The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-21

t.ons which she believed vital I'D heI iu.uio
welfare.
The Southern Democratic position was
about as follows. The States OF the 'h'ou
swear allegiance not to the Cnioh' as ahen
Nation. but To the Constitution as a Bona
of Compact. alike binding upon every mem,
Der. and a%llotting to each member reciprocal
rights with all the rest. The territories
we're acquired. (some by gift, some by pur-
chase) AS the Common property OF the coh-
federation, opens to settlers from any guar
ter, but subject while In territorial condition
to the control of the general government TO
the extent of securing for each settler all the
rights and immunitles possessed by the citl-
zens of any State ofthe confederation. Ihat
is to say, the government should act as guar
dian for the civil and religious rights OF the
territorial notwithstanding them from mo-
~lestation in person or property, (whether
that property were horses, dogs, or slares)'
until adequate in numbers to organize a
State. When such time arrived, and the
inhabitants complied with the necessary for
malities for the erection OF a government,
then the new State must be admitted to the
Union. as a coeaual partner with all the rest,
whether its constitution prohibits or permits
slavery.
This view denied that Congress had any
right to prohibit slavery in the terrltorles,-
else all Southern emigrants would be exclu-
ded with their property theretrom; and as
the Territorial Legislature was the creature
of Congress Cts local representative acting
pro tenn, pending the organization cfthe new
State it also could not assume powers not
possessed by it's creator, {. e. the right to ex-
clude slave holders.
The position taken by the Douglas wing
of the party, calls for a brief expla-
nation. Enough has been written to
show the great changes which had occurred
throughout the North during the decade,
$4,000. Reference to the census reports
hereafter will exhibit astonishing results.
Suffice it now to say that the growth of anti
slavery sentiment, seconded by the influx of
South, clearly demonstrated defeat and OBJ
security as the doom of the Democratic lead
ers in all the Northern States, unless they
should in a measure cut loose from their
u~ltra-SOuthern allies, or make a pretence OF
so doing. A good deal of vascillation and
division among the Southerners at that
period gave Senator Stephen A. Douglas, of
Illinois, an opportunity to push his pet
theory of Non Intervention and Popular
Sovereignty. Believing that he could Sc
cure popularity at home, while maintaining
his hold upon the Southern Democracy by
taking an intermediate position between the
eiNA OIC o1d O1uC TIC DIO-
mulgated the doctrine which he invested
with all the speciOus plausibility of his ca
paciOus intellect, that the true solution of
the veXed territorial question was to cry
Hands off, and allow the settlers to de-
eide their own affairs, present and future, as
they saw fit.
Fair as this sounded it was not fair. Let
us look at it. Virginia and North Carolina
IN the warmth OF their early devotion to the
Union gave fully three hundred millions of
acres to the new confederation as a common
fund Tor the free use OF all the members.
Soon, a portion of this common property be-
gan to fill up with immigrants, who set up
State after State, and sent delegates to Con
gress to leglslate against the interests of their
old mother. But let that pass. Portions
OF the common domain were still a wilder
ness. A thousand North Carolinians and
Virginians migrating thither, let us suppose
are joined en- route by a thousand New
Englanders. All settle side by side clear
farms, erect dwellings, and make extensive
outlay Tor roads, fences, schools, and
churches; The Northerners have horses and
bound white apprentices the Southern
ers have mules and bound blacks or slaves.
Eventually ten more Northerners come into
the territory, .whereupon the free-soilers.
having a majority OF ten, declare slavery to
be unlawful, and the holding of slaves =
penitentiary crime thus forcing the South
erners to either sacrifice their negroes, or to
abandon their farms, homes and improve
ments! Now, to show the injustice more
clearly, let US reverse the case, giving the
ten newcomers to the Southerners, who
thereupon rise up and vote to punish the
Northerners for owning a certain snecias of
property, as for instance, threshing ma
chimes: horses, or game chickens! How
quickly the constitution would be invoked
to guarantee protection for ''life, liberty,
and property!" Hence by the Douglas doc,
trlne, the Northern settler was sure of I'M
use OF his goods and chattels, no
ern settler was liable to be elected and rob
bed whenever the free-soilers got a s;ngle
vote IN ma orlty in the territorial leeislatmre
Indeed, 1t would seem absurd for tho
new settlers to even claim sovereipntv mil
luiiy admitted as a State. Prior to such
III |" On fhO