Year: 1860

the campaign, the people ol the United States
will not fail to recognize the real question to
be decided. It ia this: Does the Federal Con-
stitution assert Or sanction the idea Of proper
ty in man? That is the point in issue, and
upon its correct decision depends, we believe,
tho vitality and integrity Of the Democratic
idea as applied to the government Of the ooun-
try. The Constitution itself is silent on the
subject; but tho spirit Of liberty
which animated these who framed it,
and all fair inlercnces drawn from the instru-
mcnt itself anil the practice Of the patriots
who have interpreted it, Leave no doubt that
the decision Of the Supreme Court in the case
of Dred Scott, wherein that claim, TO
tho Constitutional ownership Of human
beings was first authoritativcly set up, Is
baseloss and false. But that claim has been
endorsed by botl wings Of Tue so.called
Democratic party; and with the sanction OF
the highest and most corrupt judicial tribunal
in the land, tic concurrence Of the entire
South, and the active aid and sympathy OF inc
recreant Administration now in power, the
contest for that modern and pernicious heresy
is to be fought Il the battle should result in
Democratic victory, we may declare that the
central idea Of the Reyolution-.he right Of
every man TO life, liberty and the pursuit Of
hs ,piness--has been oycrthrown; and that the
people are ready at any time to permit the
growth Of any form Of tyranny applicable to
white men, which the ingenuity Of despots
msy devise. If the ownership Of man to
Aimself is not guaranteed By the Constitution;
il that Instrument in the hands Of subservi-
ent Judges can be made to prescribe unnatural
conditions liko color, riches or religion, with
ont tue existence Of which in individuals, to
whom it is the fundamental Law, mny not en.
joy the freedom with which they are born'a's
is lost; and opportunity md tho instrument
only are needed to rcducs this Government 10
the shadow Of that comprehensive and oenei-
cent system which the Fathers devised. Tie
incoming Of tyranny is Fever sudden. 1t
starts forward Like thief in the night, with
cautious and stea]thy steps, little by little,
waiting and watching that it may not excite
the alarm Of those whom it would subjugatc.
No nation plunges at orce from freedom into
bondage. The work is gradual; but it has
beginning, and that always, as in this case,
seems to he n.nr of, IN the assertion Of some
dogma in which the masses feel that they have
no concaru, in. tl,e sanction Of some practice
which oppressses only the few-both dogma
and practice being capabl- Of ruling the many.
We warn the people against the endorsement
Of that Atheism that ne man can own, ano-
tler, and that treason which asserts that such
ownership is authorized, By the Constitution
i. Of our country. They arc the beginning OF
the end Of Republican institutions, and they
must be met here and now.


Up to this era in our national history, the
central idea of our Government Us nerer been
questioned. In al! tho viciss itudes Of parties
the discussions Of statesmen and the sqnao'
bles Of politicians, it has remained untoucheo'
No unhalowed had been laid upon it. The ne
Ak5aHlLlG6 VI A14i*AA4 hA40


ing pro6tablenoss Of slavery, and tho fearful
degeneracy Of publ, continent hare ut last
provoked TN attack Of, the citadel; and North
and South, for the cake Of paltry Office md
more paltry Ionors, now openly proclaim the
doctrine which if endorsed by the American
people makes the Revolution vain aud its
fruits dust and ashes. II isfor Republicans =
The inheritors Of tho Revolutionary legacy
10 come 10 the defence and beat back and
overcome the enemy that is starting in upon
them. We cannot do better service than to
direct the attention Of tho Republican orators
everywhere to tile necessity Of maintaining
this only safe and tenable idea that Human
Slavery ia not known, inserted or+recogntzed
in the Constitution Of tie United States ind
that, though individual States, in the exercise
Of their Sovereignty, nny Justify tho buying
and selling of men; the Federal power 1ests
On tho otcrual fact Of tho rigbtfnlness and ne
cossity Of freedom for all>:'A Republican
victory which did not assert that, would be
r. equivalent to d Republican defeat