Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-10
pWf66ur1 Etr9tn IN.
The Democratic Can idats for speaker-The
Northern Democracy and the Nebraska

N0It0010 0cnAuSiaSy "4~@ s.S
Bill.
The doctrine of "squatter sovereignty" or the
right of territorial Legislature tn adjudicate
and determine the question Of slavery. was pro-
noauced by Mr.. Calhoun 1.-THE most monstrons
proposition that was ever advanced by an Amer
Jean statesman" In ls4s, the Virginia Democ-
racy declared. by a solemn resolution, that they
would, ''under political necessity" support
for the Presidency any man who held that doc
frine. True, they did Immediately after support
Gen. Cass, the great author Of the idra, but they
denied that he favored il. and thus pre- served at
least the appearance of consistency. When the
Nebraska bill became law, Gen. Cass rose in
the Senate and exutingly proclaimed it the re.
cognition and triumph of the principle of squat
ter sovereignty shortly thereafter the
President admitted to ex-senator Clemens. that
he placed the same construction on it. The
practical effect of such a doctrine is TO give TO
the first settlers Of a territory, no matter how
insignificant their numbers. nor from what quar-
ter of the Globe Europe or America-they may
have come, or by what Abolition societies they
may have been sent, the power 10 determine at
the first or any subsequent meeting Of their ter
ritoral legislature, whether slavery shall or shall
not exist. This is the Interpretation said TO be
placed on the Nebraska Bill by Mr.. Richardson,
the Democratic candidate for Spea9er of the
House Of Representatives. and il is undoubtedly
the construction which the Democratic party of
the free States. almost without solitary excep-
ton, place upon it:
Let us see, what few years ago were the
views Of Mr. Richardson. support of whom is
now made the test of Southern orthodoxy by the
Democratic party. In 1850. we have the au.
ihority Of the New Orleans Crescent for saying,
he held, and, We presume holds still. the dec
trine SO much secuted by parties in the South.
that the Mexican laws prevailed in the ierritore.
acquired from Mexico. and hat by their opera
tion slavery was forever excluded The terri
tories, said he. "are free now. aud will forever
remain free; they free by the law Of nations
they are free by the law ofnature; they will re-
main free, from causes 10 which hive already
referred. This should satisfy all, in my judge
ment. who are opposed 10 the extension ri slave
ry." And again: do net, and eannot believe.
that our Constitution carries and protects sidre-
ry, treept In States, nor do beliere that lis
.ffumtFs tHteHutu tHut u sOWu tIftHu HlS III
siitution. beiiere il ,Ods .form,d for far higher
and nobier purposes.
This is the language of the man who is now
set up by the sefappointed champions Of the
South as the sinbodement at southern priuei.
Piles and sentiments. But again: have Tho
same authority for the following passage from
speech of Mr.. Richardson in 1850.
would make this Union perpetual we should 81
alter the Cons dtution to keep up n balance
of power between the slave holding and the uo-
slave holding States. If our government can ON.
ly be preserved by these means, its days are mum
bered and its fragments must be- mingled with ihe
ruins of other Republics upon the highway of ma
tons, Be assured that thirteen millions Of poo.
pie pH nerer consent that they shat hare no more
political influence than seren millions. 1t would
dishonor them md make them unworthy the mp
peaton of freemen. They would indeed be the
degenerate sons of ilIustrou, sresn
The foregoing decided expression of opinion,
by Mr.. Richardson. during time Of high section
al excitement, cannot be considered. the Cres-
cent says. MS extraordinarily favorable to the
South. He deliberately stated that he would see
the Union dissolved. the fragments of the Repub.
than allow the people of the South the equality of
rights guaranteed them under the federal consti.
tntion. No matter how the quoted paragraph Is
!, cad. the conviction is irresistible that Mr.. Rich
ardson thinks, or thought, that the popular ma
jority Of the North should have "moro political
influence" than the people of the South In what
respect! Why, as regards the institution of
slavery: because there are no other grounds of
controversy between the North and South. This
is point palpable and positive to the commonest
understanding.
Time after time we have seen the as ertion
made in journals of the West and Southland nev
err contradicted. that Mr.. Richardson justified his
support of the Nebraska bill by the argument tina,
it recognized squa,ter sovereignty and in de ate
which occurred in the House of Representatives
the 2lst of December. the fact was made appa.
rent, by the confessions Of Representatives
from the free states, that it was universally defen
ded.before anti slavery constituencies. as IA pro
position in favor of freedom" Remarkinp on
that debate, the Charleston Mercury, Demo
cratic authority, says: "lt seems that Mr..
Cox,a member from Keniuek y,was cruel enough
TO compel Northern Democrats to the confession
upon the Nebraska Kansas bil'. and the princi
pies upon which it was defended at the NORTH
He calls up Democratic members from Mich
gan. and makes them give damning Testimony
against Messrs. Cass and Douglas. He sum.
mons also the Ohio and Pennsylvania Democra
cy to the same purpose. They unite in testify
ing that Democrats al the North advocate the
Nebraska Kansas Bill, not on the grounds o,
popular soyereigpty;" not asa measure Of Jus
tice, and aquetus to slavery agiiatun but a
1.-THE best Abolition measure ever passed." and