Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-07-24
Martin Van Buren's Letter declaring
for Buchanan.

We have watched the Buchanan papers
Of this State, 10 see how they would well
come the sage Of undertook back on the
democratic platform. Not one has publish
ed his letter. We Glanced TO get hold of a
New York Herald, containing the letter,
and we maze all extract or two, for the BEN
eft Of the squatter soyreignties. The old
fox coquettes with the Kansas Nebraska
bill very gingerly. He likes it better than
he did at first, and think. the North will
generally like it better, when they take o
"sober, second thought" He then states
a few "free soil" points, places his foot in
Mr.. Buchanan's hand, and mounts the
squaiter sovereignty pony without any diff
Guilty. Observe, he does not quote the bill
itself, but Mr.. Buohsnan,s admirable letter
Of acceptance"-heonly gets on with Buo-
hanan s,irrup--so that " old Buch st I'M
bles, Martin will blame him for the fall
Speaking Of the Kansas bill, he says
"The points in regard to the
measure itself can be stated in few words.
The authority of Congress to transfer 10 the
people Of the Territories all the power il
possesses under the constitution to leg ,ate
for the Territories has, as far as know,
never been questioned 1t has been exer.
cised from the commencement of the gov
eminent, in respect TO all the proper sub.
jects of Legislation, from the highest 10 the
lowest. Not having a copy OF the Nebras-
ka-Kansas act, take its provisions in re-
gard to the authority it processes to confer
from Mr.. Buchanan's admirable letter OF
acceptance, where the subject is, ! doubt
not, fairly presented. He thus describes
it:-"This legislation is founded upon prin-
cipes as ancient as the government itself,
and, in accordance with them, has simply
declared that the people of Territory, like
those Of State shall decide for themselves
whether slavery shall or shall not exist
within their limits; declaring it Ia
be the rue intent and meaning Of this act
not TO legislate slavery into any Territory
nor 10 exclude il .hereIrom, but to lea, the
people thereof perfectly free 10 form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way, subject only TO the constitution Of
the United States"
From these terms il is too clear to admit
Of dispute or cavil that it was the intention
of Congress the clothe the people of the
Territories with ample po,Osr 10 exclude sla.
very from within their respective limits as
,celi ich,ie they continued Territories as IL
making provision for MS exclusion from III,
Slate when that transition shall take place.
The only question that can be raised upor
the act in this regard must relate to the eff
feet of the grant-that is. Whethsr The con
stitttion authorizes Congress 10 cioihe the pco
pie Of the Territories ,o,h porer TO eGclud
slavery therefrom tchile they remain Terrific
ries. | have not the slightest doubt of III
po,cer of Congress 10 gipe THIS AuTHoRrr,
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRIroRIEs."
These are the grounds upon which Mar
tin Van Buren, goes for James Buchanan, =
He makes Buchanan define the Kansas bill
and then shows his Northern friends, how
under that definition, the people can ercltd
s!lSry lie llnks, and writes of nothing