The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-28

We have never yet had a satisfactory demo-
cratic definition Of ~squatter sovereignty" The
Kansas Nebraska bill defines it to be the leaving
" the people Of the Territory perfectly free to
settle their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the constitution OF the
United States" Priaaa Jacic, nothing could be
more impartial or more just, reasonable, simple
and conclusive than this; but upon second
reading there never was a more transparent
piece Of trickery.
Subject only to the constitutional What
does that mean? How far does the constitution
allow the people Of Territory to 60 in their
legislation upon slavery? According to the in
depreciation of General Cas- they may admit
this institution or exclude it; according to the
Cincinnati PLATFORM they will be permitted to
exercise the authority when they shall assume
the functions of sovereign State, leaving the
question of intermediate jurisdiction in as much
doubt as ever; according to the Calhoun Southern
ultra State rights doctrine, the constitution car
ries slavery into the Territories, and neither the
Territorial Legislature nor Congress can touch
it. 1t can only be touched by the people of the
locality when the Territory shall have been or is
being transformed into sovereign State. Lastly,
when Mr.. Douglas, the author Of the Nebraska
act, was called for distinct explanation of the
meaning of this stump speech in the belly Of
the bill" by his Senatorial colleague, Mr.. Trum-
bull, at the last session, the learned Judge could
give no answer at all, but coolly carried mp his
inqaisitive colleague to the Supreme Court for
decision.
Thus, then, stands the democratic party upon
this vexed question. The main body OF the
party in the North believe, or affect to believe,
that the Kansas Nebraska bill comedies at once
to the people of those Territories the right to
egslate to the fullest extent Of State eighty
upon slavery subject only to the constitution
of the United States;" the main body Of the
party in the South concur in the construction
that popular or squatter sovereignty in Terri
tory only begins upon slavery with the act Of
passing from the Territorial chrysals into the
full blown butterfly of State sovereignty, and
that in the interval slavery remains an open ques-
ton. There are, however, not few disciples Of the
Southern ultra doctrine OF Mr.. Calhoun and OF
the Supreme Court dodge Of Mr.. Douglas; aud
all these differing doctors upon the law and the
gospel will have to be reconcled to some definite
practical solution by the incoming admins
tration.
In different sections Of the Union, in the late
campaign, the position of Mr.. Buchanan and the
democratic party upon the Kansas question was
differently expressed. In Virginia, from the
mouth of Governor Wise, IL was Kansas as
slave State and considerable increase 10
the price of niggers-in New York it was
the squatter sovereignty policy OF General Cas-
tride the letter Of Martin Wan Buren, aud tho
speeches OF Prince John; in Pennsylvania it was
Buchanan, Breckenridge and free Kansas" and
so ON. Thus adapting the clothing of the 'squat-
ter sovereignty" bantlipg to the tone and tcmpera
ture of the climate, East and West, North ani
South, the democratic candidate was slipped
by the skin Of his teeth for a change Of fifteen
hundred votes in Pennsylvania in October won 4
have changed the whole face Of the issue in No
vember. Thus in spite OF the Kansas issue, an
abstraction OF their own raising, the democracy
triumphcd; but nov the question must be met
ard niggers or no niggers, must be settled, yea
or nay.
What will Mr.. Buchanan do? Which horse
will be ride mp 70 the Capitol on the 4th Of
March? VIII be take mp the doctrine of lie
sovereignty OF the Territory over niggcrs! or will
he adopt the more convenient policy Of leaving
slavery an open question till the people Of Kan
sas shall have entered upon the business Of a
State organization, or will he contrive to tur
over the issue, like Mr.. Douglas, to the Suprer
Court? Our impression is that Mr.. Buchana
will constIue the Cincinnati Kansas platform z
the true doctrine, and as signifying the denial 4
any Territorial or Congressional authority to
admit or to exclude slavery from Kansas, but as
couceding the fullest authority TO the Kan
sas people over slavery in the act Of
framing their State constitution. But should
that be the policy adopted by Mr.. Buchanan, VI
have no doubt that he will secure to the Terri
tory Of Kansas such an intermediate government
Of law and order" a. will utterly abolish q
ruIiansm and rufIian sovereignty which hayD
dsgraced the Pierce administration and the
country during the last two years. Thus vi
cured in the enjoyment and exercise Of their
constitutional rights, the people Of Kansas,
when they shall have assembled together in con-