Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-09-27

President by this act Of Providence. What
then was his course Let his administration
of the government answer Let Democrats
answer. Let the country answer. LET THE
COMPROMISE MEASURES OF 1850 ANSWER
Whatever Mr.. Fillmore may have been prior
to 1850, he took upon himself the oath and
obligation then, as President of the United
States and he performed his duty as such,
without reference to localities or sectional
opinions
There stands his record-and wa defy his
bitterest enemy to point out any act, measure
or opinion Of Willard Fillmore, as President
which is sectional in its character, in its OBJ
| ject or in its effect. On the Territorial ques-
| tions, his views, opinions and official action
demonstrate that he was purely national and
conservative and we fearlessly appeal to the
Utah and New Mexico acts-nay, we DEFIANT
LY appeal to those acts, in proof of his nation
atty and conservatism.
Now, then, how stands James Buchanan on
the questions involved in those same Terrific
rial measures2
In August, 1s4s, at which time Mr.. Buchan-
an was nearly sixty years of age, he thus said
in letter to I. Sanford, Esq, of Alabama:
| "Having urged the adoption of the Missouri
Compromise, the inference is irresistible that Con-
gress, in my opinion possesses the power to legis-
late upon the subject of slavery in the Territories.
What an cbsurditv would it then be, If, whilst as
sorting this SOVEREIGN POWER IN CON
GRESS, which power, from its nature must be
| EXCLUSIVE, | should in the very same breath
also claim this identical power for the population
| of Territory in an unorganized capacity
| "In conclusion, / desire to reiterate and reaf.
| firm every sentiment contained in my Berks I'M
ty letter. cling to the Missouri Compromise with
greater tenacty than ever, and yet firmly believe
that it will be adopted by Congress"
Only two years before the time that Mr.. Fill
more and his friends in Congress (Whigs and
Democrats united) laid down the doctrine of
estate equality" and of Congressional non
Intervention" in the Utah and New Mexico
acts, Mr.. Buchanan maintained the sovereign
and exclusive power of Congress" over the
question of slavery in the Territories He can
neither set up the plea Of iatancy nor the sta
tute Of Limitations in bar of this charge! He
uttered these opinions on the 2lst day of Au-
gust, 1848 when he was fifty eight years old!
What says the South to this doctrine, that
Congress has sovereign and exclusive power
over slavery in the Territories? No man can
deny that this was the dootrine Of Mr.. Bucha,
nan in August, 1848. His letter to Mr.. Sand
ford has not been denied.
But behold change Messrs. Cass, Doug
las and Company in 1854, inaugurated the
doctrine Of "Squatter Sovereignty" in the pas
80 MI Ia ~,
which confers upon the squatters in any Ter
ritory, the power to fix their domestic institu-
tons to suit themselves, and to decide the des-
tiny of the future States, with ne appeal to, or
any supervision of Congress, on the subject.
Under this absurd and mischievous doctrine,
sovereign and exclusive power of Congress
claimed by Mr.. Buchanan in 1848, the 'inhab-
itants" of Territory, no matter aoho or sohat
they are-no matter whether ''citizens of the
United States" or the oatcasts of foreign pris-
ons and penitentiaries, may, whenever they
please, fix and decide the question, whether
:. the slave owners of the South shall ever be
allowed to enter the Territory
This doctrine, inaugurated in 1854, was en-
dorsed by the Cincinnati Convention in its
platform, and Mr.. Buchanan was placed there
on, and then, in this present year, 1856, this
gentleman, now sixty-six years Of age, accepts
the Observation-Disclosures this damnable here
, sy-repudiates his former notions of the "sov-
ereign and exclusive power of Congress" over
slavery in the Territories-and commits the
interests of the South to the tender care Of
whatever conglomeration of human beings
may become squatterS in the common Terri
tories Of the United States In his letter Of
acceptance, Mr.. Buchanan says:
'sThe recent legislation of Congress respecting
domestic slavery, derived as it has been, from the
original and pure fountain of legitimate political
power, the viii of the majority, promises ere long,
to alay the dangerous excitement. This legisla-
ton is founded upon principles, as ancient as free
government itself, and in accordance with them,
has simply declared that the people Of Territory
like those of State, shall decide for themselves
whether slavery shall sha not exist within their
limits" 3
So, then, abandoning "the cherished opin-
ions of thirty -odd years, Mr.. Buchanan now
endorses ratifies and approves, of pure "Squat-
ter Sovereignty"
The Fillmore Meeting in Richmond.
The Wing ratification meeting was continued in
Richmond on Tuesday evening. Notwithstanding
the inclemency of the weather, large audience
assembled at the African church, to listen to an
Il 4. E, Il - ~.