Washington sentinel., 1856-08-12
From the Louisiana Courier.
MIR. Buchanan on 0squatter soxsr-
etRnIy.,'

eighty"
| To those who have carefully followed the
history of the slavery discussion in Congress.
and who are acquainted, not only with all its
| varying phases, but also with the antecedents
IN respect to it of all the prominent men of the
nation for the last twenty-five years, the attempt
to defend Mr.. Buchanan against the united
attacks OF the know-nothings and several sol
dsant independent presses in the South
would, we are aware, be regarded as work Of
supererogaton--nay almost as an insult But
Notwithstanding the vaunted intelligence of
our land, there is yet to be found here and else
where class of men who either do not read
the political history of the country at all. or
who so readily forget it, that they fall often a
ready prey to the idsidious efforts of tricksters
or demagogues, and, unless warned in time
| are apt to stray Oft into the mazes of error
Ever since Mr.. Buchanan's nomination at
Cincinnati, persistent effort has been made
by the combination to which we have above
referred, to create the, belief that he was not
reliable on the question of popular soyereigntv
or, as it is usually called, "squatter soyer,
eighty in the Territories, in its bearing upon
the slavery issues.
A charge or lnslnuation more unjust. more
| unfounded-and in the eyes of we'll informed
people-more unworthy and calumnious, could
not be propounded. These hypercritical gen
| try, who arrogate to themselves so superior
snare OF zeal Tor the interests, and Jealous
watchiullness over the rights of the slave
| states IN the common territories, know, we
dare say, the entire falsity of their charges as
| to Mr. Buchanan's unsoundness. bpt he ~,
| as 1t may, we shall proceed to convict them of
misrepresentation in the grossest degree.
1t is now eighteen years since Mr.. Buchanan
| IN the Senate brought forward as an amend.
| ment to resolution on the subject by Mr..
Clay, proposition which, on examination and
| comparison with subsequent enactments on
| the subject OF slavery in the Territories. will he
acknowledged to contain substantially the pr;n.
cipes of the Kansas and Nebraska bill
Here is his language:
And resotred, That any attempt of Congress-
to abolish slavery IN Uay TERRITORY of the Uni
| ted States In which it exists would create ser;
Gus alarm and just apprehension in the States
sustaining that domestic institution. would be
violation of good faith towards the nbabi.
tants of any such Territory, who have been
permitted to settle with, and hold slaves
therein; because the people of any such Ter.
| rltory have not asked for the abolition of
slavery therein, and because phen ann such
| Territory shall be admitted into the Union as a
State the people thereof ,oiU be entitled 10 de.
c'dethat question erclusiUely for Themselves"
| And now the reader can compare this promo.
sltion with the provisions on that point of the
Kansas bill, which are found in the sections
one and fourteen
SEC. !. BE IL enated, de-, That all that
part OF the territory of the United States. in
cluded within the following limits, &c. &c. be
and the same is hereby created into tempo.
rary government by the name of the Territory
OF Nebraska; and achen admitted as a STATE
or States, the said Territory, or any portion of
the same, shall be received into the Union
with or without slavery as their Constitution
may prescribe at the time Of admission.
SEC. IA. That the Cons,;,,,;o,,
and all laws of the United States which arc
not locally inapplcable, shall have the same
force aud effect within the said Territory of
Nebraska as elsewhere within the United
States, except the eighth section of the act
preparatory TO the admission of Missouri into
the Union, approved March 6, 1920. which
being inconsistent with the principle Of non.
intervention by Congress with slavery in the
States and Territories, as recognized bv the
legislation Of eighteen hundred and fiftv. com.
monty called the compromise measures. i
hereby declared imperative and void It being
the true intent and meaning of this act not TO
legislate slavery into any Territory or State.
nor to exclude it tberefrom, but TO leare The
people thereof perfectly free TO form and re.
gutate their domestic institutions in their opa
aoay, subject only TO the Constitution of The
United States"
The convention at Cincinnati. it is we'll.
known, emphatically endorsed, as the true
Democratic doctrine on this vexed subject, the
principles OF the Kansas and Nebraska act,
for it declared that the American Democracy
nd oIp he - =
in the organic laws establishing the Territories
Of Kansas and Nebraska as embodyino the
only sound and safe solution of the slavery
question upon which the great national idea Of
the people of this whole country can repose in
its determined conservatism Of the Union.
Non interference by Congress with slavery in
the States and Territories" And also, that il
recognized:
"The right of the people Of all the Terrific
,ieS, including Kansas and Nebraska acting
through the fairly expressed acM of The major.
ay Of actual residents, and ,clenever the Num-
Der Of their Inhabitants justifes IL, TO form a
Constitution, tcih or aoithout domestic sloceyy.
and be admitted into the Union upon terms Of
perfect equality with the other States"
In accepton his nomination for the Presi.
dency, Mr.. Buchanan, in verbal response TO the
Committee by whom it was communicated to
him said: 81 have been placed upon platform
which most heartily approve, and that can
speak for me" and, in bis subsequent letter
of acceptance, he uses this clear and unexcep-
tionable language:
"The recent legislation Of Congress respect
ing domestic slavery, derived, as il has been,
from the original and pure fountain Of leqiti.
mate political power, the will of the majority,
promises ere long to allay the dangerous excite.
ment. This legislation is founded upon prin.
ciples as ancient as free government ITSELF and
in accordance with them has simply declared
that the people Of a Territory like those Of
State, shall decide for themselves whether sla.
very shall or shall not exist within their
limits
"The Nebraska Kansas act does no more
than give the force of law to this elementary
principle Of self government; declaring it to be |
"the true intent and meaning Of this act not to |
legislate slavery into any Territory or State,
nor to exclude it therefrom but to leave the