The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-13

Policy or Mr.. Buchanan.
A little examination into the merits of the run
ming fight upon the niger question started in both
houses Of Congress by the irebrand OF poor Perces
Message, will show that among the several par
ties involved all this cross-hrng OF an apparent
ly random discussion is directed to the same
common object Of the campaign OF 1860.
The republican party have been undergoing q
rigid cross examination by the democrats in rete-
renee to the exact ground which they occupied in
the late campaign, and their programme for the
future; and the democratic party have been put
to the same ordeal OF definite statement OF their
precise position upon he question OF slavery 10
the Territories. The Southern disunon wing of
the democracy have been oyerhauiing Mr. Sena-
tor Bisler upon matter of more immediate i'm
portance, to wit--the peculiar views OF Mr. Bu-
cbanan upon the Kansas difficulty-and they have
been making free use of poor Pierce's Message,
evidently for the purpose OF intimldating and dra-
gooning the incoming administration into poor
Pierce's Southern disunion policy. Mr.. Bgter
has shown some discretion, as the SUPP ed
mou,hpiece Of Mr.. Buchanan in keeping close ID
to the shore. We presume that he has no spe-
cial authority from Mr. Buchanan to say any
thing at all, and that everything which he has
said touching the probable Kansas policy Of the
President elect, has been from those genera,
sources Of information OF which almost every po-
litician in The country is oy this time possessed.
We think we can detect, too in the running fire OF
these slavery Debates some decided symptoms Of
a caviDg in here aud there, among the leaders OF
the Southern disunion faction, aud some symp-
toms among others OF that clique of considerable
anxiety, disappointment and chagrin.
Returning, however, to the main question OF
the re o, ganzaton of parties aud platforms for the
struggle OF 1860 the Developments OF these dis
cussions on poor Pierce's Message are very int
resting. In the late campaign, the principles OF
the republicans, both by themselves and their
enemies, we're very differently represented by die
ierent individuals in different localities. The
democrats misrepresented the policy of the great
Fremont party to be, not merely the positive ex-
clusion of slavery from the Territories, but ge-
neral crusade against slavery in the Southern
States In their stump speeches, Senator'S Wilson
and Seward and other lights of that peculiar seat,
justified this accusation in their TRADES against the
"slave oligarcby," by representing the slavehold-
ers as a "despotic class which it had become the
duty Of the North put down, and other similar in
vectives against the South TIE democracy, on the
other hand, adapted their candidate and platform,
with the facility of old campaigners, to the fire.
eaters of Mississippi and the conservatives of
Pennsylvania. To the former, Mr.. Buchanan was
held up as the anointed candidate of the Kansas
border ruifaDs, the living and faithful embodiment
of the Ostend manifesto, and devoted sympa-
thizer with Gen. Walker; while TO the honest
German farmers Of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Buchanan
was shown up as the champion Of free Kansas"
and as the sworn enemy of all lawless buccaneer-
ing or ilibustering at home or abroad.
Reduced to a cross-examination in Congress,
all these local and sectional tricks of this that
party in the campaign fall to the ground. The
republicans are brought 10 the exact issue OF
their real prirciples; and so with the democrats
with regard TO the common ground they occupy
North and South, as homogeneous party. I'm
der this Congressional cross examination, there
fore il is not surprising that we see much Of the
fctiious and extfaneous matter Of the canvass,
on both sides, denied, retracted, repudiated or
explained away. Thus Mr.. Seward and Mr..
Wilson, late among the most flaming Northern
sectional agitators on the stump. when called to
an account in the Senate, appeared as gentle and
harmless as sucking doves; thus Mr.. Bgler, who
figured at perhaps more than one democratic
meeting with banners flying in favor Of Z" fcee
Kansas," explains iu the Senate that his mean
ing OF Stree Kansas is to leave the people of
the Territory free TO settle the Niger question
for themselves. He has not yet answered the
question, however, whether be believes that uu-
der The benign dispensation Of poor Pierce the
settlers Of Kansas have or have not enjoyed this
freedom. as laid down in their organic law Then.
aeain, brought up to the mark in Congress, most
Of oar Southern iire-eaters drop down from their
late demands OF everything or disunion. and are
willing TO take What they can get, as " constitu-
iional democrats"
III the course Of this general pairing down Of
party ,xcrese,nces, we find that while the lead
ing principle OF the republicans, on the slavery
question is the supreme power Of Congress oser
the Territories, and their policy the exercise
Of this poaer in the prohibition Of slavery, that
the democrats are still at sea. General Cas-,
upon bis doctrine Of squatier sovereignty" has
made as many long speeches, from time to time,
a. ware made curing the last five or sx years Of
bis life by Dir. Clay ton upon the famous Clayto.-
Bulwer treaty. and on both sides with about the
same eject That famous treaty aud this squat
ter doctrine have been still more bcfoggcd with
every Interpretation. According, however. to
Mr.. orr Of South Carolina, there is a difference
among the democrats upon squatter sovereignty
Of pretty broad margin. Some contend tina z
gives to the people Of the Territory, while yet
Territory. the right to admit or exclude slavery;
others conterd that slavery as right Of property
goes into the common Territories of The United
States with the constitution; that Congress can
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