New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-26
THE " SORTS" AT CINCINNATI.

The Democratic National Convention to nomi
nate candidates for President and Vce-President
10 1856 meets in Cincinnati next May, and our
"softs are already qualifying themselves for ad
mission into that body by renouncng their distinct
i've PRINCIPLES and adopting such aa they suppose
will pass muster with the Virginia and Alabama
msgnstes wtO will determine what is and what is
not orthodox Democracy. The Albany atlas,
which so long displayed at its head WilmOt Pro-
viso resolve as the cornerstone of the Democratic
edifce, now throws overheard every shadow of
Slavery Restriction as follows:
"That Congress has the right, under the Cons itu-
tiop to legate for the Territories the Dem0cr scy of
this State consider fully settled by tina. instrument
and the practice of the Government under 1t ever
since its formation. That it also has the power to
delegate TO the people Of the Territories the privilege
of le9atipg for themselves, is also generally con-
cetes. The wsdom Of 20 doing is a matter of wide
difference of opinion. AS we fhave said the Democ
rsey Of this State would unquestoraby prefer an ad-
bsrenee to the time .honored policy Of our fathers
But ibssnueh is question OF e1pediency, rather
than Constitutional principle whether Congress should
exercise jurisdiction over the Territories, or should
COL fer its powers upon the inhabitants thereof we do
not zee why its decision as matter OF party pohcy
may not eppro prately be referred to the arbrament
Of the delegates in National Convention assembled, TO
be ,etted in the same that other questions Of
expediepcy have been heretofore decided. What
would be the verdict of the ID mocracy of this State
were the point submitted 10 them alone we can have
no doubt But if majority Of the delegates fiom all
the States shOuld decide o.herglse- with the exam
pie of anarchy 10 Kansas before their eyes as the first
fruits of TIE experiment. they deter nine to adhere
to the policy recently adoptedwe do not see why the
responsibility of future results may Bot appropriately
be left with that majority who, in despite of past
peIience and present example, Ignore the Denstoent
effects of the former, and invite continuance Of the
preiu6iciel il iuences of the other. And we hsye
hesistion in say ing that if majority of the delegates
in the Cincinnati Convention shall after mature DELHI
Grafton, to the conclusion that In regard to all
future territorial organizations the question OF Slavery
shal be left TO the sole a1dc ston of the settlers in
such Territory, without interference either by Con
grass or the reighboring States, the Dsmo ,racy Of
New-York would be willing TO recognize such dispo
son Of the question, leaving the responsibility Of the
results upon those by whom they are invoked.
/" AT the same time, such a1dca.1n OF jurisdiction
in favor o. the people OF the Territories must be full
right under the Constitution TO carry Slavery every
where but the prohibition Of that instiution by the
people of any Territory must be full and conclusive
bar sgaipst lie enraoce thertiu, uIder any pre,sx
whatever. In addition, thsre must DE TAU ana salts.
factory assurance that The candidate 70 ninstet VII
protect, against all Infringement, the soversi gn'y
conveyed by Congress to the future Territories before
he will be entitled to toe confidence aud support of
tboee who acqnl:sce 10 such disposition OF this
Vexed question.
The Aaas here takes ground which was thas
Of the National Democratic party at the time its
section bolted the nomination Of Gen. Cass and
ran Van Buren, with Adams to defeat him. The
"softs" (then Barnburners) might have stayed in
the party on this PLATFORM and no man would have
questioned tie soundness of their faith. But
a Democracy" of the slavebreediDg sort, has made
signal progress since then, and this doctrine ia
now schismstc, hetercdox, and little better than
Federal Wing Abolition. 1t will not save the ba
con Of its professors at Cincinnati. The present
democratic doctrine with regard to Slavery ia the
Territories is, that any stakeholder may carry il
'tAer' and there is no pOeer in Congress nor in tie
Territories to exclude or prohibit IT, No matter
though ninety nine in every hundred Inhabitants of
the Territory may protest against and seek to OK.