The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-07-30

dwindle into complete insigulhcance IN compar-
ison with that of southern rights, should have
nominated a man whose record shows him to
have been so consistently and so uniformly, up.
even to the present time, in opposition to the
southern doctrine. No one will pretend TO de-
nv that in 1919 he was what is now denoulina
ted a freesoiler or that in 1896 he was not as
decidedly opposed to the extension of slavery.
and that even in 1648 his opinions were avow
ed with force and distinction unexampled.in
all his history against more slave territory.
In view of his present position, assumed witt
in few days of the meeting of the Cincinnati
convenion-in connection with his assertion To
the democratic committee, that che had been
placed upon the platform erected at Cincin
natl, "and it must speak for him. and as cx
planatoryof his assertion, in his letter of accept.
ance, of the power in the people Of territory
as in those Of State to lcgislate on the ques.
ton of slavery, we submit the following letter
written bv him to Mr.. Sanford, OF the Mobile
Register, in / 848. How win the democracy.
who claim to be, par excellence, the friends Of
the south-how will the Courier explain this
letter to the people of louisiana How recon
cle Mr. Buchanan S contradictions? o Creole.
Ea, 4.t.r a WASHINGTON, August 2l, 184s,
L . SdIlOIu Wy CSH.. oCat kH--l HdNC las1 iS
ceived yours OF the 18th instant, in whi,h you
submit to me the following paragraph, and ask
whether it contains an accurate version of the
conversation between us, concerning my BeIhs
county letter on the occasion to which you refer:
"Happening to meet Mr.. Buchanan atthe
presidents levee on Friday evening, I called
his attention to this letter and asked him if he
intended to be understood as claiming that the
population of a territory in an organised capa
city has the right to control the question. Of
slavery in such territory. He declared that no
such idea had ever been maintained b. him
that the construction put upon his language by
Mr.. Yancey was perVerslon of its plain and
obvious meaning-that in his opinion the in
habitants of a territory, as such, had no politi
cal rights (although they possessed all the pri-
yate rights of American citizens that they had
no power whatever over the subject Of slavery
and they could neither interdict or establish
it, except when assembled in convention to form,
q state constitution. He further authorised and
requested me tc make any public use of these
declarations that | might think proper, to cor
rect any impression which Mr.. Yancey's con-
struction OF bis language in the Berks letter
might have have made
With the addition, which have inserted be
tween the brackets, this statement is substan
tally correct, according TO my best recollection.
In my letter to Berks county, of 25th August,
1947, had said, "under the Missouri compro
mise slavery was forever prohibited north Of
the parallel of So degrees so minutes and south
of this parallel the question was left to be de-
cided by the people," What people? I'm
doubtedly the people of the territory assembled
in convention to form a state constitution and
ask admission into the Union: and not the first
adventures, or first comers," who mi ght hap.
pen to arrive in the territory, assembled in pub
lie meeting If a doubt on this subjec. could
possibly exist, it is removed by the next sue
ceeding sentence of my letter proceed to
state: Congress, in the admission of Texas.
adopted the same rule" etc. And what was
this rule? The 'ioint resolution for anncxng
Texas to the United States, approved March
lst, 1845, answers the question IN the following
words: And such States as may be formed
out Of that portion Of said territory lying south
of thirtysx degrees thirty minutes, north lati
lude, commonly known as the Missouri COM
promise line, shall be admitted into the Union,
with or without slavery, rs TIE people Of each
State asking admission may desire" Such
was the description of the people to whom re-
ferred in my Berks county letter.
Any other construction of the letter would
render it entirely Inconsistent with itself Hav
ing urged the adoption of the Missouri conf
promise, the inference is irresistible that con
gress in my opinion, possesses the right to leg
islate upon the subject of slavery in the terri
tories. What an absurdity would it then be.
, if whilst asserting this sovereign power in con
gress, which power, from its nature, must be
exclusive, should in the very same breath al
SO claim this Identical power ''for the popus-
ton Of a territory in an unorganised capacity?"
In conclusion, desire to reiterate aad reaf
firm every sentiment contained in my Berks
county letter I cling to the Missouri com
promise with greater tenacity than ever, and
yet firmly believe that it Will be adopted By
congress. Yours, very respectfully
/ JAMES BUCHANAN.
i The foregoing letter will be found in the Mo
bile Register one of the leading democratic pa
pers at the south Of October 4, 1848 Mr.
Sanford ranks among the oldest and most prom
inent democrats in Alabama. He was appoint
ed by president Pierce collector Of the port Of
Mobile, as Il reward for his services, and now
occupies that Office.
Mr.. Buchanan's letter Of acceptance Of tie
nomination for the presidency contains the fol-
lowing proposition on the subject embraced IL
the letter above:
1.-The recent Legislation of congress respect
ing domestic slavery, derived as it has been
from the original and pure fountain of legi'im
ate power-the will OF the jority-promises
ere long to a]ay the dangerous excitement
This Legislation is founded upon principles ss
ancient as free government itself. and, in ac
cordance with them, has simply declared, that
the people Of a territory, like those Of State.
shall decide for themselves whether slavery
shall, OF shall not exist in their limits"
We leave Mr.. Buchanan and his party to re
concile the doctrines of this letter with the
pledges given in the platform, and the doc
trines enupciated in his letter of acceptance
--~-~~~~---~~~~0~1>~~-~>~~~ ~~se&
We rccoIcct, says the Rainbow, hearln.,
Dewey-long before the English poet sang Of
the good time coming'-prcdict that the
steam whistle, instead OF its harsh ear-piercing
screech, would, in process of time, be made to
produce music as. pleasing as the tones Of a wind
harp or bug!e; and it seems that this devoutly,
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