The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-07-26
"Squatter Sovereignty

Inc black Republicans and Know NOthngs. bot
North and South. are simultaneously co.opcratn
in the false charge against the Democratic party O
favorng and sustaining the doctrine of what the,
call "Squarer Sovereignty" and pretending to oh
ject to the Kansas bill on that ground, whc
in fact the Bill and the Democratic platform
fatty contradict their assertion. They even 20 81
far as TO charge Mr.. Buchanan with favorng thu
same principle. Now. what is the language of Mr.
Buchanan's acceptance? Here II Isl
in accepting the nomination. need scarcely 50,
that accept in the spirit. HE resolutions con
stitmig the Pm,mm Of Principles erected by tie C5nun
ton. To the Platform intend to conform myself
throughout the canvass. believing that have nc
right. as a candidate of the Democratic party. by
answering nterrogaories. to present new and differ
ent issues before the people"
And what says the Platform? Read
Resolred. That We recognize the right of the poo
pie Of all the Territories, including Kansas and Ne
braska acting through the legally and fairly en-
pressed will of moiority of actual residents. AND
WHENEVER THE NUMBER OF THEIR INHAB-
ITANTS JUSTIFlES 1T. TO FORM A CONSTlTU.
TION. with or without domestic slavery. and be adj
mittcd into the Union upon terms of perfect equali
ty with the other States"
This, then, is the Democratic doctrinc-the actual
residents of the territories have the right to decide
the question Of slavery for them themselves. when
ever they are legally authorized, to form u State
Constitution, thus denying the unlimited power of
Squatters. the territorial possessions to exclude
slave property, as in the case of California, under
the edict and sanction of the Taylor-Fillmore Ad-
minstraton.
The Mississippan, on this subject, very appropri-
atey says:-"Now of all men in the world. these
same have the least right to pratc about Squat-
ter Sovereignty" and to dcnounce others with sane
tioningit. In the history of this country, we can
call to memory but one notable instance of its being
put into practice; and that in the case of Cali
fornia An unorganzed. rowing. adventurous rab-
BILE, without any other authority than the cdict of
the Taylor-FiIlmore administration, did meet in
convention and decide the question of slavery with
out going through the usual probation of tcrritori-
al organization. This was sqnattcr Sovereignty 4,
in its most olous FORM and its effect was to appro
pirate the whole of our immense possessions on the
Pacific, to free solism. But for these proceedings.
California would this day have been slave region.
There Is no country on the face of the Globe better
adapted TO slavery, and the laws of nature would
have fixed its destiny in the proper direction but for
the hgh-handed proceedings of the federal Ey-
ecutlve, who doubtless was but mere puppe in the
the hands of the vile of abolitionsts whom he
selected as his confidential counsellors.
When this paraleled outrage was pcrpctratcd
by the abolition schemers who had obtained posses
sion of the administration, through the weakness and
credulity of II Southern Wing President, what was
the course of the who are now rolling their
eyes to heaven and brawlng Squattcr Sovereignty,
with such furious Indignation? Did they denounce
the outrage? Did they point the finger of scorn at
those who had perpctratcd it, Did they evince holy
horror them at the practical demonstration of the
very doctrine to which they had previously express
ed such bitter opposition? Farirom it! They were
mute as Egyptian mummes! Nota word of censure
escaped them So far from condemning the outrage
so far from pouring out burning lavas of scorn
and Indignation upon the betrayers of the South
they smiled at the deed, and with pious devotion to
the Union, they turned against those of us who did
cry aloud.'