Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-18

Mr.. Buchanan, IN his letter OF acceptance
avows the odious doctrine of Squatter
Sovereignty. Such is his meaning, if there
be any force. in language In speaking
of the Kansas Nebraska act he says:
''This legislation is founded upon prin-
ciples as as ancient as the government it.
self, and, in accordance with them, has
simply declared that the people of terri
tory, like those Of a state, shall decide for
themselves whether slavery shall or shall
not exist within their limits"
This is a clear avowal of the doctrine,
that the people of territory at any time,
either before or after the adoption of a
constitution, may legislate on the subject
of slavery, which is neither more nor less
than squatter sovereignty. If they can
legislate like those THE people of a
State" they can do so in the acts of ordi-
nary legislation, and the exercise of this
right by them is not confined to the exact
time when they come to form a constitu-
ton, or subsequently to that time when
they have ceased to be a territory, and
have become a State.
This is the construction which is being
put upon Mr.. Buchanan's letter by the
Freesoil Democracy of the north, and it
was for the express purpose of catching
this wing of the party that this paragraph
was inserted, and, as it were interpolated
in the Cincinnati platform. We have al
ready made copious extracts from the re-
cent letter of Martin Van Buren, to the
Tammany Society, in which he places this
construction upon the letter of Buchanan,
and supports him on this express ground.
Hear what he says:
"Not having a copy of the Nebraska Kan
sas act, / take its provisions in regard to the
authority it processes to confer from Mr. Blu
chanan's admirable letter of acceptance, where
the subject il, | doubt not, fairly presented.
He thus describes il: "This legislation j.
founded upon principles as ancient as the gov
eminent itself, and in accordance with Them
has simply declared that the people Of a Terri
tory, LIKE THOSE OF STATE, shall decide for
themselves whether slavery shall or shall not
exist within their limits.
declaring it to be the true intent and meaning
of this act not to legislate slavery into any ter
ritory, nor to exclude il therefrOm, but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free 10 form
and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the constltu.
tion of the United States"
From these terms it is too clear 10 admit
of dispute or cavil that i, was the intention
of Congress to clothe the people of the terri
tories with ample power to exclude slavery
from within their respective limits, as tDeU
phiLe they continued Territories, as 10 making
provisions for its exclusion from the State
when that transition shall take place. The
only question that can be raised upon the actin
this regard must relate TO the effect of the
grant-thRt is whether the constitution au-
thorizes Congress TO Clothe the people Of the
Territories with a power TO exclude slavery
therefromwhile they remain Territories. | have
not the slightest doubt OF the power of Con-
gress to give this authority to the people of
the Territories.
Observe that Van Buren, relies entirely
upon Buchanan's letter for his idea and in
depreciation of the Kansas-Nebraska act.
He does not get his idea from the act it.
self, but from Mr. Buchanan He says
"Not having copy of the Nebraska Kan
sas act, l take its provisions in regard to
the authority it processes to confer from
Mr.. Buchanan's admirable letter of accep-
lance" In that admirable letter." Mr..
Buchanan undertakes TO say that, under
the provisions of the act, "the people of
a Territory, like those of State, shall de-
eide for themselves whether slavery shall
or shall not exist within their limits" Mr..
Van Buren, relies upon this as a deduction
from the Kansas act by Mr.. Buchanan.
He says that he doubts not that the sub
ject is fairly presented" in this letter.
Hence it is, that Mr.. Van Buren, and Mr..
Buchanan stand together on the Cincinnati
platform. With this Interpretation Of that
letter, one of them has as much right to
stand there as the other. Mr.. Van Bu-
rem is for Buchanan, because he says b.
chanan is for squatter sovereignty. There
can be nothing palmer than this, when We
examine the letters of these two worthless,
par Mobile fratum. Even John Van Blu
rem, yclept Prince John, following in the
wake of his illustrous freesoi father, de-
clares that he can stand on the same plat
form without a compromise of principle.
Wherein does John make any compromise,
if Buchanan interprets the platform cor
rectly, and if the old fox, bis father, has
not been caught in baited trapl
The truth is, but one Interpretation can
be given 10 the letter Of Mr. Buchanan,
and the grammar Of Martin and John
Van Buren, is as competent 10 determine It's
construction as any other rule. We sol
EMMY affirm that no other meaning can be
attached 10 il than is attached by the free
soil wing of Northern Democracy. Mr.
Buchanan is fishing for that vote. He
knows very well that he can not be elected
without it. He knows that he must play
a strong game to secure it. Hence he in
serts the doctrine Of squatter sovereignty
in bis letter of acceptance. No doubt
there was perfect understanding between
him aud the yire-workers at Cincinnati.