The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-06-26
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BucHANANs LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE

N'~'' DSSAA-N-N-h-> tShuo"lCtRcS luo NcSC
responsibility Of the Eecu,ive-hopes, if
elected, to be able to allay domestic strife,
and endorses in every particular the plat
form adopted in Cincinnati. lie makes
the following remark in reference to
slavery:
"The agitation OH the question of do
mestlc slavery has too long distracted and
divided the people of this Union and alien
atcd their affections from each other. This
agitation has assumed various forms since
its commencement it now seems to he di-
rectcd chiefly TO the territories; and iudr-
ing from its present character, think we
may safely anticipate that it is rapidly ap-
proacl,ing Il linality.' The recent lcgisla-
ton of Congress respecting domestic slave.
ry, derived, as it has been from the original
and pure fountain of legitimacy, political
power, the will Of the majority, promises
ere long to allay the dangerous excitement
This legislation is founded upon principles
as ancient us free government itself, and in
accordance with them, has simply declared
that the people OF Territory, like those
OF State, shall decide for themselves,
whether slavery shall or shall not exist
within their limits.
"Thc Nebraska and Kansas act docs no
more than give the force Of law to this cle-
mentary principle OF sclrgovcrnmcnt, dc.
claring It To be the true intent and mean
ing of this act not 10 lcgisIac slavery into
any Territory or State, nor to exclude it
thercfrom; but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to regulate and form their
domestic institutions in their own way, sub
jccted only to the Constitution Of the Ini-
ted States This principle will surely not
be controverted hy any individual of any
party protesting devotion to popular gov
ernmcnt. Besides, how vain aud ilusory
would any other principle prove in practice.
IN regard t" the territories! This is appa-
rent from the fact, admitted by all, that ;,f-
ter territory shall have entered the Union
and become Il State, no constitutional power
would then exist, which could prevent it
from either al'olshiny or establishing slave.
ry as tho case may be, according 10 its
sovereign will and pleasure
This is truly sensible, and we are prepared
to endorse every sentiment, save that in re-
ference TO the Legislative power oil Territorial
Governments, if we rightly comprehend
his meaning in the sentence, "Mat tie pco-
pie Of territory, like those Of a State,
shall decide for themselves, arActhcr slarery
shall or shall not crist ,cithin their limits"
Whether intended by the author or not, the
phrase rs it stands would seem to favor
that odious doctrine Of Squattcr Sovereign
ty, which admits the right of handful of
squattcrs upon the public domain, to pass
any law establishing or abolishing slavery
aproposition from which we wholly dissent.
We have before given our views upon this
subject, and shall not elaborate here. If
he had qualified the sentence by fixing the
period at which the people Of n territory
should decide the question Of slavery to
the time when they had reached the sover-
eighty Of u State, we could cordially sub
scribe TO the doctrine.