The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-02-27

I ~ Democratic State Convention in Pennsyl-
vanis, held in lS49, Colonel Samuel Black, of
Pittsburgh. oifei ed the following resolution, which
wss adopted unanimously:
/ Reso'rsd That the Democra;ic party sdheres
now. as It ever has DONE 20 the Constitution Of
ot the country. LIS letter spirit they will new
er weaken nor destroy AID they re declare that
slavery IS a domestic local issliiHiioa IF the
Soath, >ntject To State legislation aione . With
which the General Governments hss nothing TO
40. Wherever the State law extends its juIi Ii>dc-
ton, tte local iIstiia,icn can continue to exist:
hstee'nis no Il riolat Of STATE ,icL.s 10 car
~ II beyand STATE hssits re deny he po,rer o,
any oiti-ea 10 ert nd The ara Il 6onaage bcyond
as prsSerf dpsdin =; nor do We consider IL part
Il tie compromises Of the Con stitution that sla
very Should forever travel with the advancing
columns at our territorial progress"
Ih', Same Col Blaek is nov Governor Of Ne
brassa. aud tirice vetoed a bill which had been
passed by tie Legislature prohibiting slavery in
that territory. he orGct progress Democracs
has IN do Ia eleven wears : hele made apparent
Al i Siafe Convention of the Democratic party
in MASSACHUSETTS,, Composed OF more
dian SIX hundred M, mbers. in lsI9, the follow
Wg resolutions introduced bv Hon. II. r Halleti,
rhsn chairman Of 'hs National Democratic
Conn, tee, and the State lemoc5 attic Committee,
we'c adopted unanimously, appears from the
Boston Post, the organ ol The party in New
| England
= Re.oired. That We are opposed 10 slaveay ia
every form aud color, and in favor of freedom ana
free sod ~heteyer man lives, throughout Gods
heritage
"Rs.oirea, rba5by common law and common
sense. a. well aS by the decision of the Supreme
Court o. the United States, Tin Prigg RS Penn
s,lvsuia, Is PrIers,l 'he sctc Of slaueyy as a
mare D'tDic.pGi regulation iouuocd upon aud
l'ured 10 Ihe verse oi the territorial law : tha,
l., the limits of the State creating iL
"Resolgci, therefore, That as slavery does not
exist Icy any municipal Law in the new territories,
aud Congress has no power To institute il, the
iocoi lars Of ang State authority sisrery cav
near lie transported there nor Can slavery ex.
~ there but by law of the Territories sane.
tisned by Congress
Ttis is declaration Of the Republican dec
triue, 20 the fullest extent, and it was made, not
only 10y the Democratic party of Massachusetts,,
but by the chairman of the Democratic National
oommittee-the very head of the party in the
Union!
here is the language of Wings and Democrats
ot the old Bay State, united, as appears in res
olution adopted by the Legislature in lss?:
'Resotred, That Congress has iull power TO
Isgslaie ihe subject of slavery il. the territories
fotnfbs Union; that it has freely exercised such
WI the adoption Of the Cons,itu' ion
wan Iii ime; and that il is ts duty To
exsscfse ~cr tor the perpetual exclusion
from hosets7f itOries that are free and for the
er'sneiion of the an territories rhere IT.
.rssts
- Eesoiced, That when Congress furnishes
governments tor the territories OF CallSGnpia aud
New Mexico, il will be its duty 10 csta 6Ssi there :
! IN the fundamental principle oi the ordinance o(
1881 upon the subject OF slavery. to the end thai
q J. 4.
from, beyond any chance and unceI iainty.
| In le47. the Democratic Legislature of NE
yERSE resolved:
THAT the Senators, &c be requested to use
their best efforts TO secure a fundamental pro-
vision to, or proviso IN, an act OF annexation of
any territory hereafter To he acquired hy the Uni
ted States &c that slavery or involuntary scrvi-
u.ie, except punishment for crime, shall be
forever excluded from the territory 10 be annex
ed"
| In 1850, the old conservative State Of CON
NEC7ICUT reaiiirmed by its Legislature the
| following position:
| Whereas, The people of Connecticut have
heretofore through rheir Senators tnd Represen-
tatives in General Assembly convened, solemnly
and deliberately avowed their purpose 10 resist
| IN all constitutional and proper wa,s, the exten-
-ion OF slavery into the National Territories aud
the admission, Of aew Stare Stdtes into the Fed
| erdt CniCr and also to seek, in peaceabie ard
constitutional way, the abo.isbment of the slave
trade aud slavery in the District Of CoiupaLia
and whereas, the important question now before
/ the country touching these matters makes it de-
sirable taat these convictions and determinations
should be reaifrmed in the most solemn and pub
| lie manner; therefore,
| Z" Resoiyed, That Congress has full copstitu-
tiona power 10 prohibit slavery in the Terrific.
rics of the United States by legislative enactment.
and al IS fhe duty IF Congress 10 pass, withou,
unnecessary delay s,sh straot and postire iauss as
! wiH efectarHy shnt ont siayery from eUsry Dor
tim Of these Ierr,tories.n
Hence, then, was the expression. twelve wears
ago hot Of she Wings only, bat Of the tnt;vs
Uennocratie party Of Me North, with the chair.
man of the Democratic National Commit ee at
the head, VIII it be- believed, that because the
Republicans hold just such sentiments nos.
Southern Democrats have rebell.d against The
Union, while Northern Democtats Justify them
in Z: And Yet this Is the naked, literal, unvsr-
ni-hed truth Here all the res olarion. of the
Chicago Platform which refer TO the slavery aue-
tiOn, and we beg readers to compare them ir any
light they choose, with the quotations civ.n
above:
Z" s. That the maintenance ingiolats @! the
rights Of States aud especially the resht OF "a n
state 10 order aui control its own domestic inst.
tutioHs according to its own Judgment exclusive.
H. is essential to ,ha; balance f powers on which
the perfection and endurance oi oar political ,sl-
fic depends; ana w. denOunce the .awl.,s inya.
sion by armed force Of the soil of aav stat. or
Territory, matter under what pretcx, a.
among the gravest OF crimes.
-. That the new dogma that the Consti,,,-
iion os is own force clrries slavery into auv or
al Of the Territories OF the Uaitcd States j. 2
dangerous political hcEesy, az variance Will, the
explicit provisions of that Instrumet Itself with
contenporaneous exposition, and with Legislative.
aud judicial precedent; is Revolutionary ia ia
tendency, and subversive of the peace ard bar-
mony OF the couniry.
IS. That the normal condition of ali the Ter
ritory OF the United States Is thar Of Freedom
that a our Republican father, when thew had
abolished slavery in all our national rerrito,y. Or
dained that no person should be deprived OF life
liberty. or prosperity, withCu; due process OF
law, 1t becomes our duty, by legislation, acLeaer-
sach legislation IS necessary 10 maintain this
provision Of the Constitution against all attempts
To violate il; and We deay the authority OF Con-
gress, OF Territoria. Legislature, OF of any nH-
vidua-, to give legal existence slavery in any
Territory OF the United States"
: The Republicans denounced as abolition
lists for maintaining these sentiments by the same
party which maintained them twelve wears ago.
: Nothing exhibits plainly the xretched denor
azatIon into WHICH that party had fallen, as this
Had it adhered To its principles as faithfully as
Republicans do now, there rouid hare BEEN no
Rep9tticcn parfg. But under the guidance of