The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-08-26

The Senate; but allow me to read and offera
,ew comments upon some portions OF the
Democratic platform. The first resolution
that treats upon the subject is in these words
II read Just so much of it as is applicable to
nv present remark:
"That Congress has no power under the
Constitution to interfere with or control the
domestic institutions of the several States,
and that such States are the sole and proper
judges of everything appertaining to their own
affairs not prohibited by the Constitution
take it that this language, thus far, is
language which meets a willing and ready
response from every Senator herc-certainly
il does from me- But In the following reso-
luton find these words: ~
"Resolued, That the foregoing proposition
covers and was intended to embrace the whole
project of slavery agitation in Congress
The first resolution that read was adopt
cd years ago in Democratic Convention
The secoad resolution which | read was
adopted in subsequent years when different
state of things lad arisen, and it became ne
cessary to apply an abstract proposition relat-
ine to the States and to the Territories -
Hence the adoption of the language contain
ed in the second resolution which l have
read.
"Now, sir, deny the proposition thus as
sumed by the Cincinnati Convention. In the
language Of the Senator from Kentucky Mr.
Crrittcnden, SO ably and appropriately used
on Tuesday last, | hold that the entire and
unqualified sovereignty of the Territories is
in Congress. That is my judgment; but this
resolution brings the Territories precisely with
in the same limitations which are applied to
the States in the resolution which / first read.
The two taken together deny to Congress any
power of legislation in the Territories"
Follow on and let US see what remains
Adopted as part of the present platform, and
as necessary TO new state OF things, and to
meet an emergency now existing, the Con
venton says:
'"The American Democracy recognize and
adopt the principles contained in the organic
laws establishing the Territories of Kansas
and Nebraska, as embodying the only sound
and safe solution of the slavery question upof
which the great national idea of the people
of this whole country can repose, in its deter
mined conservatism of the Union-non-lnter
ference by Congress with Slavery in States
and Territories"
Then follows the last resolution:
"Resolved, That we recognize the right o
the people of all the Territories, including
Kansas and Nebraska, acting through tn
fairly expressed will Of the majority Of actua
residents. and whenever the number of thei
inhabitants justifies it, to form Constitution
with or without domestic slavery, and be ad
mitted into the Union upon terms OF perfec
euuaiity with tho other States
Take all these resolutions together, an
the deduction which we must necessari
! draw from them is denial to Congress of an
power whatever to legisate upon the subjet
of Slavery. The last resolution denies to tn
people of the Territory any power over tina
subject, save when they shall have sufiici
: ent number to form Constitution and b'
come State, and also denies that Congre
has any power over the subject; and 80 II
|, resolutions hold that this power is at least
, allowance while the Territory is in Territ
rial condition. That is the only conclusic
which you can draw from these resolutions
! Alas! for short lived territorial sovereignty.
2 It came to its death in the house Of its friend
@ It was buried by the same hands which h'
k given it baptism!
!. But, sir, / did not rise for the purpose
4 discussing these resolutions. but only to res
Q them, and state the action which propo
q to take in view of them. | may-l probab
l. shall, take some subsequent occasion when
n shall endeavor to present to the Senate a.
= the country, fair account of what is t
,f true issue presented to the people for tn
,r consideration and decision.
My object now is to show only that I
sr Cine innati Convention has endorsed and a
10 proved of the repeal of the Missouri Comp
if mise from which so many evils have alrea
G. fowed-from which / fear more and wol
es evils must be anticipated. 1t would,
is course, be expected that the President
it nominee of that Convention would acce
= cordially and cheerfully, the platform prep
O. ed him by his party friends. No person
of object to that There is no equivocation
ny his part about the matter. | beg leave
to read short extract from speech OF u
wv gentlemen. made at his own home, within
mt few days In reply to the Keystone Cl'
On which paid him visit there, MIR. Buchar
= said: 49,,
*, "Gentlemen, two weeks since l should hi
W. made YOU long speech, but now h'
ed been placed on platform OF which m
We heartily approve, and that can speak for
to Being the representative of the Democr'
Of party, and not simply James buchanan
ia,.si square my conduct according to the p
tes form of the party, and insert no new pla
for nor take one from it.
he aThese events leave to me only one
pleasant duty, which is to declare here
tic / can maintain political associations with
in party that insists upon such doctrines; tn
nd can support no man for President that av
ef- and recognizes them; and that the little
he that power with which God has endowed
lty shall be employed, to battle manfully, fri
ow and consistently for his defeat, demanded
ck- il is by the highest interests OF the coun
of which owns my allegiance :.
I This same Democratic Convention deli
lily ately endorsed and approved OF all the act
the the present Administration; in its viola
ion Of solemn pledges in repeating the Miss
tho Compromise: in expressing the freemer
tba | K.,sos IN e,,efoininr slavery there even