The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-25
DOUGLAS DENOUNCED AS A TRAITOR AT
THE SOUTH
From the Charleston Mercury, Sept. IL

from me Cnafleston mercury, Scpt. IL
What have we seen? The Territorial Legis-
lature of Kansas pass laws, admitting and pro-
tecting Slavery, and, therefore, obnoxious to
Abolitionism. And what is the course of Mr..
Douglas and other Democratic leaders in Con-
gress? Six years ago, when, under the same
principle of popular sovereignty" Abolitionism
in California excluded the South from that mag
ni6cent domain, and she protested against it,
the leaders of the Democratic party sustained
the principle, and sanctioned our seclusion.
What, we repeat, is their course, when the
people of Kansas, acting under the same doc
trine, pass laws protecting Slavery? Mr..
Douglas comes forward with his "Paciication
bill"-a bill which, in the teeth of popular SOW
ereignty," in the teeth of the Nebraska bill
itself, repealed whole statutes of the Territorial
Legislature. And this measure, so fragrant in its
violation of the just-uttered pledges of the Dem.
ocratic party-this measure, reviving Congress
sional intervention" and repeating the laws of
Pro-Slavery Territorial Legislature, actually
passes the United States Senate by the vote of
the Democratic party and of Southern Sena-
tors!
There is a still lower deep, with an effrontery
beyond conception. MIR. Douglas, in his late
speech, even vaunts that the Democratic Sena-
tors were willing to repeal the obnoxious laws,
effect. Mr.. Hunter, of Virginia, adopts the same
view. And Mr.. Orr, of South Carolina out
Herods' all, by invoking Executive interven-
ton, to strangle "judge and jury" for the es-
cape If Abolition malefactors in Kansas
Can betrayal of principle go further? What
is this doctrine of popular sovereignty, that to-
day repudiates Congressional intervention, and
tomorrow invites it-that makes the courts of
the United States the sole arbi er, yet calls upon
an abolitionized Congress and the President to
trample upon them? Popular sovereignty for
California, and popular sovereignty for Kansas,
are very different things. 1t is to be lauded
and upheld when it excludes Slavery, but to be
repudiated when it admits Slavery. Congress
sional Intervention, on the other hand, is to be
repudiated when invoked to protect Slavery in
California, but to be fostered when invoked to
crush it in Kansas The Compromise of 1850
is to be kept when it defrauds the South, but to
be violated when it benefits her. Such is the
last warning specimen of National Democratic
faith.
And it is expected of the people of this State,
that they will shout hosannas at the heels of a
party which stands ready so to insult and trample
on them? Shall we cringe and fawn about a
party which, by its REGENTS acts, assures US in
what contemplate esteem it holds its own prin-
ciples and our rights? Shall we, despite the
experience of California and those demonstra-
tions, still praise the glorious doctrine of squat
ter sovereignty" and look to the Democratic
party to enforce it faithfully? One thing is GER
tain. The Democratic party in Washington are
ready to abandon it. Northern Democrats quail
before the pressure of an overwhelming senti-
ment at bonneville Southern Democrats, as
before, are found ready to sacrifice principle
sacrifice the South-that Abolition may be ap-
peased, and spoils-dispensing party be led to
triumph.