Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-17
sauATrER SOVEREIGNTY.

That Inc people OF q tefTHOTV, ike those or a
State, shall decide for themselves whether
slavery shall or shall not exist within theiI
limits."-Mr. Buchdaan'S letter 81 acceptance.
We prop Sc TO advert again to this clause
in the letter of the Democratic candidate for
the Presidency, which partisan feeling and
prejudice have distorted into recognition Of
the principle Of squatter sovereignty. We but
do our duty to our readers in continuing these
comments, although convinced that there are
those who would not be persuaded though one
rose from the dead, and who belong to that
unfortunate class who, "when convinced.against
their viii are of the same opinion STILL"
And first it should he remarked, that as in
the limited compass Of letter it is impossible
to enter fully into discussion Of the many
questions involved in the canvass, We must
take the language Of the writer in connection
with other facts and other language to which
it evidently refers. Taking this as the basis of
our comments, a basis to which no fair, inge-
NOUS man object, let US compare the clause
in question with a subsequent clause in Mr.
| BUCHANAN's very letter, and we will thus have
some light thrown upon the meaning which he
designed should be attached to the word "ter-
ritory." Mr. BUCHANAN, in commenting on
the Nebraska Kansas bill, proceeds to say:
This is apparent from the fact admitted By
all that after territory shall have entered into
the Union and become State. no constitutional
power would then exist which could prevent it
from either abolishng or establishing slavery,
as the case may be, according to its sovereign
will and pleasure"
Now, here it is evident that the word "terri.
tory" is not to be construed as an unorganized
people merely acting in their popular capacity,
but as an organized community exercising for
the first time the form of sovereign A ter.
ritory cannot enter the Union as such, for the
Constitution only provides for the admission OF
near States; and hence it is apparent that it is
III this sovereign capacity, or, as some have
expressed it, in this inchoate condition as a
State, that the writer speaks Of The territory.
Now, apply this definition Of the word territory
where 1t occurs in the clause which forms the
caption of our article, and we Will find that
the language of that clause applies to a terri
tory in that chrysallis condition, when having
thrown off its dependent condition upon Con.
| gress, 1t energies into sovereignty and applies
at the door of the Union for an equal partici-
| patton in the benefits Of that Union. Such,
according TO every principle Of construction,
to be found even in the law books Of criticism.
is the fair Interpretation Of this language.
And where is the man who will deny the pro-
position; where the man who will assert that
to-day Congress has entire control over the
domestic institutions Of the State applying for
admission, and to morrow withdraws that con.
troll, and rests the whole power in the sover-
eign people Of that State?
But Mr.. BUCHANAN is here speaking Of the
Nebraska.Kausas BILL and BY his language
approving the doctrines contained 10 that mea
sure. The language of this act, when properly
understood, entirely precludes any doubt as e
the true construction TO be placed on the word
territory, either in the phraseoogy Of the Law
or in the letter Of Mr.. BUCHANAN. Il is true
that in the zeal Of opposition, it has beer
charged that the Kansas act itself sators very
strongly of the doctrine Of squatter sovereignty
but if we apply the same canon Of criticism Il
that bill, and take its language in connection
with other clauses, we will find no foundation
for the charge. The clause Of the bill to
which objection has been made, is as follows
1t being the true intent and meaning of this
act not to legisiate slavery into any teyritory
or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but to
leave the people perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the Constitution Of the
United States" Now, in order to ascertain
the true intent and meaning Of the word "ter-
ritory, in this clause, let US advert to that part
Of the bill which provides for the admission Of
Kansas into the Union, and we find the same
word used in a sense which cannot be mis-.
taken.
And when admitted as State or States
the said territory or any portion Of the same.
shall be received into the Union with or with
out slavery, as their constitution may prescribe
al the time Of their admission"
here i is clear that the word territory il
used IN that limited sense to which We have he.
fore referred, and alludes to the status Of Kan
sas at the time Of its admission. and If the
same definition be applied to the term territory
in the clause above recited, it frees il from,
every faint Of squatter sovereignty.
If anything were wanting to complete The
chain of reasoning on this subject, the link
would be afforded by the recent action Of the
Senate in rejecting the Topeka constitution
and passing the bill Of Mr.. Douglas providing
for the admission Of Kansas into the Union.
This Topeka constitution was formed by con.
vention organized upon this very principle OF
squatter sovereignty, assembled without au.
thority and acting without law Yet the au.
thors Of the Kansas bill 1.-THE Democratic party
IN the Senate,) have expressly repudiated that
doctrine,.and have put their own construction
on the language Of the original act They