Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-07

into the Union upon terms Of perfect equality
with the other States. Now, this last clause OF
the resolution is pregnant with importance, as
showing, that even in as carefully worded
resolution as this the word " territory" is used
as expressive Of that inchoate sovereign condl,
ton, when the unorganized people OF the ter
ritory throw off their dependence and are for
the first time classed as a " State" 1t is but
fair to presume, and any candid mind will SO
decide, that in the use of the word territory"
by Mr. BUCHANAN in his letter Of acceptance,
he intended to convey the idea Of territory
so organized, and legally authorized to take
this important step from dependence into soye-
reignty.
So much for the soundness of the platform
on squatter sovereignty. Is not the language
conclusive and unequivocal? In all candor,
we appeal to the editor Of the Journal whether
the platform does not "deny" the doctrine
which he pronounces, and justly pronounces,
revolving to the South? And now we would
apply the mode Of reasoning Of the Journal to
itself, and out of its own mouth would we
Judge it. If it be legitimate to infer that be-
cause Mr.. BUCHANAN is unsound on this sub
ject, therefore the Cincinnati platform, which
he endorses, is unsound, is it not equally legti-
mate to infer that if the Cincinnati platform is
sound on this question, Mr.. BUCHANAN, who
endorses it, must be equally sound. We ad-
NIT that such reasoning is not to our taste.
We admit that it is ridiculous" but it is the
reasoning selected by the Journal, and perhaps
not the less adapted to its faculties because it
| is ridiculous.
But fortunately we are not left to inference
or conjecture on this vital point. Mr.. BUcH-
| ANAN's record on this as on every point con-
| nected with the canvass is without blemish.
He himself has explained his meaning of the
phrase "people of a Territory" to be pre-
| cisely that which we have attached to it.
Undoubtedly the people of the Territory
assembled in convention to form State con-
stitution, and ask admission into the Union ];
and not the first adventures or first comers,"
who might happen to arrive in the Territory
assembled in public meeting" SANFORD
letter. In other words: The people of the
Territory, acting through the legally and fairly
expressed will Of majority Of actual resi-
dents, and whenever the number of their in
habtants justi6es it."
Nor is the Louisville Journal less fortunate
in the description of the disease, than in the
suggestion of the remedy. We are gravely
advised, as Southern men, as Republican Demo
crats as sound statesmen, to fly from the
leprous touch of Mr.. BUCHANAN, into the
healthful arms of WILLARD FILLMORE. Old
adages are often used to express wholesome
truths by extrayagant hyperbole. Thus we
have heard Of jumping out of the frying pan
into the FIRE. Thus have we been taught the
folly of swapping the devil for witch. And
thus the divine Shakespeare himself has made
his philosophic madman exclaim-
Who would on this fair mountain leave TO feed,
| And bailen on that moor
this hyperbole becomes ellipsis, compared with
the absurdity Of leaving Mr.. BUCHANAN, be-
cause Of his unsoundness on the subject of
squatter sovereignty, and flying for comfort
and support to the European nominee Of the
American party. We had not intended saying
| word about this very estimable x-President.
We had not intended to revert to those palmy
days, when beneath banner representing
JAMES X. Polk, mounted by a woody headed
caricature of Texas, he denounced the annexa-
ton of the lone star under any than an anti
slavery constitution. We had not intended to
allude to those long records Of Congress,
wherein the name of FILLMORE is enrolled
with the names of Giddings, and Adams, and
Slade-we had not intended contrasting the
free will with which, in 1850, he annulled the
Missouri Compromise by his signature to the
New Mexico bill, with the indignant vehe-
mence with which he denounces the repeal Of
that compromise in the Nebraska-K ansas bill.
We do not regard Mr.. FILLMORE as our chief
opponent in this canvass. But as his name
has been alluded to in connection with this
subject, we would simply commend to our
Louisville contemporary the entire record of
MILLARD FILLMORE in connection with the
slavery question. Let it ponder his record
well, and when it has come to conclusion, let
| it learn to cast the beam out Of its own eye,
and then possibly, despite its federal jaundce,
il may see clearly to cast the mote out Of its
brothers eye
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