Washington telegraph., 1856-07-09
SQUATTER SOVEREIGNTY.

question may, at present, be deemed un-
necessary but now that the issue between
the American doctrine and the Cincinnati
Convention doctrine. upon this vital point
of public policy. is fully made up. it be-
hooyes us, as the editors of an American
jOurBal, fairly to present the alternatives
which are offered in this issue. before the
American people. or rather that portion
thereof which we address through these
columns
The doctrine of squatter sovereignty in
all its odious completeness. is the faith of
Northern Democrats-somef few individual
members, perhaps. of the Democratic party
excepted. The resolution purporting to
embody tie views of the National Demo-
cratic party, upon the subject of Territorial
legislation upon the matter of slavery, is
ircCml le;e III its nature, evasiye and
capable Of two constructions In Its meaning,
when we consider that the Convention which
presented it TO the people endorsed the
Kansas s-Nebraska bill, its provisions, &C.
The seventh section of the Platform of the
American party is explicit in its terms and
direct in its meaning. We wish plainly to
set farth the alternatives presented, and to
ak cur readers which they will accept
To ask them Eketbcr they will endorse the
action Of the american party, represented
at the Philadel phia Convention, in February,
1856. or the make shift of that combination
of a dozen d ffcrcnt political creedS, the re-
suit Of whose temporary alliauce is to be
seen in the contradictory mass of geucrali-
ties. which is termed by the opposition press
the Cincinnati Platform
These are serious and wcighty questions,
Intimately connected with the pcrpetu:ty
If cur IDstilutions-more than our iustIiu-
tiOns-of our very Gberties-necessary 10 be
considered as connected with the matters
before us A careful examination of the
Ehvle subject Of foreign infuence-at which
at present, we have neither time nor space
sufficient to glance even for moment
would, alone, convey to the reader full
idea Df lis Importance. As it is, We can
but ask our readers to look at the contrast,
between the measures, which the Democratic
party eSpouse and those which the American
party announce as cardinal points in their
political faith. The first named party, un-
der the operation of the principles of the
kansas-Nebraska bill, and the principles
declared in the clause of the Platform of the
Cincinnati Convention, referring to this
matter, give to all the inhabitants of U.
s. territory-to ALL indiscriminateLy-
the right, (under certain conditions pre-
scribed, it is true, TO some, but which con-
disiOns are worth. in their practical effect,
absolutely no,hing) to frame and put in
effect the organic laws of such territory
In the consideration of the probable result
of the exercise Of this right. thus proposed
to be given to this indisc, intimate mass,
1t Is but natural to enquire concerning those
to whom this right. so generously bestowed.
is to inure. And in the solution of this
very natural query is to be found the ans
wer. which will, at once, convince the can
did. unprejudiced American that the oppo-
sltlOn of the American party to this doctrine
of squatter sovereignty is based upon strict
obedience to the primal law of nature-the
law of selfdefence To whom, then, does
Tor rather, would) this right inure in the
event of the supremacy of the party opposed
to the American party?
That's the question:
And the question is so fully answered in an
extract from the American Organ of the
31st of May. which We append below. that
We shall add no reply Of our own to it
But before we pass to the inquiry, as te
whom the American party design the right
Of framing the organic law of the u s
Territories should inure to, we desire, brief
", to advert to danger, which grows
s"'minent and threatening. in view of the
constantly increasing ratio of immigration
from the shores of Europe to this country
We refer just now to Europe alone-leavine
out Of the question for the present the i'm
mense influx to our western coasts from the
sWarming fields of Asia. A reference to the
Statistical tables, showing the number o.
emlgrants to America, informs us that the
number now yearly arriving amounts t.
oUO.OOO. out of which immense number
under the operations of the provisions of the
Cincinnati platform, could easily, by virtue
OF the policy embodied in that platform, b.