Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-10-01
CLEARFIELD. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER /, 1856,


override all law and even the Constitution it
self. Let me carry you to the Baltimore Con-
vention of 1S4S, at which Lewis Cass was nom-
mated for the Presidency, and Wm. o. Butler
for the Vice Presidency.
have shown you that Congress had not a
bandoned the safe and constitutional doctrine
given us in the example OF Washington, JEFF
ferson and Jackson: and have shown you by
Mr.. Polk S action that he and Mr.. Buchanan
had not yet abandoned it.
That Convention had been at work four days.
1t had succeeded in making it's nominations,
and was adopting its platform, when Mr.. Yam
cy, of Alabama, following in the wake of his
great master, John G. Calhoun, introduced this
resolution -r2 --fa- -Hal-Faas
'.Resotred That the doctrine of non-interfercnce
with the rights of property of any portion of this
confederation be it in the States in the Terrific
ries. by any other than the parties interested in
them is the true republican doctrine recognized by
this body.
That is, that Congress has no right to inter-
fere that the slaye-owner had right to take
his slaves, and Congress had no right to inter
fere. Did the Democratic Convention of 184S
accept that doctrine Were they willing to
go before the people upon that issue? No;
they tabled that resolution. They did more |;
they negatived by avote of 249 against it,
to SO for it.
Now we have seen sssquatter sovereignty"
rejected in the Senate Of the United States,
when first introduced by Mr.. Calhoun, in l847.
In May, 1913, we find it excluded from the
doctrines of the Democratic party by the great
political Sanhedrm, assembled at Baltimore,
in a slave State. Now go on little farther
In that year, and come to that time, near its
close, when James *. Polk, (Mr. Buchanan's
great chieftain, as he then wasl presented his
last message to the United States. Had he
yielded TO Mr.. Calhoun, or to Mr.. Yancy, or
did he still stand by the experience of the
past The following extract from that mes
sage will show what his sentiments were at
that time =
Upon a great emergency however. and under
menacing dangers to the Union, the Missouri COM
promise line in respect to slavery was adopted.
The same line was extended further west on the
acquisition of Texas. After an acquieseencc of
recognized and established by these acts. and to
avoid the danger to the Union which might follow
if it were now disrcgarded have heretofore ex-
pressed the opinion that that line of compromise
should be extended on the parallel of thirty-six
degrees thirty minutes from the western boundary
of Texas. where it terminates, to the Pacific
Ocean. This is the middle line of compromise,
upon which the different sections of the Union
may meet, as they have hitherto met
Here is Mr.. Buchanan, as member of Mr..
Polk's cabinet, presenting Mr.. Polk's annual
message, with q recommendation to Congress
to legislate upon the subject of slavery-to de-
clare that all territory north of SO deg. 80 m.
shall be forever free, and that all south of it
may take its chance ,and be slave territory if the
people want it, or be free territory if the peo-
pie want it--not to declare that one-half shall
be slave territory and one-half free, but that
all north Of that line shall be forever free, and
the other may take its chance of being made
free or slave may b. determined.
No, no, gentlemen; the doctrines of to-day
a yet had no existence, save in the plotting
brains of three or four southern disunionists /;
they were yet to be made so-called ssnationaFs
doctrines.
Let us now go one step further. When I
went out of politics was partisan Democrat,
and | stand to-day, SO far as slavery is con-
cerned, upon the doctrines which then rest
ed upon, and, as l have shown you, they were
the doctrines of the administration of Polk
ana Dallas-the last administration which l
helped to elect. They continued to be the
doctrines of the State of Pennsylvania thro'-
out the existence of that great man at whose
hands 1 received my first appointment-Fran-
els r. Skunk. He died just after his election
to second term. A convention was called,
which nominated Morris Longstreth for the
gubernatorlal chair. At that time nothing was
said upon the subject of slavery, for it was not
then subject of agitation. But during that
year there agitation. The doctrines OF
Calhoun and Yancy were brought before the
people Southern conventions were being
held Calhoun resolutions were being sent
from State Legislature to State Legislature in
the South: disunien conventions were being
duty of the Democrats, as Of the other parties
of the North, to speak their opinions upon the
subject of slavery. And when, on the 4th OF
July, lS49, the Democratic party assembled in
State Convention at Pittsburg. the question OF
slavery was agitated. Among the regular set
of resolutions submitted to that convention,
there was none touching the question of sla-
very Gentlemen rose and objected to the re-
solutions gentlemen upon the committee IN
sisted that the opinion ofthe convention should
be expressed upon the subject of slavery; and
at length Col. Samuel w. Black, delegate
from Allegheny county, proposed the follow
lug resolution, which was unanimously adopt
ed as the doctrine of the Democratic party OF
PENNSYLVANIA, by that State Convention, as
sembled on the 4th of July, 1S49:- Hog
ResoEped, That the Democratic party adheres
now as il ever has done to the Constitution of the
country Its letter and spirit they will neither
weaken and destroy, and they re-deefare they
announce new doctrine; they do not declare for
the first tme-that slavery is local, domestic in
stitution of the South subject to State law alone
and with which the General Government has moth
ing to do. Wherever the State law extends its Ju-
risdiction the local institution can continue to ex-
ist Esteen,ing ft a rioIatton Of STATE nights to
carry it 5eyond State Amsts, we deny the power OF
| any citizen to extend the of bondage beyond
its present dominion: nor do consider it part
of the compromise of the Constitution that slave
| ry should forever travel with the advancing col.
umn of our territorial progress" atH
| Gentlemen. do / not stand tonight upon what
| was the doctrine of the Democratic party or
| the 4th of July, 1892 [Applause.l Stand
ing upon that doctrine, l stand upon what has
been from the formation of the government
down to the present time, the doctrine OF the
Wing party, north and south. l stand upoI
what was the doctrine, of the country. 1t knew
no party division upon this subject until Mr.
| Calhoun hatched the reasonable doctrines
The south-not the southern people-not ever
the southern slave-owners, but the traders il
| politics at the south-seiZed upon the doctrin,
! and made the south unit upon the question