests of slavery. If anything were
wanting to complete the record of its deg.
radiation, and the total abandonment of all
its former principles and leaders. it is the
voluntary offer, made at Chareston, to sub.
NIT to and be guided by the political opin-
ions Of the Supreme Court. as vel! to
those already promulgated, as to those
which they may hereafter declare. For
many years the slave power has been
adroitly managing to mould and fashion the
Supreme Court, SO as to bring il into COM
plete subserviency to their interests.-
There is but one friend of freedom left on
the bench-all the other judges are pro.
slavery So constituted, this court has de-.
ciared that slaves are property under the
Constitution, that they can be lawfully
held in any of the Territories. This opin-
ion in my judsuaeut, is entitled 70 nU more
respect than that of the same number of
men in this Chamber. OF anywhere else !;
but when we look at the necessary conse.
quence of declaring slaves property under
the United States Constitution, and to
what must inevitably be the next decision,
the right to hold them in the States, in de-
6ance of State authority, voluntary en-.
engagement to be bound by such decision
is equivalent to surrender Of the whole
country to slavery.
The present purposes of the slave power
are frankly disclosed in the following arti.
Gle, which appeared in the Union newspaper
Of this city. the organ Of the Administration.
on the 18th November. 1857:
"The constitution declares that the citizens
of each State shall be entitled to all the prive-
ges and immunities of citizens in the several
States Every citizen of one State coming into
another State has, therefore, right to the pro.
lection of his person, and that property which is
recognized as such by the constitution of the
United States, any law of State to the contrary
notwithstanding. So far from any State having
a right to deprive him of this property, it is its
: bounden duty to protect him in its possession.
"If these views are correct-and we believe
, it would be difficult to invalidate thsm--t fol-
! lows that all State laws whether organic or 9th
erwise, which prohibits a citizen Of one State
from settling in another, and bringing his slave
, property with him, and most especially deciar
ing it forfeited are direct violations of the org
e nal intention of government which, Us before
q stated is the protection of person and property
= and of the constitution Of the United States
e which recognizes property an stares, and de
t clares that the citizens of each State shall b,
a entitled to all the privileges and immunities o
i citizens in the several States, among the mos
essential of which is the protection Of person anC
: property"
Mr.. President, the great thought, which
: overburdened the heart Of Jefferson in hi
e latter days, was the usurpations of the Su
# preme Court | quote few of bis pro
s. phetic warnings. and trust that the peopl
J will heed them:
Extract OF a letter to Judge Roane, dated Pop
lar Forest, September G, 1919.
"in denying the right they usurp of eIclu
y sively explaining the constitution, l 60 furthe
= than YOU do, if j understand rightly your QUO
], tation from the Federalist, Of an opinion ths
the judiciary is the last resort in relation III
of other departments of the government but NO
u in relation to the rights of the parties 10 tn
compact under which the Judiciary is derived
n II this opinion is sound then, indeed il our coI
4. stitution a complete telo dc Sc. For, intendin
l. to establish three departments, coordinate al
e independent, that they might check and balanc
one another, it has given, according to this opiI
,f ion, 10 one OF them alone the right TO prescrib
4 rules for the government Of the others; and {
:, that one, too, which is uneleoted by and indt
" pendent of the nation.
u ''The constitution, On this hypothesis, Is
" mere thing of wax in the hands Of the Judiciary
!. which they may twist and shape into any forI
= they please. 1t should be remembered, rs a