By the other slavery had a foot-hold in the Territories under the Constitution of the United States, and could not be dislodged or disturbed by the inhabitants of a Territory even though ninety-nine out of every hundred were opposed to it.

In the Territorial Legislatures laws might be passed to protect slavery but not to exclude it.

From such contradictory constructions in the same party, conflicts were certain to arise.
MR.

BUCHANAN ELECTED PRESIDENT.
The Democrats of the North sought, not unsuccessfully, to avoid the slavery question altogether.

They urged other considerations upon popular attention.