The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-01-04

Territory, it would abolish u III a.
state He then referred to the Dred
Scott decision, and claimed that
there was nothing in that decision
to lead any ono to infer that the
Constitution establishes slavery in
any territory; nothing that justifics
men in saying that tho Constitution
enters the territory acquired from
Mexico, and aboishes Mexican law
and establishes law guaranteeing
the right to take and hold slaves in
this territory.
Mr.. Doolittle then read from Mr..
Lincoln's speeches, where he had
declared he had no purpose directly
or indirectly TO interfere with slavery
in the states. lie believed he had
no lawful right to do so, nor had he
any inclination to DO go.
Mr.. Nicholson said he had stated
that the Republican party had ex-
pressed determination to regard
the rights Of Southern men in the
states, but he laid down general
principle outside of the stales, which,
if carried out, would destroy their
rights in the states.
Mr.. Doolittle said hc understood
the gentleman to say that he ap-
pretended the Republican party
would 40 increase in power that at
last it would amend the Constitution
80 as to destroy the rights OF the
South, and emancipato the slaves,
Mr.. Nicholson said the policy and
principles Of the Republican party,
il carried ont, would extinguish
slavery, and he had expressed the
apprehension that il the power Of the
free states increased, and they in
tended to carry out their purpose,
it would lead to the ultimate ex-
tinctiou OF slavery.
Mr.. Doolittle said that the Repuh.
lican party, a. he unlerstool it,
stood to protect AMI maintain the
rght5 OF states to all powers not ex
pressly delegated, or necessary to
carry into effect the powers dele
gated. 1t was fundamental with
them to mainthin the sovereignty o!
the several states, and the right to
control all domestic institutions. ~.
He would undertake TO say that no
Republican expressed the desire or
wish that the general government
has power to interfere with slavery
in the states. He knew there was
a book published by an individual
named Spooncr, that took the ground
that the Constitution itself abolished
slavery, but it found no supporters
Of any weight. 1t was precisely
like that other fanatical idea, that
the Constitution OF its own force
establishes slavery anywhere on the
earth.
Mr.. Cinrmln sid he Ia seen
it published that the Senator from
Now York (Mr. Seward) had recon-
mendrh the book. Did the Senator
tom Wisconsin mean that this wls
f forgery. or did he mean the Sena,
tor from New York had no weight:
Mr.. DDolittle said the Senator
from Mississippi (Brown) recon
I mended it. lie believed thlt thu
| author was man of sound sense
! hut wha. no (Doolittle) said wal
, that the idea that the Constitution
, establishes or abolshes slavery has
, no show Of foundation. The Con
! stituiion WAS framed by men whc
/ knew the meaning OF the words they
, employed.
t Mr.. Benjamin asked if a citiz"r
< cDuil be placed in conflict between
, thess two; il 80 he must Of nee ssiry
- be guilty OF treason to one or tn,
| other and be hanged any way,
4, Nj. Doolittle said he could not =
: there vas no act OF u state maxim:
, treason which il in conflict with tn,
, United States Constitution. IL doet
, not make treason, though the STATE
: declares so. rr
Mr.. Beni.min asked what advan
| tage that could be to the citizens.
Mr.. Dooittle said the citizen mus
. act at his own peril. He went oI
a to argue that il was not in the powe
8 OF the citizens OF a state to annul al
: act OF Congress. Ii q motion cal
dissolve the connection Of the fedora
government; II one atate can secod'
from all the rest, then all the res
can scccde from the one which give
power to exprl a state. 81 tn
: right of accession involves the righ
of expulsion. lie referred to the
war of 1912 and the Hartford Con
a yention, and said il the doctrine wa
+ correct, the New England state
could have resolved themselves on
# of the Union and gone over to tn
|, enemy. AMI taken the fortresses Il
70 Boston harbor and other forts, AM
a turned our own guns against ns; o
, if now in time OF peace, PennsylVa
i MIA should withdraw, she could Gu
Off all the mail routes, and we coul
no, 90 from New York to Virgini
70 without crossing foreign country
,l and 80 with Illinois.
js Mr.. Benjamin said he did not d,
sire to speak now, because We shout
4 have the practical question beiol
+, us in a few dsvs The issue woul
" ~ be plainly brought, whether we ii
~ tend to recognise the withdrawal (
Or m aka wur on n Ptate.
- Mr.. Brown said it seemed thi
- Northern Senators overlook the mai
point at Issue we claim there
:, property in slaves, and they deny
~, Until we can settle some basis Il
~ ~ this question, it is idle to talk
~, peace. He claimed that the doctrir