Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-06-26
Buchanan in Favor Of sQuatter Sovereignty.

Buchanan IN faso OF Squatter sovereignty
We have had no opportunity since its publication
Of indulgng in any commentary on Mr.. Buchanan's
letter of acceptance. We propose, to-day, only To
allude briefly to one Of its positions-a position
which no Southern possibly sustain with
being guilty of grave and papable dereliction
of duty to the rights Of his own section. We refer
to Buchanans emphatic and sweeping approval Of
the degrading and odious doctrine of ''squatter
vereignty." His language on this subject is clear,
explicit and to the point. We quote paragraph or
two from his letter and the reader can then judge
for himself to its meaning:
1.-The agitation on the question of domesclave has
too long distracted and divided the people OF this Union
and aenatcd their affections from each other. This agi-
taon has assumed many forms since its commencement,
but il be directed chiefly to the Territories
and Judging from its present character, think may
safely anticipate that il rapidly approaching "hnal-
ty" The legislation Of Congress, respecting do
nestle slavery derived IL has been, from the original
and pure fountain OF legitimate political power the NlHo
majority promises long to allay the dangerous eA
This legislation IL founded upon principles
ancient government ITSELF aud IN accordance with
them has simply declared that The people 81 Isrriforg
Ike Those If State dau decide for h,"s,i'6s ohsher
siarery shall shall not eriSt 'rithN their limits
1.-The Nebraska-kan act does more than give the
forcn of law this elementary principle OF ligovcrn
ment: declaring il TO be the true intent and meaning o
this act rot legate slavery into any Territory or State
nor to exclude il theetrom but to leave the people there
of regulate their domestic
situations in their way subject only TO the Const'u-
tion of the United States. THIS principle cW s'frtr oi
BE- co~trocerei By any i"dridHa 81 dHy party PreSy
derotio" 10 popaldT government Es''i,', no" ram ad
spry ,ro any oiker prcpie prors IA rieties ~ re-
gard tie ISrritorisS! The a. apparent rot the iact
admitted by all that after Territory shall have entered
the Union and become State no constitutional poser
would then exist which could prevent u from either ao"
shing establishing slaverya the may be, accord
ing 10 its sovereign will aud pleasure
We submit that thero is mistaking this lao
guage. IL endorses squater sovereignty withoutre-
serve And not only endorses IL, but euogizes it as
an elementary principle Of seli-soyernment
'prncple, he tells us, which will surely not be
: -. any uIuINIuuas - r-y
sing devotion to popular government" And this
squatter sovereignty principle" which commands
so much of Old Bucks admiration, and which he
consider a suilcing panacea for all manner
Of political and governmental evils, is the very
principle let it be remembered, which the Virginia
Democracy in State convention assembled, solelpny
characterized and vehemently denounced "moge
odious and iAdetcasiJie' than the Wilmot provso
Ii is the same principle, too, which has often
caused the angry passions Of the Enquirer to rise
mountain high And yet the Virginia Democracy,
with the Enquirer at their head are now making
the welkin ring with their shouts over the nominal
ton of gentleman for the Presidency who is the
have so long professed to abomnate and contemn -
Verify, the ways Of politicians hungry for the spoils
meandering, mysterious and dark, and past find
ing out
We repeat that Mr. Buchanan's endorsem ent of
the doctrine of squatter sovereignty is full, ample,
and complete. He goes the whole figure lie comes
out boldly and earessy and tells the country, and
tells the party that nominated him. shut tLs people
for eselses ehether sIarery siaH or shall not er.
lst eithin their limits" Mark the phraseology,
gentlemen, and note the application "TAe people II
a Territory, Ike those Of a State p" That is. the
people Of territory, whether few or many whether
one dozen three Dozen prior the assembling of
a convention for the formation Of State constitu
ton, declared to have the right to determine n
n6Hy whether slavery shall be admitted or excluded
A few people squatting upon the common territory
OF all the States alleged by Mr. Buchanan TO be
soreTeigH, in the fullest and broadcast sense Of the
term and have the right to legislate on all subjects
the same rNhPrecisely as the pssGe ''Qfa Stas&|
have. Was eVeFs@gch monsirous doctrine put forth
by any not either knaVe or fool Is there
solitary man Of any party in the Southern states
who would dare 10 endorse or defend doctrine like
thaty If there be, we should like to see him But
we there is not one. An parties at the
South have consistently and veheioentiy denied the
right claimed lOr the people Of the Territories by
Mr.. Buchanan. They have never conceded, aud ne
will concede, that the people Of Territory are
sovereign like those Of a State :" and that cOnse-
quenuy they have the right to prohibit slavery
even though their population might not exceed fifty
or even twenty. Aud yet such Is the position a.
sumed by Mr.. Buchanan. And such is the position
which. in supporting him, the Southern Democracy
will be compelled to subscribe TO- maintain and prac-
tically enforce
THE people Of a Territory, like those Of State.
shalt decide for themselves, whether slavery shall or
shall not exist within their limits" Asserting his
principle, Nj Buchanan then excaims :-' Besbies
hO@ cain and Wusory eouid aay other griaeiDb
pr0oe Ia prastiee IL regard 10 the Ierritories" -
Let the reader mark the phraseology again, and b,
will that there Is possibility Of mistaking IL
real point aud meaning. sis REgARD TO TIE TEEia
rORrrs That is, the Territories in their teritoria
condition. Here is squattor soverognty--and no
thing but squatter sovereignty in all it, uakod dc
forrnity. And are Southern men seriously called up
on 70 endorse snd approve that worse-than ilino
proviso doctrine by supporting James Buchanan 70
the Presidency
In conclusion why, we ask, sleep the thunders ,
the Richmond Enquirer Has Il become reconcile
TO a doctrine which il has ~ often denounced. nm
which q declared in solemn terms, the "lYout
teouid necer submit TOP" We fear such is the lac
Party allegiance first, the country aherwar,ls, j.. Il
practcsl motto Of the grand Democracy every wher
And particularly is It The case here in the South
Bat We beg the favor Of the EagHirer 70 tell
WHISTLER u really thinks Mr.. Buchaaau's letter =
proves endorses or recognizes the doctine Of SOU,
Ter soyereignty We know such Is the opinion
several prominent Democrats Of this city, who a
a. maj q March hares With Old Buck and his ep
tie We pause to hear from our Deighbor. spe
OF, An honest eOpis ssion is good for the soul, y
know