The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-07-16

soifie encohiums bestowed upon him by til
organs OF the party; and symptoms of disconten
already manifest themselves. The Delta. whicl
was recently bought up BY the.New Orlean
democracy, and is now viewed as the officia
exponent of young America, takes exceptio,
70 the position assumed by Mr. Buchanan, ON til,
slavery question, in his letter accepting the nom
: nation Of the Cincinnati convention, and de
clares It equally inadmissible and repugnan
! to the south" and that, too, even while it ia
= yors his election to the presidency But WE
will let the Delta speak for itself:
~ "What is squatter sovereignty and how will
IT affect the rights and interests of the south?
This question, SO mooted in the Cass canvass OF
> 1348, has been revived in consequence of some
pregnant expressions in Mr.. Buchanan's pecu-
liar and not very lucid letter accepting the nom
ination Of the Cincinnati convention II he had
simply accepted the nomination and subscribed
to the platform without adding marginal notes
and commentaries of his own, the question, and
the difficulties and embarrassments it involves,
would not have necessarily arisen. For the
l. platform disposes of the question satisfactorily
for the south by declaring that.
''We recognise the right of the people of all
the territories, including Kansas and Nebraska,
acting through the fairl y expressed will of the
majority of actual residents; and whenever the
number of their inhabitants justiies it, to form
constitution with or without slavery, and be
admitted upon terms of perfect equality with /
the other States.'
THIS is a clear and comprehensive declara-
tion and while admitting that the people of
territory may rightfully exercise the discretion
Of recognising or prohibiting slavery in the con-
stitution adopted as a preliminary step to ad-
mission into the Union as State, yet by logical
Implication at least, excludes that other dan
gerous and mischievous doctrine, that they ,
may assert the same sovereign authority over ,
the subject of slavery, at any period of their
territorial existence. Such is the substance of I
the Nebraska-Kansa principle as interpreted t
BY the Cincinnati convention, and there is no il
staterights man in the SOUTH however strict and "
unyielding in his views, but will cordially as ,
sent to it. 49, @
But Mr.. Buchanan seems not to have been II
content to let well-enough alone; he adds IT
word too much at unlucky moment; and v
one word too much at a critical time in politics, h.
especially upon the delicate and vital subject ;,
which he chose for his gratuitous commentary, Il
may have world ormeaning and consequence. II
But he has said it, and we, as southern Jour I
1alists, have to comment on his commentary. g.
Referring to the Nebraska Kansas bill, he SAYS .,
''The recent legislation of congress respect
ng domestic slavery, derived as it has been Ii
rom the original and pure fountain of legiti- be
nate political power, the will of the majority, or
promises ere long to alIay the dangerous ex- P,
itement. This legislation is founded upon prin- ~;
rpipS az tacf freq ,rl
4 accordance with them, has simply declared III
hat The people Of a Territory. LIKE THOSE OF he
TATE, shall decide for themselves, whether an
avery shall or shall not exist within their ne
mits''
Now, il he had said that the people of ter '''>
tory, like those of State, when they come 90
adopt constitution, shall decide for them da
lives whether slavery shall or shall not exist Dol
their limits, as State, his commentary would IA,
ave been in harmony with the text of the plat -
ave been as unexceptonable as appropriate lea
ut he chose not SO to limit the expression of fire,
$ views relative to 'squatter SOVEREIGNTY -
ID but too distinctly lays down the doctrine lou
at the people Of a territory may "decide for q,
emselves, whether slavery shall or shall not ON
list in their (terriorial) mits!'' This pro- Istr
the south. We fatty reject it. We deny bla,
at it is either sound or just and, with all de- ,on
'enee for Mfr. Buchanan's shrewdness and ex-
rence, and all due consideration for the ext
Mt need he may have felt of placing himself GRAZ era.
a favorable and ad-captandum attitude before sa'a
north on the question of ''squatter sover- 'o''o
nty, we are compelled to regard his exege- PaP'
as unealled for and rot iustifad hr tho ~ supp
hold that the government Of isrr;tor1- t. plot1
reatura of conoress ,bat tho ,,oo,1a 90 49, sl0ut
,rr tb,ouab fba LEGISLATIVE froppah - nois
cannot exercise a power which "
not been conferred ON it by congress- and the
congress cannot constutionallv establish or 81
hibi slavery in territory, so neither for sand
= eau 'ef,i'ofy exercise any such power days
eii'toiy IS the common property OF all the the 7
'es the constitution extends over 1t to pro- slave
the persons aad property of all its inhab- g.
IS. whether they be from the north or south,
yeholders or nan. SHAREHOLDERS. a,d i r. nious
when the people of a territory form gov r,
rs OWEN tbronab oonnrass ,hat 't VI sne Rep.
limately decide for themselves whether New
cry shall or shall not exist in their limits.'' nomi
u we conceive TO have been the views of artcl
houn, who stigmatized the other doctrine ,o;th
sqaattei sovereignty as odlouS and mis- . ,
vous in the highest degree, and the same 'o-u8
IS have been expressed, from time to time, unde
Davis, Quitman, Soule, and other distin- ing v
he'd saterights men Of the south. How dent
e gentlemen will stand affected towards Mr.. oon -
hanan, after knowing the views be has pro- .
gated in regard to ''squatter sovereignty" coh'e
will not venture to say. For it is eettno has a
''all muddle' in politics The atmos busin
e OF CokeIowE was not more heavy, dense Rem
dingy The small-fry politicians have been rant;,
e ascendant, and, like cuttlefsh, they have
e the way dark which they travelled. sesslo
course the organs of Mr.. Buchanan will repub
all their exegetica ingenuity in explain An
Mr. Buchanan explanation to the satisfac- bv tn,
Of all sections of the country but Hey can 49,
liter has attitude to the SOUTH or make his '''''0
ION on the question of''squatter sovereign an an
different from what we have stated tor presid
Il Nc ii'hsell mas made It, larg
'cording TO the showing of the Delta. Mr.