Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-02-19
Interesting Political Record.

-.
propose giving little Democratic history
in order to see If these charges are true.
Who are the guilty parties, so far as Indi
ana is concerned? ,t 74
will commence said history with the
Democratic Legislature that met at Indian
apolis. on the 9th of December, 1S4S
Gov. Whitcomb Dem. in his Annual
Message to the Legislature, in speaking oil
the Territories of California and New
Mexico. thus directed his attention to the
subject: ~ Ha aaa ea
The acquisition of territory hiss given
rise to QUESTION now occupying too large
space in the public mind to be passed
over in silence. Its division into separate
Governments. and the establishment of the
necessary organic laws, must occupy the
early attention of Congress. and the qucs-
tion is. Shall this territory hereafter be
I free or slave territory? This territory has
! come TO us free; it is now free, and, in nv
I opinion. it should remain free, and that
every constitutional means should be adop-
ted to continue it free." m
In conformity to said suggestion of Gov
| Whitcomb, the Legislature passed almost
unanimously the following: s.
s''Be IL enacted 6y the General Assem5l,
Of the State Of Indiana, That our Senators
be Instructed. and our Representatives in
Congress be requested, so to cast their
votes and exert their influence to have
engrafted upon any law that may be pass
ed fe: lie organization Of the Territories
recently acquired from Mexico. provision
.fore,er excluding from such Territories
/ .Slarery and involuntary servitude. other
wise than in the punishment of crimes,
whereof the party has been duly convicted. -
Mr. Dunning. (Dcm- was elected Gov
ernor to succeed Gov. Whiteonb. Mr..
: Dunnipg. in his Message to the same Leg
islature. thus directed their attention TO
the same subject:
There is but little diversity of senti-
ment amongt the people OF Indiana up
on the question of human slarery. Yet
as decidedly as arc the opinions Of our
people opposed TO this institution, we
have ever manifested an unwillincness to
interfere with the constitutional rights cf
our brethren Of the Slave States, upon
this delicate subject. The Territories thus
acquired have come TO us free. 1t cannot
be doubted that the response of the people
oil Indiana to this momentous question
will be IN favor Of freedom. While we
are in favor of freedom. let us exercise
] that forbeaIance toward our political
brethren of the Slave States OF this. Union
which claractcIizcs the conduct of the pat
iiot and statesman. Nevertheless, it is
our imperative duty to assert our rights as
members of the same great family, and
nisnlnily resist, by all legal and cons;itu-
tional means, the further advancement of
Slavery into Territory belonging to the
General Government IXm Congress pos
sesseS tie posrer. does not admit of' a doubt"
The same Legislature of 1S4S-9 was
called npon to elect United States Sena-
tor.
That body appointed committee who
addressed the following interregatories TO
all he prominent Democratic candidates.
list. Has Congress the constitutional
power to exrlude Slavery from the Terri
tories of the United States, while they re-
main territories?
ID. Ii such power does exit, are you
in favor Of its being now exercised BY
Congress TO exclude slavery from them?"
Democratic Governor Whitcomb was
the successful candidate. and answered
/ thus:
..As stated in my recent message to the
Legislature, the Territories have come to
us free by their own laws from the insti-
tuition of human slavery. IL Is iacontro-
rertiJle that Slapery there or elsewlere can
mot exist ,citiout tie san-t;on of posifive la,c.
l further believe that Congress can consti-
tutionally pass such organic laws as will
in their. operation prevent the passage OF
any such law by the Government of th,
Territory 1t follows, then. that Con-
gress can, in my judgement, constitutions
ally prevent the introduction Of Slavery
into these Territories.
"In regard to your second question,
will aid that. still viewing Slavery as l
!, did nearly twenty years ago. in the report
made by the Legislature Of our State, as q
drawback upon the prosperity of any
country. would. il member. use my in
fluence aud vote for the passage of law o
the kind referred to; that is to say, law
which will operate to effcctually prevent
the introduction of Slavery into these Ter.
rltoric>." q .at
Robert Dale Owen argued as follows:
Congress. in my opinion, possesses the
power to legislate on the subject of Slave.
ry in the Territories through their terrific
rial existence. as. for example. to enact In
/ regard to our Mexican acquisition q pro-
hibitory provision similar to the Ordi-
nance Of 1881 The exercise-of that pow
er. and the form in which it can be most
wisely exercised. consider questions Of
expediency only"
Edward A. Hannegan. ex-U United States
Senator. answered: s. ' fise.
II have no hesitation in saying thai
Congress does possess the power, under
the Constitution. of prohibiting Slavery in
the Territories of California and New
Mexico. or any other Territory, whilst the
common property Of the Confederacy"
i DemocraticJoe. E. Mcdonald published
the following letter: ~ =
"ATTIcA, July 2, 1849.
"GENrLEMEN: Having seen your circu-
! lar to the candidates of the district in the
public press, and not wishing to conceal
i any opinion held by me in regard to the
political questions now agitating the pub.
lie mind. l hasten to reply to your inter
rogatories. s.s -, 49, - 49,
l. IL