Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-16
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1866.
Martin Van Buren, I'm the field for 7Ir
Buchanan,

der date Of Lindenwald, June 28th, 1856,
in response to an invitation to attend the
annual celebration of the Tammany Socie-
ty Of New York, on the 4th. In this letter
Mr.. Van Buren, gives In his adhesion to
Mr.. Buchanan. Is not this act of the
leader of the free-sol movement in IS48,
startling proof Of the charge that Mr..
Buchanans nomination was made with a
view to propitiate the free-Soil element?
Should it not cause Southern democratic
supporters of Mr. Buchanan to pause ere
they go farther in their efforts to advance
his cause. Mr. Van Buren, stands now up
on the Buffalo Platform of 184S. He has
not abated one jot or title of his devotion
TO the principles of that creed of hostility
to the South. In the following passage we
find distinct reference to his former opin-
idns, and his uniform resistance to every
departure from them. He says
"The subject upon which we have differed is
that which now furnishes the leading issue be-
tween the principal parties iHs the coming cleo
ton, and to which all other matters have become
subordinate-that of slavery in the Territories
My own course in regard to it has been one, by
the record Of which shall always be willing to
be Judged, whenever and wherever the acts of
an individual are deemed of sufficient import
ance to attract attention. The same thing, !
doubt not can be said by those of you who have
differed from me, and there we must leave the
matter. We cannot control each others opin-
Xxh fS fail 10 nd cbp
not desire to do so if we could. | have, from
the beginning, preferred the mode of dealing
with the subject of slavery in the Territories
adopted at an early day by the founders of the
Government, and continued to a recent period,
and have uniformly resisted a departure from it.
No man in the country can have been more sim
Cerely opposed to the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise. l was informed Of it. under cir
cumstances calculated TO make an American
most sensitive in regard TO all domestic acts from
which he thinks there is reason to apprehend
danger to the perpetuity Of our political insttu-
tions-in foreign land, surrounded by the sub
jects and advocates of despOtc power. Deeply
sensible Of its injustice, and fOreseeing the eX-
tent TO which the measure would reopen slavery
agitatiOn-the deleteriOus effects OF which few
were more capable of approaching than myself,
did not hesitate to condemn the act"
Still adhering to the principles of the
Buffalo platform, and opposed to the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise, why does
Mr.. Van Buren, support Mr. Buchanan?
Is it not singular, if Mr.. Buchanan is
sound on questions affecting the rights of
Shareholders in the territories? Mr.. Van
Buren, furnishes an explanation of his
course. He regards the Kansas Nebraska
act as enunciating the doctrine of squat
ter sovereignty, and Mr. Buchanan as
pledged to carry out that doctrine, and
therefore he supports him. He says:
al am free to confess that have for some time
past regarded the Kansas act with more favor
than / did when it was first presented to my con-
sderation as the instrument by which the Mis-
souri, Compromise was overthrow. This may
have arisen from the fact that have felt myself
compelled TO regard il as the only attainabe mode
by which the country can hope TO be relieved
from the injurious and demOralizng effects Of
slavery agitation; or it may have been produced
by the great unanimity with which its principles
have been adopted in all parts Of the country,
by q political party in which have been reared,
and upon the maintenance of which, in its won't
ed purity, | cOnscentiOusly believe the future
welfare Of the country will depend. | believe
resentment Justly excited by the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise has subsidized, and more espe-
cially when they shall have witnessed fair and
peaceable execution Of the provisions OF that
act, will generally regard it as a mode for the
settlement Of slavery questions, by which they
will have better chance TO have their feelings
and opinions upon the subject respected, and one
less exposed TO eXtraneous and improper infuen !
ces, than has been the case with specific Congress
sional Legislation. l have not the leisure, if |
deemed it necessary, TO assign the reasons which |
have brought my mind TO this conclusion. The |
points in regard to the measure itself can be !
stated in a few words. The authority of Con- |
gress TO transfer to the people of the Territories
all the power il possesses under the Constitution
TO legislate for the Territories, has far l !
know, never been questioned. Ii has been eXer-
csed from the commencement Of the Govern
ment in respect TO all the proper subjects ofleg
islation, from the highest 20 the lowest Not
having a copy Of the Nebraska-kansas act,
take its provisions in regard 30 the authority it
processes to confer from Mr.. Buchanan's admira-
bic letter of acceptance, where the subject is, !
doubt not, fairly presented. He thus describes
Ii: This legislation is founded upon principles
as ancient as the Government itself, and in ac-
cordance with them has simply declared that
the people OF a Territory, like those Of a State,
shall decide for themselves Whether slavery shall
or shall not exist within their limits
declaring il 60 be the true intent and meaning
of this act not 20 legslate slavery into any ter
ritory nor to exclude il thereirom, hut TO leave
the people thereof perfectly free 10 form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only 20 the Constitution OF the
United States
'From these terms il is too clear TO admit Of
dispute or cavil that il was the intention Of Con
gress 10 clothe the people Of the Territories with
ample power 20 exclude slavery from within their
respective limits, As WELL WHILE THEY CONTINUED
TERRITORIES, as in making provisions for lis eN-
clusiOn from the State when that transition shall
take place. The only question that can be rails
ed upon the act in this regard must relate 10 the
effect of the grant-that is, whether the Const-
tuition authorizes Congress 20 elothe the people
OF the Territories with power 10 exclude slavery
therefrom while they remain Territories have
not the slightest doubt of the power Of Congress
TO give this authority to the people Of the Terri
tories.
.'Mr. Buchanan. in his letter Of acceptance
pledges himself 10 the people, should the nOmi-
nation of the Convention be ratified by the peo-
pie, that all the power and influence constitu- |
tionally possessed by the Executive shall be ex-
erted in firm bat concilatOry spirit during the
single term he shall remain in Ofhee, 10 restore |
the same harmony among the sister States which |
prevailed before the apple Of dscord, in the form
Of slavery agitation, had been cast into their /
midst He knows that this pledge can be re- 4
deemed In but one way, and that is by securing 1
10 the bona fde settlers Of the Territory, II 4
matters should be allowed 10 remain as they nov 4
stand, the full, free and practical enjoyment Of 4
the rights intended 10 be granted 10 them by the 4
organic act including that Of free suffrage, and i
no one will understand better than nc that nOtl,-
Ing short Of the substance Of those rights woul