Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-03
Hon. A. HI. stephens and ''Squatacr SOve
reignty."

Hon. A. HI. stephens and $50 uatacr SOVe
reigniy."
During the frat session of the Both Congress the
honorable gentleman delivered a speech Congress
sonal Globe page ll07) in opposition to the
Clayton Compromise" which had previously passed
the Senate, receiving the sanction of a majority of
the Southern Senators, including Mr.. Calhoun The
prominent feature of this compromise bill was to
submit the question of slavery to the Supreme
Court. To this the gentleman Was opposed, and in
his speech to justify his opposition to the bill he
sail
II have no objection to compromising the cues
tion, but have only two plans Of compromise; one
is fair division of :he territory by ciear and dis
tipet lines by which every NAV know exactly
TO what extent his rights will be protected care
not much whether il be extension of the Missouri
line, or whether it be By adopting a line one Of
the mountain ranges, giving the South all on one
side and the North all on the other"
| The gentleman had ''oniy hco plans of compro
mi'ing, either one of which the establishment
Of clear and dis met line, and that line either 10
/ De the Missouri Compromise line or zone of the
mountain ranges" This was the position of the
| gentleman in lSiS. Upon no condition would he
compromise, G-.less there was "clesr and distinct
line" drawn, which would give to the South all on
one side and to the North all on the other"
lis the principle OF squatter sovereignty involved
in the adoption of the gentlemans 'plan Of compro-
msing?" The gentleman will not dare to contend
il is. Then his mind must have undergone some
change, or, in his eagerness to involve the country
in sectional agitation did he forget both of his only
tIcO plans Of compromiSngS"
In 1854, in his speech in favor Of the Kansas
! Nebraka bill, which abrogates the line which he
| had previously solemnly declared was ono of the
''onls two plans of compromising" to which he
would agree, he saws. in reference the consttu.
tionality of the Missouri Compromise line, the
t,, Y b..L r
firm. have held this clause of the Missouri aet 10
be unconstitutional as it was based upon the princ
pie OF a division OF the common territory between
the free States and the slave States"
Ii is strange that the gentlemen should have in
1915 soemny declared that a line OF division was
the only ground upon which he would compromise
when the people OF the South according to his own
declaration, regarded sucn basis of settlement as
unconstitutional
peace aud harmony the South did periodically yield
and was willing for ali time to coma 10 abide by IT,"
Then why did he aud Others abrogate law
which the South was willing for all time to come
to abide by!'
Why did he, by bis vote, sid in repeating law,
which, TOR the " sake of peace and harmony" the
South was willing to abide BY ?" Why did he
vote TO repeal law which he d cAred OF
the "only two plans of compremising!" The in
ference Is obvious, and when take into con
slderaton the gentemaDs political career, it is
clear that his only ect agitation and section
al strife. He abandoned his 1.-TWO only plkns OF
compromising" voted to destroy the geographical
division which be declared was the only ground up
on which be woald compromise for the "squatter
sovereignty" principle, which makes Hindoo or
Hottentot his equal in any OF the territories Of The
United States, and at the same time would deprive
General Scott because he is an officer in the
American army, Of the elective franchise, no mat
tel how long be- might have resided in the Terri
terry, We have not yet done with the record noF
with these peculiar champions Of The South, who
buster much, threaten some, snd dissolve the
Union on every occasion, when the popular opinion
seems about 20 overwhem them, by NAV OF get
ting ep an excitement, upon which tbey hoat into
positions Of honor aud trust H,asA. Orgaa
A Washington letter says that when news
Of Walkers apparent triumph in Nj O aqua
was received, the NiearagHl an Minister hail
just concluded an arrangement with Mr.
Champion for treaty with England, BY which
the latter would have Withdrawn from Nicara-
qua altogether. abandoning Der Masquito Pro-
tectorate absolutely, and without other con-
ditiQa iben some littIs Indemnity 10 be made
10 fl1e AkhRg uito Indians. OF o,arse snch an
arfsngemeRs would remove one Of the most
embarrassing points 10 cur controversy with
Great Britain on the Central American ones
too. The negotiation Is now At stand stiIl