Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-01-30

We are gratiticd to portion of the Virginia
Democratic press having the manliness TO come out
in terms of utter condemnation Of the odious doc
tine of "squatter sovereignty To DO sure, but n
short time ago there was entire unanmity at the
South on this subject But since the disclosures
which have been made in reference TO the position
and opinions of Northern Democrats in relation To
this point we find overwhelming majority of the
Southern Democratic press giving indications, by
their silence of purpose to acquiesce in the squat
ter sovereignty" construction put upon the Nebraska
bill by their Northern allies. Such conduct seems
strangely unpatriotic. when call TO mind the vi
rulcncc with which they were wont, not very long
since, to denounce principle opposed to the pub
lie sentiment of the South, and involving in its APP
plication gross wrong and outrage upon its
rights its interests and its honor. Yet since has
been demonstrated that CaSS. Douglas, Richardson,
Shields and well nigh all the Democratic leaders at
the North, plant themselves upon the doctrine of
"Squatter sovereignty, aud defend the Nebraska
bill and their votes for it on the ground Of that doc
trinc being recognized by and contained in said BILL
we hear but few of the Democratic press the South
raising their voice against that doctrine its advo
"-ta> On the contrary, we see them sustaining
men-and eNuting IN the mcI-Niv ,,sl,o
cealment> this subject, who openly avow their
belief in the doctrine rcprobatc and who would
leave to a dozen two vasabondS the right 10 say
whether slavery shall be admitted into the Terrific
RES not We call the attention of the Southern
people TO this ominous change of front on the part
OF the Southern Democracy in reference to one of
the most vital and practical questions of the times
But there few of the Democratic press here
in Nlrginia-st least oncwhich still ceaves their
ancient faith and convictions in regard to the od
GUS doctrine of ">quattcr sovereignty" The StduH-
ton IHdictt0r-by the way one of the most
>prightly opposition papers in the Stae-eXpreSScS
itself in face of the declarations aud position of it,
Northern allies IN terms of severe condemnation of
that doctrine, the following extract will show
There has been much written upon the subcc of squat
Sovereignty aud the question voluminousv discussed
whether not the Nebraska till established the principle
Without urging this latter point desire to enter our
protest 10 the recognition OF pencous principle
A. understand IT, the "squaitcr claims the same pow
aud sovereignty that vested in thc people OF one
OF the States OF this contcdcracy-that the right leg
isate. while in pupa-e condition the same extent
the pcop' Of State Or, IN other words they claim
the power cuac; laws declaring slaves be property
not the majority may decidc.-This power utter
" deny aud rcpudate Until the Of coming into a.,
Union state, the residents Ola Territory have no
right to assume the functions OF "A people The slaves
of the South much recognized property as the
state are alike protected in person and property The
public domain open the settlement of ALL and the
territorial ',-ltlute power 10
mating between different specie. Of property the drpr.-
citation of kind There would bee equality or iu,.
ucc n the recognition ot such principle Ii are Ia
be equal p,rticpltor7 IN the benefits of our 90
Vcuent aud be- considered equal shareholders in the
public property, where would bee te justice OF the right
10 lcgi-tiu. the destruction Of the property of the
south. The residents u territory have power de-
eide Tor the institution OF slavery until they are
vested with the privileges of people VIII c. only the
case when u the act Of coming into the cuuiclcracy
sovereign State There j. "sovcrr-
igny' but State sovereignty empowered ltgiS-
late upon the subject of slavery. 'ulitrr Soverrigu,
an inventions tLe South vail neither recognise nor toe.
rate.
Such used to be the tone Of the Ec,mi.er and
EaYuirsr, but we hear nothing from them on the
subject in these days Is it possible that, by their
silence, they to be understood as being willing
to recognize and tolerate an "inyention-a North
ern nyenton-by which the South !, to be eiIectu-
ally robbed of all her right, in the Territories: We
scarcely believe that such can be the purpose of
the EruAiae, whatever may be that Of the Eaggir-
er which, in fact ought hardly to b. held re,pon-
sihle for any opinion it may express upon any sub
e,tif indeed it has any-during the absence Of our
Ambassador His return will create stir. and set
things to moving vigorously, in one direction or the
other
In the meantime, however, We should be gratiied
TO hear from his substitute and from the Democrat
ic press generally, in relation to an invention in
which the South feel, no little interest