Washington telegraph., 1856-07-16

| ssThe indiscreet zeal with which the
Washington Union is laboring to incor-
porate the Cass dogma of squatter sover-
eighty into the creed of the Democratic
party, excites universal regret among the
Democracy of the South. For ourselves,
we enter an earnest protest against any
such mischievous innovation. a
"In 1848, when Gen. Cass promulgated
this doctrine of squatter sovereignty in
timid and ambiguous phraseology, the
Democratic party in the South rejected
the principle with unanimous and indig
nant protest *
zoe of the South aoiU neucr submit to
squatter sovereignty"
Richmond Enquirer. 4
s'The Democratic party of the South in
1s48 rejected the principle (of squatter
sovereignty with unanimous and indignant
protest" did it? What is the Democratic
party of the South doing in this good year
of 1856? We know it is cruel to put the
question-but it must be answered.,
What is this party doing? Standing
square upon a platform endorsing un-
qual!tiedly the very "princip1e" which
they rejected in 1S48 with unanimous
and indignant protest" Nor is this all.
This Democratic party of the South found
themselves utterly powerless in the Gin
cinnati convention to effect an abrogation
of this 'principle." They stood bound
hand and foot and saw it incorporated in
all its odious completeness into their Ma
TIONAL creed. Their national creed
They saw the right, given to the alien and
the resident of day to exclude them and
their property from the public domain.
They saw the men around whom they
rallied and to whom they gave their sup
port, driven from the field by man whose
antecedents prove him to have occupied
every available position in the political
arena; man whose opinions have been as
variable and inconstant, though by no
means as captivating as the smiles of a
professed jilt; they yielded up one after
another of their demands; they saw en-
treaty after entreaty unheeded; they found
themselves compelled to accept as a candi-
date for the highest Office in the gift of the
people, a man who possesses neither their
confidence nor their esteem. They con-
fessed themselves conquered their choice
for the Vice Presidency was not endorsed;
they came home to rally their clans, and
s:tell it not in Gath, publish it not in
Askelon" n"-they had themselves confron-
ted with this Gorgon-t'lis chimera dire.
Dir. Buchanan accepting the nomination
says:
''The agitation of the question of do
mestic slavery has too long distracted and
divided the people of this Union, and
alienated their affections from each other
| This agitation has assumed many forms
since Its commencement, but it now seems
to be directed chiefly to the Territories
and, judging from its present character,
| think we may safely anticipate that it is
rapidly approaching s'fnality" The
recent legislation of Congress respecting
domestic slavery, derived, as it has been,
from the original and pure fountain of le-
gitimate political power, the will of ma
jority, promises ere long to allay the dan
gerous excitement This legislation is
founded upon principles as ancient as free
government itself, and in accordance with
them has simply declared that the people
Of q Territory, Ike those Of a State, shall
decide for themselves a1hether slauery shall
or shall not exist aoithiin their limits.
'sThe Nebraska Kansas act does no more
than give the force of law to this clement
AIRY principle of self-government; declar-
ing it to be the ''true intent and mean
ing of this act not to legislate slavery in
to any Territory or State, nor to exclude
it therefrom but to leave the people
| thereof perfectly free to form and regu-
late their domestic institutions in their
own way, subject only to the constitution of
the United States" THIS principle wiU
surely not be controrcrted Gy any indirid-
uat Of any party protessing decotion to
popular government. Besides, how rain
and atasory aoould any other principle
prore IN practice IN regard to the Terrific
ries! 1his as apparent, from the fact,
admitted by all, that after Territory
shall have entered the Union and become
State, no constitutional power would
then exist which could prevent it from
either abolishing or establishing slavery,
as the case may be, according to its SOW
ereign will and pleasure"
Well may the leaders who have aided
to effect this consummation, stand aghast
when met by such phantom. They may
fcry-s'Thou canst not say did it." but
the ''damned spot will not out at their
bidding"
The charge that they were sold to their
Northern allies, is driven home with ire
sistible and crushing force by the very
hand which should have averted the blow.
And they know it. They betray the depth
of the wound, the intensity of the anguish,
the bitterness of their wrath by such