Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-04-18
Hon. John G.. Davis

and was listened to with much interest b
a large audience. The most decided fea
ture in the effort was, that he was in ia
vor of the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty
ard fer Stephen A. Douglas for the Presi
dency. He hit James Buchanan, his ad
min:strstion ard the ad administration demo
Gratis, many back handed liek,. He tool
the correct position. that slavery was tn,
creature Of local law, and could not bt
extended one foot beyond the jurisdiction
of those laws. He secuted the position
that the Federal Constitution carried slav-
cry into the Territories, and denounced
the idea as monstrous aud ridiculous that
the slave holder had the right to take his
slaves into the Territories, under the Com
mon ldw. Qn this he differs from the Dem
ccratic Senator from this District, who
says that the master has a right to take his
slaves into the Territories by virtue OF a
higher law th an the Constitution-the COM
or lao Of the ,eorld. And he also here
radically differs with our neighbor of the
Journal, for he says that the stakeholder
has the right 10 take his slaves, "ds other
property, into the common Territories. .'')-
How these Democrats will reconcile these
differences, We will not now pretend to say.
Mr.. Davis, upon the great question of
slavery extension-the question Of the age
the right of the master to take his slaves
outside OF these States, wherein there are
laws recognising the relation of master a nd
slave. is truly Republican. Upon this he
fights in the very teeth of a large majority
Of the Democratic party, and declares that
| IL the Charleston Convention avows the
doctrine Of a Congressional code to pro-
teet slavery in the Territories. then he is
private citizen, and will no longer act
with that party.
Had Mr.. Davis been a stranger to US, we
should certainly have come TO the conclu
sion that he was making a pretty good
Republican speech; however. when he
came to close, he stated his objections TO
the Republican party. He had three OBJ
jsetiOns, and they were,
lst. "That the Republicans were op
posed to che admission of any more slave
States"
In this Ms. Davis is mistaken. The
Republican party AS party. is NOT opposed
to the admission Of any more slave States.
Some of its members may be, bat the party
Is not. 1t recognizes the doctrine tn at the
people of 3 Territory, when they come to
fern State, have a right to form their do
nestle institutions as they please, and
when thus formed, and their constitution
presented to the Federal Congress for ad-
mission as State, they should be admit.
ted.
Cd. he objected to the Republican party,
because it was in favor of Congressional
ia reference. to exclude slaoery jromfhe Ter
Yifsries.
The Republican party, does not ask for
any Congressional legislation. in relation
to the subject Of siaory. If however that
question Is to be legislated on by the Fed
eral Congress. then it should be to exclude,
rather than to protect slavery. The Re-
publeans however hold TO doctrine
which overshadows all this. They say
that slavery can not, under any state OF cir
cumstanees, or by virtue of the Constitu
tion Of the United States, or by any other
means, exist in the Territories, in the alb
sence of any Law or treaty stipulaiion.-
This being the ease they do not ask for
| Congressional interference, TO exclude
frsn the Territories. that which does not
exist in them.
Sd. He is opposed to the Republican par
", because a few days ago, Mr.. Blake of
! Ohio, introduced into the House of Repre-.
seAtatives the following resolution, and
that il was supported by some 60 Republi.
cans
WHEREAS, The chattels of mankind and
the holding of persons as property is con-
trary to natural justice and the fundameH-
tai principles of our Political system, and
is notoriously q reproaeh to our county
throughout the civilized world, and Sc
rieus hiadranee to the progress of liberty
throughout the nations Of the earth, there.
fore
Resolved, That the Comnittse on Judi
eiary be, and the same are, hereby instruc-
ted 10 inquire into The erpedieRcy Of report
ing bill giving fre dom TO every human
being, and iHteyd,eting slauery wherever Con
sress has the Constitutional potcsr TO leoistafe
upon the subject.
We must confess our surprise to hear
Mr.. Davis make this point Of objection
against the Republicans party-aud in fact
We are surprised that he should object to
the resolution al all IL will be seen that
the resolution, is one of inqairy-asking
the Judiciary committee to enquire into
the sxpsdiency" Of doing this thing. Re O.
lutions Of inquiry are as a general thing al
ways voted for by deliberative bodies -
They are perfectly harmless and are gen
orally INDUCED in. to get the opinion oi
some committee on particular question
Fhe committee then reports upon the erps
, dieaey or iasxpedieRey of the matter, and
} this often determines the future action o
the body. This resolution however is one
of inquiry, to determine where "Csnsres
hss the Csnstitutis .sl psrer 10 lesislate on III
subject Of slavery" Certainly it was a mat
= ter of much Importance to have the opinion
Of the Judiciary committee, on SO import
. ant a Constitutional question, and the onl,
, object of the resolution was to obtain 1t.
1t is remarkable then that Mr.. Davi
should make this as an objection to the Re
1, publican party. His three objections then I
the Republican party are not tenable hi
4, first is not true-his second is owing TO th
want of full understanding Of the sui
ieet, and his third, is all moonshine.
He avewed his willingness TO vote fc
the admission Of Kansas under her recen
!, Constitution, and said, had he been j
"a Congress few days ago, he would hav
IF so voted. His speech was mild aud nc
!, abusive Of any oue or particularly OF an
~ party. He seemed to have a little mo-