American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-07-26
qng AllRlGAN ONION,
MORGANToWN, JULY 26, 1856.
Democratic Vagaries Of Principles
1mara and Practice. H

DemoCraLtc Va8arIeS OF ECInGlpleS
and Practice.
The Democratic party feels all the
exigencies of the coming contest, is
alive to all its dangers, and with that
political astutencss which has always
characterized its action, is emitting no
exertion and avoiding no sacrifice of
either principle or practice that can
recommend it in any section of the
country or remove from it's path one
obstacle to success. The proceedings
of the Democratic party in the Senate
during the last week furnishes pre-
eminent examples of its facility in
abandoning principle to secure tenn
porary purpose. The Kansas Nebraska
bill proceeded entirely upon the suppo-
sition that the people of a territory are
supreme in the management Of its in
ternal affairs; that they may rule its
legislation and shape it's institutions
without control, the only power of Con-
gress in the matter being that Of re-
fusing the nasccnt State admission to
the Union, if its institutions are not
republican or otherwise agreeable to
the majority. This dogma was ear
nestly stated in the platform of princi-
Piles adopted at Cincinnati, and its ex-
lstence there acknowledged by Mr.. Blu
chanan when he declared in his letter
of acceptance that the principle was as
ancient as free government itself, and
that it " simply declared that the peo-
pie of a territory, like those of State,
shall or shall not exist within their
limits" Yet this broad affirmation of
the principles of territorial (squatter)
sovereignty, solemnly declared in their
platform Of principles and especially
endorsed by their candidate, has been
solemnly repudiated and especially
discredited by the Democratic party in
that branch Of the National Legisla-
turc in which they have undisrutcd
control. To calm the agitation that
the Kansas excitement had occasioned
at the North, it deliberately repealed
and declared void laws passed by the
Kansas Legislature, whilst at the same
time upholding the legality of that Lee
gislature. is true that the laws re-
pealed were unjust and improper ones;
such, as Senator Cass aptly described
them, as ought never to have been
passed But their merit is no part of
the question. The Democratic party
had solemnly abjured the right to SUI
pervise tho acts of territorial legisla-
lures, and yet on the first occasion de-
manding interference it reasserts in
practice that right and casts its former
declarations to the winds. no.
Not less striking is the action of the
Senate in passing, over the Presidents
,vetoes, the bills for the improvement
of the Mississippi river and the st.
Clair Flats. The President no doubt
correctly interpreted that section of
the Democratic Platform which declar-
ed against general system of inter-
nal improvements; yet we find his ar
gumonts secuted and his decisions re-
yersed in a body that claims to be the
peculiar exempliication of Democratic
consistency. Nay, we find Mr.. Cass
urging the claims Of these improve
rnents as national and constitutional,
in arguments that years ago fell famil-
iarly from the lips of Clay and Web
ster, and were then denounced as the
very heresy of Whiggery.
We are by no means finding fault
with the action of the Senate in either
of the cases referred to. On the con-
trary, we hope to see the Kansas bill,
with its practical reputation Of squat
ter sovereignty, become a law, and de-
sire most earnestly that the House may
agree with the Senate in passing, with
out tho Presidents consent, all bills
Tor internal improvements of q national
and constitutional character. But we
must claim that the Democratic party
should let the country know where IL
stands, that if it means to repudiate
the peculiar doctrines Of its platform
and throw itself back upon good old
Wing practice it should let that fact be
known. 1t has no right to display one
chart of principles to the world and
act by another. Has it really reform
cd, or is its present action only induced
by the pressure of circumstances
So baltimore American.
nay The Locofoco party never re.
gard their Platforms as anything but
gulltrap to catoh votes hence they