Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-11-02
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We notice that party bias has constrained
the Dabuqss Express and Herald TO give
qualified, We might say, reluctant approva
to the proceedings Of the Fl, Des Moine'
Convention. After expressing very nat
vrai wish that the action Of the Convcntios
may have 81 salutsry effect upon the1well
J :. being and harmony Of the Democrat.
party" our contemporary, says.-
1.-THE resolutions Of the meeting. so fal
10 they have attempted TO enunciate the
: doctrines OF Democratic party, are well en-
eurh in language, and sentiment, but there
isst le ast one thing, with which we mud
fault, II l. in the 80 article Q. the confession
Of faith, which reads: "The right Of States
and Territories to administer their own
! domestic affairs" We would have added
II 20 prevent cavil, "under the Constitution"
This may of course be implied. bu, in these
DAYS. advantage is taken of such little cir.
fs cagnstauces that when it can be prevented,
nothing should be let to implication when
language can be found to express orthodox
opinions.
II NAV however have been the inten-
ton Of the State Mass Meeting to mean
only what the article of faith referred to ex-
presses II so. we dissent in toto from them
IA political faith. A State, which is Sove-
reign, has, we admit. the right to admins
ter lie ow domestic affairs, but il the doc
uiue be applied to Territory in the same
broad sense, We deny that such right ex-
ists A State, may, Tor example, establish
or abolish slavery within its Territorial ju-
risdicticn; Territory tcting otherwise IN
adopting Fundamental law, can do neither.
Hence unless it was the intention oil the
Mass Meeting to be understood literally,
they should have qualified their expression
in the manner which we have suggested
Fl The proceedings referred TO present
other repugnant Gestures which for the sake
of peace and harmony we pass unnotlced
tho0gh not observed"
Now we take it that the meaning OF the
s above remarks is entirely antagonistc to
the whole miserable doctrine Of squatter
sovereignty. The constitution gives to
Congress exclusive jurisdiction overthe ter
ritories, and il the government of them be
administered .under the constitution" an
cfFectual stoppage would be put TO such
proceedings as those of the mock Legs-
taturc of Kansss, which have retarded the
growth of the territory, and disgraced the
history Of the country.
Such way of governing the territories
even under Jackson. We leave it to our
readers to decide, if the new plan frs, pro-
malgsted by Dir. Cas-, and subsequently
adopted and established under the auspices
Of Messrs. Pierce and Douglas, has worked
well in Kansas. 1t is some consolation.
however, to know that his cherished and
much vaunted hobby did not enable Cass
TO reach the Presidency. Its adoption By
Douglas, and its being made by him an
: auxiliary for the extension of slavery, has
also. we hope, placed permane mt disap-
Pointment on the aspirations Of that gentle-
man for the same high station; and We con-
ldently anticipate that the same cause will
have an equally desirable effect on any
hopes Of q reelection that may be enter
tanned BY Mr. Pierce.
We are no. surprised that the Herald
fnds "osher repugnan. features" in the pro-
ceedings Of tie Convention. We think them
90 entirely repugnan, that they will be re-
3 jected and repudiated by large majority of
the people of Iowa; but we will wait with
considerable curiosity to see whether the
Heyala's preliminary protestwili be adhered
4 to and produce any good fruits, or be entire
y ignored and forgotten as the canvass
wakes warmer and approaches nearer =
termination.