The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-05-23
REMARKS OF MR.. BARKsDALE,
OF MISSISSIPPI,
IN THE CHARLESTON CONVENTION

the PT1nClpIes ueeneu Dy MIN necessary
to be incorporated into the platform Of
| the democratic party. Mr.. B. spoke
| strongly and eloquently in support of the
majority resolutions, reported by the com
mittee of which he was member, and, a:
it will be observed by the frequent mark:
Of applause, his speech was listened tc
! with great interest
Mr.. f. BARKSDALE, of Mississippi
said: In spirit of fraternity, and with
| a sincere desire to consolidate the Urea
democratic party Of the country upor
the principles of the Constitution, which
are as enduring as truth itself, the MAORI
ty of the committee of which | am
member have presented their report anC
asked this Convention to incorporate it in
to the creed of the democratic party.
The committee believe that it is timt
| the differences which exist in the demo
cratic party concerning the true interpre
tation of its creed were settled. Deeply
do they feel that it is burning imputa
ton upon their honesty and patriotism
that a party claiming to be national, anC
claiming to have principles for their guide
should acknowledge for their declaration
of faith creed upon which are placed
two distinctly opposite interpretations by
its own advocates. Keenly do they fee
that whilst these differences do continue
they will suffer under the deserved re-
proach of speaking to the country with 9
double-tongue-of wearing Janus-face
to win to its embraces men of every hue
of opinion, without reference to the prin
ciples which they may entertain.
Full well do they know that while this
continues the progress of the democratic
party will be impeded, its prosperity in
jured, and its peace destroyed by contend
ing factions within its bosom, each charg
ing the other with violating its plighted
| faith. They are well aware that whilst
the struggle for Office, its hOnors, and its
emoluments, goes on these dissentions
will be hushed but then they know that
when the battle shall have been fought
when the clangor of arms against the
common foe shall have ceased, then will
| come the terrors of domestic strife-then
/ then will gush forth the fountain of bit
| ter waters, for the shouts of triumph will
be mingled with the notes ofdiscord. Zap
! plause.
! The exciting scenes through which we
have passed during the last three wears
are full OF eloquent appeals upon this
subject. In 1856 the democratic marty
met in Convention at Cincinnati. and
nominated for the presidency an illus
trlous statesman, venerable in years. wise
IN counsel, revered for his long and faith
tul services in the cause of his country
and the action of the Convention was rati
fed by the people at the polls. Wha
are the results? Upon the very frs
measure of his Administration. hayine
a sectional bearing, he found it bitterly
and tiercely assailed by portion of tn,
party which assisted in elevating him I,
power, upon the grave charge OF violatin.
the principles upon which he was elected
Shall this condition of things continue
Shall the incoming Administration inbe,
1t the misfdftunes and troubles of its pre
cessor?-troubles and misfortunes tina
were born of a creed-the true meanin
of which was shrouded in mystery, if il
own advocates are to be believed.
Then, what is the duty of this Conver
ton? 1t is manifest that it is its duty |
remove these doubts-to clear away thes
obstacles to harmonious action-and I
blaze out the path which the faithful 70
lowers of the democratic flag must 90 S
plain that even amid the storms and fur
of contending factions they may read il
scribed upon its glittering folds the pril
ciples which they cherish. Applause
These difficulties-these dissentiOns. we
strongly developed during what is know
as the Lecompton struggle, and have Co
tinued down to this very hour, as we ha'
had demonstrated by the majority repor
and the addresses which have been deli
cred in your hearing. They invole pri
ciples of vital import, and consequence
deeply affecting the interests of the slav
holding members of the Confederac
They relate to the true and proper stat
of the Territories which are acquired
the common blood and treasure of IL
people of all the States. to the rights
those people to the joint occupancy an
equal enjoyment of tho Territories, all
to the authority and obligations of I'll
Federal Government in the discharge
the duties which appertain to them.
On the one hand, it is contended tn;
the inhabitants of the Territories-tI
: settlers, who, by accident or design, al
thrown in advance of all others upon tn
public lands, have the right to appropriat
them to their own uses, and to determin
for all time the future institutions of TIL
country, by passing laws declaring wins
description of property may not be ca
ried into their Territories, and held there
On the other hand, it is contended tina
the inhabitants of the Territories are tn
mere tenants at the will of the State
and possess no power except what Cor
= gress, acting within the prescribed limit
of the Constitution, can confer, that the
possess no sovereign power, and are who
ly subject to the control of the FEEDERS
Government.
The ownership of the Territories is in tn
States the jurisdiction over them belong
to the Federal Government, and the teri
tOrial legislature, which the Government
creates to facilitate the performance {
minor duties, is but the agent of an agent
Now, can Congress, or its agent, exclud
the property of citizens of any of tn
States from the Territories? The powe
to do this depends upon the relatio
which the Government bears to the TER
tories, and to the States, respectively.
needed not the decision of the Suprem
Court to impress upon intelligent mind
the facts that the Constitution confers W
on the Federal Government the power +
acquire territory, and that it holds it i
trust for the use Of the States which ar
its equitable owners.
Now, can this trustee by its own act.
or by the acts of the agent, discriminat
to the prejudice Of the rights of any c
these joint owners? In other words, ca
the people of New England be allowed t
carry into the Territories and enjoy III
, disturbed whatever description Of prope
ty they may own, while like privilege
denied to the citizens of slaveholdin
States And yet the power to make tn
, observation-disclosures perpetrate this wron;
is claimed for the territorial legislature b
those who advocate the doctrines contain
, ed in the minority report.
1t has been well and wisely said by tn
venerable head of the present Admir-
istration, Mr.. Buchanan, that ''ifa confeC
Grafton of sovereign States acquire ne
, territory at the expense of their commo
, blood and treasure, surely one portion {
the partners can have no right to exclud
the Others an equal enjoyment ofits ben,
, fits by denying them the right to carry il
to it whatever is recognised as propert
by the common Constitution
The Supreme Court of the Unite
, States has decided that slaves are propert,
and that neither Congress nor the teri
torial legislature has a right to exclud
from the Territories what is recognized 6
property under the laws of any of tn
I
, is bound to afford full and ample protet
ton when property rights thus defined b
State laws and recognized by the Const
tuition are assailed. What is the languag
of thecourt, as pronounced by the learr
ed and venerable fancy? Mark well, b,
cause it comes from a source entitled t
the respect of the democratic party.
Is this: THE right of property in slave
is distinctly and expressly affirmed i
f the Constitution" and if the Const
tuition recognises the right of property i
/ slaves, and makes no distinction betwee
that description of property and any Otl
er owned by citizens of any of the State.
no tribunal acting under the authority {
the United States, whether Legislative
exooutive, or judicial, can make such di
tinction, or deny toit the benefit of tn
provisions and guarantees which are Pre-
vided for the protection of private proper
ty against encroachment," &c. Thes
are the principles which have been emu
merated by the Supreme Court, and a
they are just and true and constitutions
upon them we claim the right OF prote,
ton to the slave protection to the slav
property of Southeron citisens who ma
settle in the Territories, And that is tn
position upon which the South has alway
stood. The extracts which have bee
read by the gentleman from Ohio M
Payne prove nothing in support OF h
assumption to the contrary, except. pc
haps, the quotation which he produce
from speech of Mr.. Orr, of South Car,
lima, and that would not have sustaine
him if it had net been torn from its co,
, text and perverted from its true meal
, ing. Mr.. Calhoun, rejecting the sent
ments of the entire South, in his som
t what celebrated controversy with M