The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-07-25

anathemas against shareholders, and an al
FINANCE of the doctrine of an irrepressibl'
conflict between systems, until homoge
neousness of labor should be established ev
erywhere through the land. / appealed il
vain. Satisfied that | could no longer rem
der my country service in the existing
condition of things, discontinued to stand
as had stood for four years, between the
Democratic and Black Republican parties,
while both of them occupied wrong positions
upon this great question-which involved
the equality Of the States and the equality OF
the people of the States-I withdrew from
the public councils, and returned to the more
quiet walks of my profession. But | have
been an anxious spectator of the signs of the
times. Your action at Charleston and Bal
timore is so definite that see it must change
the issues of the approaching canvass. The
question comes up for definite solution, and
the people of both sections find themselves
in crisis to demand the exercise of all their
prudence and all their patriotism.
| understand the matter thus: After the
delegates metal Charleston, the committee on
resolutions was appointed, and in that com
mittee it was proposed to renounce the Gin
cinnati platform of 1856 as the platform of
principles maintained by the Democratic par
ty But part Of that committe, represen-
ting CONSTITUENCIES in the slayeholdlng States,
asked that this announcement should be ac-
companied by explanatory resolutions to this
purpor:
/. That Congress has no power TO abol-
ish slavery in the Territories. Second, That
the Territorial Legislature has no power to
abolish slavery in any Territory, nor to pro-
hist the introduction of slaves thereni nor
any power to exclude slavery thercfrom; nor
any power to destroy or impair the right
of property in slaves by any legislation what
ever.
?. Resolced, That it is the duty of the
Federal government to protect, when neces-
sary, the rights of persons and property on
the high seas, in the Territories, or wherever
else its constitutional authority extends.
3. That when the people of Territory
come to make their State Constitution
which is an act of sovereignty-their admis-
sion into the Union should not depend on
the question whether they choose that their
State shall be slaveholding State or free !
State.
The other part of the committee refused
to accede to these propositions, and, on the
contrary, adhered to the doctrine announced
by Judge Douglas, which asserts the right of
the people of Territory, while in their ter
ritorial condition, to legislatc so as to exclude
Shareholders from an enjoyment of their
slave property in the Territory, and denies to
Congress the power to extend to them any
protection against unfricndly legislation.
| believe | have truly stated the points of
which ultimately severed the Con-
vcntion, and have presented to the country
the nominations of Senator Douglas and Vice
President Breckenridge. 1t is also true that
from the slayeholding States, many Demo-
Gratis were present who refused to leave the
Convention upon these points of difference,
regarding them as of no consequence; while
others distinctly conceded with and embraced
The doctrines advanced by the Senator from
Illinois !; and upon these points the latter
promised the acquicsccncc Of the people of
he slayeholding States, to be shown by the
defeat of Mr.. Breckinridge.
The lines of the canvass are thus drawn,
80 as to call on the people of the slavehold-
NC States to avow their sense Of their own
rights in these particulars, and that call rem
lers it imperative, in my opinion, that every
egal voter in those States should turn aside
rom other questions to act upon these, which
are thus rendered paramount for the OCCASION
cannot imagine wider mistake than those
gentlemen have made who would persuade our
Northern people that the slaveholding States
have been Indifferent to their rights in the
Territories, or their equality under the Con-
,titution and the laws. l think they must
ind themselves in sad minority when the
lay of trial shall come, if they expect that
party drill can make "squattcr sovereignty"
regiments out of true Southern men. shall
never believe, until the fact is placed beyond
lisputc by a count of our votes, that the
people of slaveholding State will be willing
o write their own voluntary REIMBURSEMENT
If their constitutional rights, or present them
selves, all naked and yoked, before the Black
Republican chiefs, asking to pass the Caud-
ne Forks" No, gentlemen, no; the people
If my section know their rights, and they
will maintain them. They have asked for
nothing more than mere and plain rights, and,
ny word for it, they will be contcnted with
nothing less. AT any rate, they viii never
,ome mp, voluntarily, to be shorn of privi-
eyes which belong to them as equals in this {
common partnership, or throw these away by
/ manifestation of indifference to the result
when their rights are fatty challenged. If /
hey do, how will the history of such a result
cad Thus: 1t being charged by Mr. Dong !
as that the STAKEHOLDER from Kentucky can /
,nly hold his property in the common Terri s