Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-05-10

/ cling as they do the slavery question wheFe hloh
it legitimatey belongs-in the hands ofthe pea
pie. rhen about 10 form State Consfifnfion
meet with our cordial approval and endorsement
and constitute in themselves an exposition "
principle in reference tn the subject worthy h
acceptance of every patriotic citizen OF this Re
public.
This resolution lays down distinctly enough
the true Southern policy touching slavery IN The
Territories, in declaring that the power to pass
upon it belongs aions 10 the people,, iehfn about 10
form State Constitution. This is sound con
stuiiona Southern doctrine. The reverse ct
IL is the false and fatal theory" OF sqnatt"r
sovereignty. the most iusdous and dangerous
form Of freesoilisin aud the ugly idol Of fools
and demagogues Now let us look TO the last
annual message Of President Pierce, and his
boasied essay ON the constitutional relations OF
slavery. and see whether he asserts the doctrine
Of the foregoing resolution. or contrary and an
tagonistic one. We make an extract
But the true principle, of leaving each State
and TERRITORY 10 regulate its o,on faies Of labor
according 10 its own sense of right and expedien
cy. had acquired fast hold Of the public judge
ment 10 such degree that by common consent
it was observed in the organization OF the Terri
tory of Washington.
When more recently i, became requisite to
organize the Territories of Nebraska aud Kansas.
il was the natural and legitimate, il not the inev-
liable consequence Of previous events aud legis-
lation, thai the same great and sound principle,
which had already been applied to Utah aud New
Mexico, should be applied to them.
Not word here about the power vesting only
when the people are about to form state cons'
tuition but the opposite theory Is propounded as
1.-THE true principle" that leach State and Terri
tory" tplaeing the Territories on exactly the same
footing as the states is left "to regulate its own
laws of labor" When' Not when they are fra
ming state constitution. bu, as Itrritoriesi-
This is "tbe great and sound princi ple' which
President Pierce says,n the most Southern doc
trine that has come from his pen, was establish
ed in the organization Of Washington, Utah, New
Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska Territories. Gen.
Cas- himself never claimed more, nor more dis
tincily asserted the odiuus and wrotchs doctrine
of squAtier sovereignty. But notwithstanding
this, the very next resolution of the wise men
who met At Petersburg was this:-
4. Rtsoiped. That the Democracy of this dis
trict cordially approve the foreign and domestic
policy of Franklin Pierce and commend il rs an
able faithful aud triumphant dnnnnciation Of De-
mocrafic principles, challenging the admiration of
our party North and South.
The Conyeniion,up1n the most vital of all do
nestle questions,lay down as worthy oftho nc
oeptanco Of every patriotic citizen of this Repub
lie" doctrine in direct anagonism to TINT so
clabola;ely asserted by the President, aud in the
next breath commend the Presidents position
the subject, as challenging the Animation Of our
party North aud South" Oh the ineifable beau
ties Of Democracy oh tho unapproachahle wis
dom and consistency of Democrats,
The resolution that follows next in order reads
thus
5. ReSoiaed, That this Convention decline to
instruct their delegates further thnn 10 require
them to exert themselves to secure the nominn.
ton Of candidates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency whose views aud acts as public men
shall in all respects faithfully reflect The cardinal
principles of tho Democratic party not only upon
all other issues but especially on that Of the
great issue Of the day, the Kansas Nebraska bill
rhisi+ d'hghfully explicit, nd makes the path
of the delegates clear aud easy 10 be travell
ed as Scrbonan bog ut midnight Franklin
Pierce has marked out ono chart of democratic
principles, ON THAT great issue of the day the
Kansas Nebraska bill, " and the Petersburg Con
venton have marked out another--the two lead
ing in directly opposite directions, and to directly
opposite results-and the convention have com
mended both to the admiration of the country.
Now which will the delegates choosel Will they
take the Pierce trail and go North, or the Con
vcntion trail and 60 SOUTH We do not like to
be discourteous, but il is our serious opinion that
the Petersburg Convention have acted no better
thana set of smpetons.