Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-02
Squatter Sovereignty.

MI. DUcndilslnS letter OF accept'uiOe. VIC Pio-
pose now to examine it with more particularly,
and contrast Mr.. Buchanans language with 9TH
eI language in which the doctrine is avowedly
enumerated. In order, however, to arrive at the
true meaning of any language bearing upon this
matter, it is necessary to have clear under
standing of the "squatter sovereignty" doctrine
itself Let us inquire, then, what are the views
of the South, and what the opposing doctrine'o OF
the North in regard to slavery in the Territories.
! Mr. Calhoun, the great champion of the South,
entertained the opinions, now generally regard
ed in the South as correct: That the territories
of the United States are the common property OF
all the States; that Congress holds these terri
tories as Trustee for the benefit of the States
and that the people of the territories have not
the right to exclude by legislation, or by any
other means, the slave property OF the South
from the territories in which the Southern States
have an equal right and title with the Northern
States. At the same time the South recognises
the right of the bona tile citizens OF the ter
ritories, whenever they have sufficient popula-
ton, and then only, to frame State Constitu-
J ton, and admit or exclude Slavery from the
State as they may sec fit From the territories
the South denies the right of the people to ex-
clude slavery because the territories are not the
property of the settlers but of all the States
From the State the South admits the right OF
the people to exclude slavery because at the date
of its admission into the Union, Congress ren-
qushes its trusteeship into the hands of the peo-
pie, and in accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution the territory becomes an indepen
dent sovereignty, with the right to regulate its
own domestic institutions Just as any other State
in the Union.
The opponents of slavery extension hold
exactly the opposite of this doctrine. A portion
of them contend that Congress has the right to
exclude slavery, and others that the settlers, Or
'squattersn are the sovereigns, and that they
have the right to exclude slavery from the Ter
1it0ries, by legislation or otherwise. 1t will be
seen at glance, that this doctrine is unjust in its
operations and fatal TO the rights and interests
of the South Now in view of this plain pre-
sentation of opposing opinions, as fairly set forth
as we are able to do we ask the candid, impair
tial Southern man to say which Of the two Mr..
Buchanan avows in his letter of acceptance
Here is the language:
"The recent legislation of Congress respecting
domestic slavery, derived, as it has been, from
the original and pure fountain of legitimate po-
| litical power, the will of the majority promises
I IL, 10 10, n>yoito
legislation is founded upon principles as ancient
rs free government itself, and inaccordance with
them. has simply declared that the people Of a
Territory, Ike those Of State, shall decide for
themselves whether slavery shall GU shall not X-
list within their limits"
If called upon to give as plain definition OF
"squatter sovereignty" as it is possible for hu-
man language to convey, we should reply in the
language of Mr.. Buchanan, "The people of a ter
rito,y like those of State, shall decide for
themselves whether slavery shall or shall not ex-
ist within their limits. e. within the limits OF
their territory The meaning of the language Is
unmistakable- does not admit OF two con-
structons. Mr.. Buchanan does not refer to the
existence of slavery in the State tor he uses the
power of the people of State over the subject,
as an illustration of the powers which the peo-
pie of a territory have over the subject in the
territory. The waytaring man, though fool,
cannot mistake this plain .avowal of "squatter
sovereignty" for anything else.
But say his defenders, he endorses the Plat
form & the Platform endorses the Nebraska bill, u
therefore he could not mean to endorse 'squatter
sovereignty" in the language quoted above
Now unfortunately both the Platform and the
Nebraska bill, unlike Mr.. Buchanan's own Ian
guage admits of two constructions. The Plat
form recognizes the right of the actual residents
of territory to be admitted into the Union with
or without slavery; a proposition which no one
would deny, if bona tide citizens were substitu-
ted for residents. As it stands, however, it
leaves the decision of this momentous question
to ''free whites, natives, aliens, indians, mulat-
toes, negroes, slaves and ALL" But previous to
the enunciation of this monstrous proposition,
the platform says, after endorsing the PriaeiPte
of the Nebraska bill, "That by the uniform APP
plication of this principle to this or any other OF
new States and TERRITORIES, with or without
slavery, as the people of the States or TERRIFIC
RIEs MAY ELECT" without detriments to the
rights of the several States, &c. Now it would
not be very difficult for Mr.. Buchanan, or any
other man, to construe the above language into
an endorsement of "squatter sovereignty" and
as indicating the opinion that such is tile Pranca-
ple of the Nebraska bill. Like Mr.. Buchanan it
makes the distinction between the States and
the territory, and plainly recognizes the right of
of territory, even in the infancy of its organi-
cation, in the language of the Kansas bill "to
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way"
| The Language of the Kansas bill is equally a.
dapted to this construction. The Washington
Union protested to find authority for the doc
trne of "sqnatter sovereignty" in the terms
of the Nebraska bill, and even the Rich
mond Enquirer had to confess that there was
0too much reason in the allegation" Here is
the Eaquirer's own language:
"The Union processes TO find authority for
the doctrine of Squ0tter sovereignty in the terms
of the Nebraska Bill and we must confess there
is too much reason i'll the allegation. Tosay the
least, the Nebraska bill, like the Nicholson let
ter, is susceptible of construction favorable to
the principle of squatter sovereignty; and it was
for this very reason that we entreated the repre-
sentatives of the State Rights Democracy to pro-
cure some amendment of its phraseology. They
did not heed our suggestion, and now the at
tempt is made to quote their own language in
justification eta principle quite as odious as the
Missouri restriction"
Mr. Buchanan's endorsement of the Platform,
and the Kansas Nebraska bill is no apology for
the 'squatter sovereignty" doctrine of his letter
--4.,... Toi.;n1. ;,,4n o,,,.ilnrn ton thn