The true Democrat., 1856-08-26
MORNING, AUGUST 26. 1856

Hence, was prepared to advoca and defend earnestly and faithfully, the great principles c Justice, equality, and right upon which are base ana built the territorial governments of Kan sas and Nebraska and I am delighted to SC that thls Is to be the pivot upon which the re suit or the pending experiment of the capacit of the American people for self-government to turh. lhls brings me to one of thes pecif ooJects you profess m your polite invitation t. nave Tn view m desiring me to address mas meetings in the State of New Jersev-that is to deflne the reasons why 1 prefer MT. Buch anan to Mr. Fillmore for President of the Unit cd States. You will have discovered ere thi that l base my preference for the nominees o the democratic party to those of the America, party, for President and Vice President. upol the principles of the Kansas bill.
 The fundamental principles of the Kansas Nebraska bill date back to 1850, and and ar, lnseparaby connected, politically historically and Tn fact with the current events of that Con gross, and consequently with Mir. Fillmore,s ad mlnlstration. It only remains then, to be seer whether the position now occupied by the part, which nominated Mr. Fillmore. or the rarty which nominated Mr. Buchanan stands uno, platform endorsing those principles, or wheth CT they, as candidates, stand by those measures
 There are, in the estimation of the opposi ton, in this contest but two salient points rcal, ln the Kansas and Nebraska law. One is tht repeal of the Missouri restriction. and the otbe, IS what they are pleased to term souatter soyer elgnty and allen suffrage. l propose to exam me both these points in connexion with Mr. Flllmore's administration, of which I was an advocate, and in contradstincton to the position occupied by himself and friends in this contest It IS fact known to every politician disposed to deal fairly, who is at all conversant with the Legislative history of the country that the com promise of 1850 was virtually and practically substitute for the Missouri compromise of lo2O; and that the doctrines of suuatter sover- eighty was recognized in the compromise of looo, but that 1t Is not contained in the Kansas bill.
 1t cannot be denied that the republican par ", combining Tn different degrees of numerico oI strength the elements of aboitionism. religious 1anaucsm, and Know Nottingham, as undr stood at the N orth, and the democratic party. are the prominent parties in this contest. This truly formidable, and to my mind dangerous combination IS based upon and held together pv common opposition to the conservative and constitutional doctrines of the Kansas and Nc braska bIl. Opposition to these doctrines is to De the great and absorbing issue of this con- test. Havlng stood upon those doctrines when was supporter of Mir. Fillmore's adminstra ton, cannot abandon them now.
 It Is only necessary to make simple films tratIon to convince every fair minded man that the compromise measures of 1850 recooniznl ss1uAtter sovereignty and that the Kansas Me- pIaaha blI recognizes legal constitutional po PuIar sovereignty, and has no squatter sove- rei2hty m It. What is popular sovereinutv? It Is lhe eNerclse ot the .ght of suffrage under the forms ot law, with such prescriptions, un Ger such restrictions, and in such mode. as the laW-inakIng power may provide Tee law making power m .Sate IS it's legislature. sit tinS ahd acting under a State constitutions | Ills IS popular sovereignty in State What l' popular sovereignty ln a territory, as here loiorc dehned and qualified in this letter? r. Is the exercise of the rg ght of suffrage. under Such quaILcatlons, wlth such restrictions, and ln such mode as the law making power may prescribe. " hat ls the law making power for a9 uhof!anlzed territory? It is the Congress la,'1 tI% z hited otatoS, which applies to it the nan ol law and orderbv the passaoe of ., or gaulc act, ,r,.lcr the Ov.'..itutinn ofo tho T; States. This ors% act de9" 4I +bo 'ne ,a un'ea tive caprcity shal in obedience to the orsI or .
 IaW bass such other election laws as they, as body poltic may prefer, not inconsistent with the constitution of the United States. Anv legal exercise of the right of suffrage under the organic law in the first instance, or under an act of the territorial legislature in an orga- nlzcd territory in the second instance, or under State constitution or State legislature, whc- ther It require residence of twelve months six months, three months or ten days, is legal constitutional, popular soverengty. It is the exercise of the hrIthri5ht of an American citi- zen in conformity to the laws and constitution l cannot allow myself to think that any consi derable portion of the American people will! when these questions are presented in their true character, and when the mask thrown around them by the mere politician is drawn aside be found arrayed against them. 1 should feel proud to meet in debate, before an audience of intelligent ireemen of any State or Territory of this Union, man who would openly op. pose, upon their true merits, these great doc. trines, which lie at the founda ation of American progress and civilIzation-thes doctrines whicl form the substratum of our institutions, spring ing, as they did, full of original vigor and pris tnc purity, from the patriotic hearts that con- cclvcd and vaorous arms that conducted and executed the great achievements of the Amer.
 
 can revolution.
 Yet, sir these are the doctrines of the Kan sas- Nebraska bill, which is, and which ought to be, the great issue in this contest Those are the doctrines of the compromise of 1850 and these are the identical doctrines of the platform of the Cincinnati convention, and upon which James Buchanan and John C. Breckinrldge stand day before the American people as candidates for President and Vice President of the United States
 These are the very doctrines in the event o the endorsement of which by that convention 1 pledged myself on the 9th of May last, in { speech which then delivered in the House O Representatives to support by every legitimate and honorable means the nominees of that con ventlon. l can appreciate and understand the reasons and the policy which influence the course of southern men who stood opposed to the passage of the Kansas bill, who opposed by their votes and their speeches the passage O. those bills which were but the confirmation and consummation of the doctrines of the compro- mise of 1850; but l have sought in vain for ; tan yible or ineligible reason why any suppor. ter of that measure should oppose the electior of these candidates, or should, in view of the platforms and position of parties, support any other than democratic nominees. And, sir, have been and am unable to see how any ma tional or southern man can oppose this ticket Taking the record of this Congress in the vari ous tests that have been applied, and the rela tive position and votes of the three parties, am forced to the conclusion, by every principl, of rcassn, policy and philosophy, that tho South Americans must and will ultmatel, unite with the democratic party, and that thost who claim to be national Americans north witt the republican party. Then, where, but to the ranks of the northern democracy, are we t, look for that nationality and the conservatism which is to preserve the Union inviolate?
 sympathize most deeply with those nationa democrats of the north who 1854, as in 1850 stood by the south in the defense and mante nance of the only principles which will pre- serve the union and harmony of each of tho States of the confederacy according to the ori ginal guaranties and compromises of the con stitution. am, and trust shall ever be, pre- pared to mete to them the full measure of prais, and gratitude which they merit at our hand