The Van Buren press., 1860-10-26
What they Say.

~ believe that the safety, the peace,
the highest interests of the country require
the preservation intact of the Democratic
party on its old creed and its old platform
Whenever we depart from that platform,
which was adopted unanimously, we never
will get unanimity in the formation of an
other.-StepAen Il. Douglas.
~ OF all the mad schemes that ever
could lie devised by the South, or by the
enemies of the South, that which recogniz-
es the right OF Congress to touch the insti-
tuition of slavery either in States or Terri
tories, beyond the single case provided in
the Constitution for the rendition of fugi-
tive slaves is the most fatal.-[ Stephen a.
Douglas.
E@ L care not whether you agree or diff
fer with me on the points of law that have
divided us. If you should happen to be
right, and L wrong, it would not prove that
you were a better Democrat than I, but
that you are better lawyer than l am, so
far as that one branch of law is concerned.
should not have much pride of opinion
on that point of law, but for the fact that
you have got in the habit of calling me
Judge" [laughter] having among my
youthful indiscretions accepted that office
and acquired that title and lido claim that
with that title, have a right to think as
please on a point of law until the court de-
ciies that L am wrong.-[ Stephen 4.
Douglas.
~" Slaves, according to that decision,
1.-THE Dred Scott decision being property,
stand on an equal footing niM all other prop
erty. There is just as much obligation on
the part of the Territorial Legislature to
protect slaves, as of every other species of
property-as there is to protect horses, cat
tie, dry goods, liquors, &c. If they have
right to discriminate as to one they have
as to the other and whether they have got
the power of discrimination OF not, is for
the court to decide if any one dispute it.
If there is no power of discrimina-
ton on other species of property, there is
none as to slaves. If there is power of
discrimination on other property-and /
think there is-then it applies to slave
property. In other words, slave property
Is on an equal footing with all other prop
ry."-[ Stephen d. Douglas.
~ have no blind devotion to the
Union, but in my judgment, there is now
no existing cause to justify dissolution
Hersehel Y. johnson.
~ 1t is better for the South to rely up
on the Constitution and the Dred Scott case
than to 90 before free-soil Congress with
the vain demand for its friendly interposi-
tion. When the lamb can trust to the lion
for protection, then NAV the South ask
Congress to throw over slavery sheltering
egis.-[ Hersehel y. johnson.
S If facts can establish any PROPOSE
tion, the Southern States have agreed to
the doctrine of non-intervention by Con-
press, in State and Territories. and that the
people of the territories may determine the
question of slavery for themselves " in their
own way, subject oniy to tho Constitution
of the United States. ."-[ AerseAel y
Johnson.
S Few, at the South, deny the power
of Congress to pass laws for the protection
Of slave property in the Territories-I GER
toinIy do not But it is denied by many of
the strongest intellects in the United States.
Indeed throughout the entire extent of the
free labor States there are few who do not
doubt it, and many able lawyers believe in
the doctrine of popular sovereignty. If,
then. we award to others the same honesty
which we claim for ourselves. we must ad
NIT that the right of Congress to intervene
for the protection of slavery is questions
bic.
Therefore, when the South demands it,
she assumes an attitude of very doubtful
policy. She affords the free-soilers plau-
sible pretext to say she yields Jurisdiction
on the subject of slavery she has slwsys
denied. She departs from her cherished
doctrine of strict contfaction by asking the
exercise of questionable power. ehe sur
renders herself to the mercy of sn infnr1at-
ed free soil majority.-( Hsrsehes ?. .o's:~:-
son.
- A preacher once selected the follow
ing words for his text !: "The world the
hesh. and the devil" Observing that he