Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-22
"SOUATrER SOVEREIGNTY"


We regret that We have no room for the concluding
portion ot very logical and able argument in the
Washington .Sca.j,ei, vuiicang Mr.. Buchanan's .
letter of acceptance from the charge Of advocating
"Squatter Sovereignty" The following views are
lucid and unanswerable
Mr.. Buchanan says: ''rhis legislation is founded
upon principles as ancien: free government itself
and in accordance with them has simply declared that
the people Of Territory, like those of State shall
decide tor themselves whether slavery shall or shall
not exist within their limits"
We have shown what the principles to which he al
udes are they, he says, ancient free govern
ment itself. Before The people OF Territory to
form their constitution Or form OF government they
are under the pupage OF Congress, they have
no power other than that derived from Congress,
they must exercise the powers conferred, and by the
means bestowed by their Executive, their Legisla-
ure, and their judiciary established for them by Con.
gress. But when they to set up for themselves,
independently, aud feel thar they have the numbers To
form State, then they have the right, upon these
principles as ancient as free government ITSELF III cs
tabshuS their constitutions forming their nstitu.
iiuns decide for themselves whether slavery shall
shall not exist within their limits. Mr.. Buchanan
is sticking csrly TO the resolution Of the platform,
which declares, AS We have already shown the Demo
cratic party recognized the rgh; U the people Of all
the Territories, including Kansas and Nebraska, act
iug through the fairly expressed will OF the majority
uf actual residents, and whenever the number ol the
inhabitants: :iuses it. to form constitution with
without domestic slavery"
Great Stress has been laid upon the words lie uses,
that the pcuIc of Territory hk, hO" Dt Il Stae,
have right Ia decide. Now, hnw do the people of
State act They must act ~ long rs II exists, In
accordance with their Constitution; when they choose
To exercise the "indubilabe, unalienable and indie
feasible right To reform, alter or abolish their cOnsti.
rution," the majority of the community proceed to
do il. The paOple OF the Territory in the same way
must net in accordance with their constitutions which
| for them in their territorial existence Is the
Constitution of the United States, and they can
pass no laws inconsistent with il, and mcon-
sstrnt with the constitutional powers delegated
10 them but when they arrive at maiarity, when
they have rIpenrl into manhood, and have attained
| the population which the constitution requires them
have before any snch act is Justified, they then
like State exercise their indubablc right 10 form
a constitution for themselves, and tU demand admIs
lon into the Union upon exactly the same terms as
| the other States. We ask, is there anything mon.
srpus this DOes 1t justify squaiter Savtrtlgnty'
Mr.. Buchanan continues: The Kansas NcbIaska
net does no moro than give the force OF law to this
elementary principle "I s-ii-y"reinn'-n declaring u
to be the true intent and meaning OF this act, not to
cg.late slavery into any Territory or State, nor to
exclude it ercirom; but 10 leave the pcopl" Thereof
free. form and regulate their domestic institutions
! in their own way subject only To the Constitution O
the United States. This principle will surely not be
con,rnverted by any individual Of any party profess
ing devotion /" the epopuar government.
10 E,n uRd TrgMil" thrir iaSdHfi0DS must bc taken
tp cive 10 them mir construction, in acc"dhnc
with tn. scope of IN" whole platform from which h
does not mean Ia depart, anl with the tenor ot lIl
whole letter. im whlcil he lntep!s to raise no new IL
SUES moi, raised IN The platform itself.
Mr. buchanan says: 'liow vain AMI iusOry wOu'
any other principle prove III practice III regard To tn
Territories. Take The doctrine for Instance Of squat
ter sovere guty, how unstable would such doctrine
| prove. Say that the people Of = Territory, 10y TIT
! ,,r,ln I,pui
tahsiI slavery. One Legislature establishes, th
Emigrunt Aid Societies pour in legion OF emigrant
| in time to authorize them TO vote, new Legislature
is elected By Free Soil advocates, slavery is abolish
ed. The Southern Aid Societies pour in several le
gons of emigrauts, the abolition is abolished, ant
slavery is again established Instability, irrabllty
destruction of property, violation OF rights, anarch,
aud confusion would reign, civil war would be ineVi
table, and the principle would indeed prove ilIusorl
| and vain. Ii Congress possesses the power, as Il
caied by the North, they might establish or abolisl
it. They might intervene 20 render it Unstable MIR
Buchanan continues: This is apparent from the tact
admitted by ALL that, after Territory shall baye eu
tered the Union and become Stae, no constitutions
power would then exist which could prevent it from
either aboshng establishing slavery, as the cas'
may be- according to its sovereign will and pleasure
As much TO cliuch the argument We have made oy
saying, III aia not speaking of what may be done II
the Territorial State, BECAUSE whatever they may d
would be vain and iusory. | am talking of WIN
they may do when they come to form their lnstltu
tions; then when they become State, no conslltu
touul power exists to prevent them from doing in TIL
matter what to them seems gOod.'
We have written this article to show OR colstruc
ton of Mr. Buciauans letter, To prove how c!osei.
he follows with his commentary the Democratic plat
| form, how he cngs to every plank, aud adheres u
his determination in nothing To devate from 1t or Il
change its issues. Ii any accept that plat
form and reject Mr.. Buchanan for not adhering TO it
| he possagses mind 20 draw too nice distinctions fol
us We are willing to take both together, rs har
monziug in every particular, aud as avowng princi
pies least the subject OF slavery satisfactory t'
| u.s. and by which We are willing to abide.
Let us hear no of this stupid cry nf squatte
sovereignty. Let US, by eecting Mr.. Buchanan, ter
inmate this agitation "Most happy" says he woult
it be for The country this long agitation were at al
end During its whole progress it has prodIced NJ
practical good to any human being, whist has beer
| the source of great and dangerous evils IL ha
| alienated and cstraused one portion OF the Unoi
from the other and has seriously threatened 1t
very existence TO my personal knowledge, 1t Ia
| produced the impression among foreign nations tia
| our great and glorious Coutcderacy is in constal
danger of dissolution. This does serious in ury
because acknowledged power and stability alway
command respect among nations and are among til
beet securities against UNJUST aggression and III iavo
| of the maintenance of au honorable peace"
| This is the language of d statesman; let the Demo
cratic party 20 it that he is elevated TO the posto
to which his long services and just merits so enInent
enti,le him.
| The Know NothingI have set on foot a story VI"
! n. p,ik upaIfl-t MIR