Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-10

when thus formed, or the free system becomes
the institution when slavery is prohibited. But,
under any circumstances, when you form and
regulate your institutions, this act asserts that
they must be in accordance with the Constitu-
ton, and that instrument nowhere grants the
power to establish or abolish it.
Now this being the provision Of the Kansas
Nebraska act, We are prepared to understand
Mr.. BUcHAYAN's letter, and we must take each
and every part of that letter together, and not de-
tached sentences, to determine its construction.
Mr.. BUCHANAN says; In accepting the nomi
nation need scarcely say that accept in the
| same spirit with the resolutions constituting
| the platform of principles erected by the Con
vention." He does not intend to accept them
in any other spirit. He comes to the platform
| like true hearted Democrat; he sees the
spirit and object of the party is to allay agita
| ton and excitement upon this all absorbing
question in that spirit he accepts it. "To this
PLATFORM" he says, 81 intend TO confne my
self throughout the canvass, believing that
have no right as the candidate of the Demo
cratic party, by answering interrogatores, to
present new and different issues before the
| people,"
We have shown, we think, demonstrably
what the platform, when taken together,
| means-what are its issues. We think we
have established the fact that the party ignored
the least squirting at squatter sovereignty ;
that they, by express language, declared that
| Congress had no power over the subject; and
the legislature Of Territory, the mere agents
| of Congress, could have no power which Con-
gress did not possess, and that the people of
the Territory had no such power until they
came to form their constitution. And Mr.. BU-
cHANAN says: I" / have no right to present new
and different issues before the people" What
ever his language might be taken to signify
dsjointedy, this exclusion of different con-
clusion would ne sufficient to modify that Ian.
guage. But We believe his language through
out is in accordance with the platform, and
the spirit and principles propounded by the
convention.
! Mr.. BUCHANAN says: "The agitation of the
question of domestic slavery has too long dis
tracted and divided the people of this Union
and alienated their affections from each other"
The platform afirms that.the Democratic party
will resist all attempts at renewingin Congress
or out of it, the agitation of the slavery ques-
ton, under whatever shape or color the attempt
may be made"
| Mr.. BUCHANAN says This agitation has as
sumed many forms since its commencement,
but It now seems to be directed chiefly to the
Territories, and, Judging from its present char
acter, l think we may safely anticipate that it
is rapidly approaching fnality'" What is
that present character? Why, the non-inter-
ference by Congress with slavery in States and
Territories. That will bring it to an end stop
the agitation, allay the excitement, and restore
peace to distracted and divided country
DE says: The recent legislation Of Congress
respecting domestic slavery, derived as it has
been from the original and pure fountain of
legitimate political power, the will of the ma,
jority promises ere long to allay the danger
Gus excitement" This legislation alluded to
was the abolition of the Missouri Compromise,
declaring it imperative and void. The pure
fountain of legitimate political power is the
people. The bill of rights, and the constitu.
ton of all the States, merely assert that all
power is vested in, and consequently derived
from, the peoples" and that majority of the
people have the power to establish their qop.
ernment, and to reform, alter, or abolish it
not to pass laws before they form their insti.
tutions and establish their government, but
after the formation of such institutions, in &C.
cordance to the fundamental law.
Mr.. BUCHANAN says "This legislation is
founded upon principles as ancient as free
government itself, and in accordance with them
has simply declared that the people of Terri
tory, like those Of State, shall decide for
themselves whether slavery shall or shall not
exist within their limits"
We have shown what the principles to which
he alludes are; they, he says, are as ancient as
free government itself Before the people Of
Territory come to form their constitution or
form OF government they are under the pupi-
lage of Congress, they have no power other
than that derived from Congress, they must
exercise the powers conferred, and by the
means bestowed, by their Executive, their
Legislature, and their judiciary established for
them by Congress. But when they come TO
set up for themselves, independently, and feel
that they have the numbers to form a State
then they have the right, upon these principles
as ancient as free government ITSELF in estab
fishing their constitution, in forming their in
stitutions, to decide for themselves whether
slavery shall or shall not exist within their
limits. Mr.. BUCHANAN is sticking closely to
the resolution Of the platform, which declares,
as we have already shown the Democratic
party recognized the right Of the people of all
the Territories, including Kansas and Ne.
brasks, acting through the fairly expressed viii
Of the majority Of actual residents, and when