The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-08-17
Mr. Douglns On lhc stump.

.
A candidate-so a punster says--is a
person who hates to be candid. Hence
It has been usually deemed a dictate Of
propriety and dignity that Presidential
sspirant should keep silence. Candidates
for Member of Congress--and in some
States for Governor nlso--oro expected
to take the stump but Il is generally
and properly preferred that the rivals
should speak together, so that any lack
of cHndor or fairness evinccd by one
should be promptly detected and exposed
by his competitor. No one will dispute
the proposition that candidate for Prosi-
dent should ne be impelled to discuss CON
trovertod topics at all, should troas them
with eminent cOndor and dignifed frank
ness, 30 that, il he should fail to win the
assent of a portion Of his hearers, he
shall at least command their respect,
In the light of these self-ovident truths
consider the following passage (in sub
stance, a very old acquaintance from tho
telegraphic synopsis of Mr.. Douglass
speech on Monday at Concord, New
Hampshire:
"The principle, that he (Douglas) stood
upon was the right Of the people 20 make
/ their own laws, and TO establish institu-
tions to suit themselves. That was the
principle of the Revolutionary War DEM
ocr0ts; but il is now said that Congress
can pass Federal laws, not local and do
mestic laws, for the people Of a Terrific
1 ry who have equal rights Of self-govern-
ment, and who went from the old States
where they had these rights. Why should
they loose them in the ferry-boat cross
ing the Missouri River"
Now look at the following principles
affirmed by the U. s. Supreme Court in
the Dred Scott case, as set forth in How
ards Reports, vol. 10, p. 395.
Sd. "EvERY CITIZEN HAS RIGHT TO
TAKE WITH HIM INTO THE TERRITORY ANY
ARTICLE OF PROPERTY WHICH THE CONsTt-
TUITION OF THE UNITED STATES REcoG-
NIzEs AS PROPERTY"
atm 4 ne AOubllluAlou VI AuH " uANtu
States recognizes slaves as property, and
pledges the Federal Government to pro-
tect II. And Congress cannot exercise
uny more authority over property of that
description than il may constitutionully
exercise over property oruny other kind" !"
9th. "The act Of Congress, therefore
prohibiting a citizen Of the United States
taking with him his slaves when he re-
moves to the Territory in question TO re-
side, il an exercise of authority over pri-
vate property which is not warranted by
the Constitution, and the removal Of the
plaintiff by his owner to that Territory
gave him no title to freedom"
9th. "While il remains a Territory
Congress may legislate over IL within
the scope of It's constitutional powers in
relQtinn 10 aiti=eps of the United States
and may establish a territorial govern
ment, the form of this local Government
must be regulated by the discretion Of
Congress; but with powers not exceed
ing those which Congress itself by the
Constitution is authorized to exercise
over citizens of the United States in re-
spect to their rights of person or rights
of property
Now consider, in connection with the
above, the two following plOnks Of the
Platform whcreon Mr.. Douglas is now
running for President:
Resolved, That the Democratic party
ioiH abide By he decision Of The Supreme
Court of ne United STATES OUer The IN
siiiUtioR Of Sa'Usry ieithiR the TerriiO-
ries.
"Resolved, That il is in accordance
with the Cincinnati Platform, that dur
ing the existence of Territorial Govern
ments the measure of restriction, what
ever il may be, imposed by the Federal
=. Constitution on the power Of the Terri
torial Legislature over the subject OF the
domestic relations, Us the same has been
or shall hereafter be finally determined
by the Supreme Court Of the United
, States, should be respected by all gooC
citizens and enforced with promptness
and fidelity by every branch Of the Gen
, eral Government"
Is Mr., Douglas an honest man! Is HI
dealing fairly or foully with his fellow
citizens! Il certainly seems to us that h
is deliberately swindling, or attempting
: 20 swindle themj but here are the fact
| which enable every one to judge for him
t self! II Mr.. Douglass platforul-tha
t whereon he is now running for Presden
\ does really allow the People Of Ter
r ritory ''to establish irsti-dtions to sui
I themselves" while ,heY eontinue to b
5 citizens of that Cor any other) TeTitor
2 If il gives emigrants from States to
d Territory the same right over Slavery 4
e that Territ1ry that they possessed in 9Th
old States" !" then we are insane and Nj
I Douglas is honest. But if it does no sue
9 thing-what thenl