The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-08-02
President Electors for the State at Large.
FRED. HASSAURECK, Of Hamilton.
JOSEPH NJ. ROOT, of Erie.
slavery In IN. TerritorIe,.

The normal tonultl0n oil MANKIND le
freedom. and the normal state of the ter
ritories is that Of freedom. Human slave
ry does not now exist, ne7er did. and
never will exist on any portion Of the
Garth, except by special legislative enact.
mept. This axiom is logically and NOR
ally true, as the converse Of the first, viz:
that the original state of man and Of the
soil, is that Of fu edom, Upon the force
of human laws alone then, can this state
of things be changed. That slavery as il
exists is morally wrong. aud legally right,
is. abstractly considered, moral paradox,
which can be TecOncied in no other way
than by the assumption Of that piratica'
doctrine, that might gives right.
Slavery nevertheless exists by legal en-.
actment in several Of these United States;
which authority however does not extend
beyond the limits Of the States where such
ensctments were passed. The right Of
property in slaves. when carried beyond
tho limits Of such State, into territory
where no law upon the subject exists, is
question which at this time is agitaiing
the public mind. The right and dny of
Congress to legsate for for the equal pro-
lection of slave property 10 the territories,
with all other species ofproperty, perhaps
may he stated us the point rpon which
differences ofopnion arise. Men assume
to interpret The constitution Of the United
States diyersely on that subject. Those
who will read tho constitution carefully,
will learn, that the term slavery does not
occur IN that instrument; its trainers be
ing careful 10 exclude it, though The point
was raised, and TO the discretion mainly
ofThos. Jefferson, all illusions 10 tho sub
ect were left out The fundamental ba.
sis upon which sands our Republican
form Of government, being, that all men
are horn equal. entitled 10 "certdin inal-
isnaJle rights, among which are, l.te, liDer-
ty and The pursuit ofAoppinsss," was with
out doubt the controlling element in the
formation Of our national chart. Slave
property then, may only be supposed 10
exist as a States right, and created by
special State enactment, which may not
be impaired by national Legislation, with
out violation Of tho articles Of the con-
federation, binding the States to the Un-
ion.
But it ia claimed by the friends Of slave,
ry, that The territories are the common
property Of the United States, aud that
therefore, all the citizens of all the States,
have an equal right to etIle in them, with
thoir property, and claim equal protection;
AMI upon this assumption arises the ques-
tion, IS to tho title Of slave property as
compared with other chattles, The right
OF the owner TO the undisturbed possession
Of his property in domestic animals, lands
goods aud tenements, whether acquired
by purchase or manufacture. or the natu.
raj Increase Of stock, or il gained 10 any
legal way, the whole world comedies, and
also that his rights are no, compromised
by changing residence from one State to
another That kind Of title however
which master obtaiOs 10 the lives and
services Of his slaves, being local and
special, is not operative beyond tho jurS
dictlOn Of the State, We say il is not
In what constitutional right can one Stat'
enact laws to operate in a sister State, o.
in any way 10 infringe upon their Stat
utes.
But, 10 IL the constitutional duty o
Congress to lsgislate for the special pro
lection of slave property in the territories
As above remarked, those who examin
the constitution will End it silent upo,
the subjsc, Of slavery. If therefore. slave
~ is an institution created by State au
thority, and If the Federal Goyernmen
has igpored the subject, by her utter 81
lenOs the formation Of the Constitution
what constructions eau bo placed upo