Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-15


declaration Of Mr.. Richardson, that he con.
ceived that Congress has power under the
Constitution to apply the Wilmot proviso to
the Territories, as a virtual abandonment Of
the doctrine of squatter sovereignty. It il
very clear that Mr. r designed no such mean.
ing in what he took occasion to say on satur.
day last. As We comprehended him, his dec
laration was, in effect, that though the Con-
stitution placed all the power whatever,
granted by the States for the management
OF their common territorial property for their
common and coequal benefit, in the hands Of
Congress, the application of the Wilmot pro.
viso would be a grievous abuse of the trust
thus conferred
trine of "squatter sovereignty" as inter
preted by Gen. Cas-. That is, in the doctrine
that the inhabitants Of Territory have polit
ical rights other than those specially granted
to them by the agent of the sovereign part
ners in the Confederacy owning the territories;
and that those grants of power, to be constitu-
tiOnal, must come strictly within the purview
of the powers granted in this connection, by
the partners to their common agent. Viz: to
make all needful rules and regulations for
their government.
While we cannot comprehend tn constitu-
tionality of squatter sovereignty, as a ques-
ton of law, We are free to confess that in 1t
only, can we perceive peaceful solution of
the threatening slavery issues with which the
government Of the territories of the United
States have come to be involved We regard
squatter sovereignty as comforting on the in
habtants Of territory no power to make
regulations or laws that may in any manner
initiate against the unrestricted enjoyment Of
their rights therein, of the citizens of all the
States of the Union; and by no means as Civ
ing power to them (the inhabitants of a ter.
ritory) to enact restrictions declaring that
what is property in any State of the Union,
shall not be property in their midst That is;
until they come to form State Constitution.
When they make one to suit majority of
themselves, precisely as they will, provided
1T be republican constitution. But, Just now,
arguing about squatter sovereignty, is a sort
of seeing snakes" business; the doctors of
the constitution in the House hall having man
aged to make such a heads and points jum-
bled-up matter Of the question. So we'll
quit it as being the " heavy business Of the
newspaper calling, which we by no means
agreed to undertake on setting out to conduct
the Star.
Look out for the Engine when the Bell
Rings 1T rarely happens that true or
more fOrcible thing is said in the hall, than
the remark made not long since by Mr.. Camp
bell, Of Ohio, in debate, that in politics, as on
railroads, sit is dangerous to stand on the
platform"
Here We have Mr.. Richardson, whose whole
and long legislative history is that of gen.
tleman doring everything that a chivalric
and conscientious northern statesman could
do for the maintenance Of the co-equality Of
the rights Of the southern section under the
Constitution, when suddenly, on his express
ing an opinion on an abstract technical point of
constitutional law, unpalatable to portion of
his supporters, they drop him like hot potato,
though all of them are willing to be qualified
that in the matter of fair dealing towards their
section in the discharge of the duties of the
Speakership, the present House of Represen.
tatives holds no gentleman more implicitly TO
be relied on. Well. we'll - well!,. 1t IS
indeed so soon evident that Mr. CampbeITs
witticism was prophetic. Who will now dare to
question the fact that it is dangerous to
stand on the platform
Balk.-Much feeling was created among
the Democratic members of the House yester-
day, by the change made by Messrs. Mcqueen,
Boyce, and Keitt Of South Carolina, and Quit
man and Barksdale of Mississippi, from Mr..
Richardson to ''Mr. Scattering, in voting for a
Speaker. This change we understand to have
been occasioned by point in Mr.. r s reply
to the queries speared at him on Saturday
last By his admission of power in Congress
to enact the Wilmot proviso; though he quail
fed it by simultaneous declaration that, in
his opinion, the exercise Of that power would
be virtual infraction of the terms of tho
Union-of the principle on which, under thu
constitution, the general government is to
provide all needful rules and regulations for
the Territories -
The Call for the Caucus of Democratic men,
bers of the House, to meet last night in the
Representatives hall, promulged as they ad-
Journed yesterday, gave rise to much excite
ment and innumerable conversational specu.
lations. "Whsts out now ?" was exclaimed
on all sides by opposition members The secret
OF the call was the change of position of three
South Carolinians and two Mississippians who
yesterday threw away their votes, refusing
longer to sustain Mr.. Richardson. 1t IN.
doubtedly generated indecision and distrust
in the Democratic ranks, and made it neces-
sary that they should again meet each other
in consultation, and either take some new de-.
parture, or induce the seceders to return 70
| the fold Of the faithful There was evidently