Year: 1860

The Express has entered with zeal into the
discussion of the disunion question. 1t says:


There can be no doubt that the Union is in
danger. Itwould be folly to deny the fact, as un.
pleasant it may be. 1t ism danger, and why?


The Express replies to its question 10y say
ing in substance that the danger lies in the
event of the election Of either Douglas or
Lincoln and asserts of course, that the only
way 20 avert the danger, is to elect Breckn-
ridge. But the Express would hardly sound
the alarm of danger unless it believed it to
be the intention of a considerable portion Of
the followers Of Breckenridge to make good
the threat to prepare for a secession from the
Union in event of the election of Lincoln. 1t
evidently believes that the loud threats of
the leaders Of its party are more than empty
words, and that those who counsel and favor
dissolution are strong enough in numbers to
bring about that disastrous result. Hence, 1t
attempts to defend these plotters against the
Government by reiteratng the old cry, that
their constitutional rights are in jeopardy.
But what are these constitutional rights of
which the Seceders prate so much ? They
answer, "the right to take slave property
into the Territories, and the right to have 1t
protected there by Congressional law The
territories are open to them, and there is no
law to prohibit them from taking slave prop
erty or any other kind of property there.
Ever since the first settlement Of the Terri
tories they could have gone there if they
chose with their property Why then do
they demand with threats ofsecession, a right
which they possess now, and which they
have all along possessed? ? In regard to the
demand that Congress should protect slave
property in the Territories it is well known
that no such protection is needed. 1t is for
the people of the Territories to demand such
protection, if ever it should be needed. But
when and where will it be needed? Will
the Seceders tell US? All the Territorial do
main belonging to the United States is now
organized or partially organized into Gov
ernmcnts Yet in all that wide land there i.
no call whatever that the Federal Govern

ment should intervene to protect any species
of property. The people Of the Territore;
are doing well enough, and will continue tc
prosper, unless Congress should arrogate tc
itself the power to enact laws for them which
they do not ask for, and in all probability
never will ask for


The Seceders and Disuuionists have pecu
liar mode Of reasoning and base all theil
arguments upon mere contingencies One 0
these contingencies they tell us is that i
Lincoln is elected, law may be passed 10y
Congress prohibiting Southern men from
taking their slaves into the Territories -
They know well enough that such a law
cannot pass Congress for good while to
come and certainly not during the short four
years administration of Mr. Lincoln. Every
body knows that such a bill would be killed
the moment it entered the Senate, because
the Republicans are in such a minority there
that it will be many years before they can
hope to cast vote equal TO the Democratic
vote Their other contingency is that Con-
gress will not pass law for the protection
Of their property in the Territories. Now
we would like to ask them if they think Con
gress ought to pass such law, when the
people Of the Territories do not ask for it?


They certainly ought to concede to the
people of the Territories the right to say
when such protection is needed There will
be time enough for Congress to think about
passing such a law when the Territories shall
! demand it, and not till then.