Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-01-19
For the Bugls.
N O NJ B g 3 8.
R, s. BAIRD.

y ! ltttNiHlto as u No vi uhNJs 1OA
his reason have, in these essays, aimed to bring
o view the doctrines upon which parties divided
IN the establishment of our independence, and
especially upon the adoption of the Federal Con-
Those in favor Of a strong consolidated National
Government, acting under the lead of General
Hamilton, being defeated in the Federal Conven-
lion, ethinently succeeded in giving a latitudinous
consti uction to the Federal Constitution during
the administrations of Gen. Washington aud the
elder Adams. The establishment Of n National
the enactment Of the "Alien and Sedition
and numerous efforts to enact other laws by
mere implication, instead Of by the specified grants
of power enumerated in the Constitution, alarmed
the friends of %"strict construction" and placed
Mr.. jefferson in The Presidency.
From Jeferson's inauguration to the election Of
John Quincy Adams, no administration of the
Government ever questioned tho sover-
eighty Of the States, or that they were parties to
the Constitutional Compact. Mr.. Adams. as
shown in my last number, in his message of 1928,
took the entirely new position Of a "dirided soUeT-
between the State ond General Govern
and that "allegiance is due TO one and to
tie OTHER"
During, I think, Mr.. Adams administration the
celebrated debate on Foot's Resolutions Inaugural
ted a spirited revival of the old controversy, as to
the powers and character of the Federal Govern.
ment. Col. Hayne took the ''State rights" or
strict construction side of the question. and Daniel
Webster the "old FederdI' or consolidation side.
This debate drew from Gen. jackson in 1880 a
letter to Col. Hsyne, copgratulating him on his
mastery defence of the ole Republican doctrine of
"%strict construction"a promulgated by Mr.. Jefer-
son in 1898. General Jackson, as before stated, in
his Proclamation Of 1882. Notwithstanding this
letter to Col. Hayne, and the State right views
contained 10 all his previous messages, eclipsed
the pale glory of Mr.. Adams, as a "Federalist,"
by utterly denying "the sovereignty Of the
Siates,' and by asserting that the allegiance Of
their citizens was transferred in the first instance
to the Government Of the United States"
From tho date of this Proclamation, General
jackson became exceeding popular with his for
mer traducers, who added TO HE military title that
Of L. L.. d.
The Democratic party. and especially the Nor
them wing Of it, as if by magic, ceased TO defend
State sovereignty, and to-day it may nc fairly said,
on this question, to stand on the Republican Plat
form. Now as the only possible claim for the con-
stitutional and Reserved" right Of a State to &C.
cede from this Union. without mourning the guilt
of treason, rests on the fact Of its unconditional
sovereignty, the question here arises, will the
Douglas Democrats ante with those whom they
have denounced as BLACK Republicans" under
the lead Of Lincoln, to coerce the seeding States
into vassalage? To be consistent they must either
do this, or re-assers the good old doctrine of State
sovereignty.
This brings me TO the standpoint Of the Doug
las Democrats. In their Platform they quote thu
Declaration of Independence. but deny that it in
cludes the "Niggers". They indirectly deny tina
the Negro is a man, and consistently treat him al
q brute. In the South, they consistently herd hin
with cattle, goad him to labor like on OK, and sci
him on the auction block. In the North, the,
consistently make him an outlaw by denying hin
the sacred rights of our common humanity. ThI
Douglas Democrats assert the right Of the State
and the Territories to introduce slavery. The,
are therefore bound, before attempting to coerc
the seeding States into submission, to remov
every obstacle to the peaceful, unprovoked, an,
quiet enjoyment of this acknowledged right. The,
must exert in good faith every possible constitu
tional means to capture and reenslare every fugi
tive that escapes from ITS owner into the fire.
States. When the Douglas Democrats have fulfill
ed all these Obligations, then they may, on til
doctrine of Jackson's Proclamation, join .he &C
horts of Lincoln to wage war against the selfevj
dent truths of the Declaration Of American Inde
pendence.
The Republican party in its several Platforms
neither admits nor denies the sovereignty Of tn
States. but as it asserts that Congress is Sorert
ign" the inference is unavoidable that il denie
the sovereignty of the States. The Republican
party quotes the Declaration Of Independence
admits that it includes the Negro. and yet, as tn
"uhite mans party" treats him as a brute. by de
nyiug him the imprescriptible rights of our com
mon humanity. The Republican Platform denie
the authority Of Congress-" though claimed t
be Sovereign" "or Of a Territorial legislature, /
give legal existence to slavery in any Territory,
and yet it unblushingly asserts this 'RIGRT" fc
the States, though indirectly denying their $50
ereignty." Though a tautOlOgy, l again refer
this subject because some of my Republica
friends deny that the phrase domestic instit'
tions" includes slavery.
} Inc CnlcaSo Il0tIOTm empnduceIy ueolaIoo
"Yhat the maintenance inviolate of the rights
, the States, and especially the right of each Sta
to order and control its own domestic institution
t according to its judgment exclusively, is essenti
to that balance Of power on which the perJectiC
( and endurance of our political fabric depends."-
9 This is an undisguised avOwal that the States ha'
/ the "RIoHT," whether natural or constitutions
? moral or legal, is immaterial to him whose liberI
is cloven down. toenslave The Negroes. No sop
istry-no qui6Lling-can perVers the meaning
J this Resolution" II is true that the word slav
r ry is not used, but it was a bid for pro-slaver
votes aud it won the coveted prize from even Do'
glas. The Republicans assert that slavery is sui
: ject to local or State laws. Then slavery is a
institution" and if a local, and not a geuer'
q one, then !, must DO clearly Q domestic institI
ton"