Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-05-23
The New Democratic Platform with
Explanatory Comets.

Explanatory Comets,
The failure OF ''squa,ser sovereign
~ to secure the Territory OF Kansas
to slavery. makes il necessary to put
new plank into the platform. The
Washington Union says;
The Democracy mean TO assert and
ask the people TO decide the great prin-
cipIe Of non-interference and non-dis'
elimination as essential to the constitu-
sional equality Of the States.
That being very obscure the Rich
mond Enquirer explains il as follows
Eve must in the Cincinnati plat.
form repudiale Squatter Sovereignty.
and expressly assert State equality =
We must declare that il is the duty Of
the General Government to see that no
inyidious or injurious distinctions are
made between the people or property
Of different sections In the Territories.
We do not mean to dictate II may
be that the assertion in the platform Of
the abstract proposition Of State equal
tip NAV suffice to carry along with IL
the consequences which we desire.
But its often charged that the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill contains the doctrine
Iof Suatler Sovereignty, and that
Squatter Sovereignty is the most eifi-
cient agent Of Free S,iIism. Some
Northern Democrats have maintained
this ground. Now, his gun nanst BE-
spiked. II must appear from our
platform that we maintain practical
State equality. and repudiate that con
struction of the Kansas Nebraska act
which would defeat il. The South
only demands equality Of right The
more clearly it appears .hatlhe North
ern Democracy IS ready to concede il
to her, the more certain is our candi-
date OF success"
And in another article upon the
same subject it says with equal emph'
asis:
1.-The sovereignty Of the people is q
noble principle. and should command
: homage. 'Squatter Sovereignty Il
an imposture--a counterfeit copy
an ugly idol wrought by mans hands
, / and should be kicked of the pedes
tai where it sits in mock majesty. ant
courts the alteration of fools and dem
agogues.
I 1--WE On not conceive how any
doubt can arise as TO the full. per
feet. unlimited and sovereign powel
Of the Federal Government over tb,
= Territory of Kansas, as the agent o.
, trustee Of the existing States. By tn,
purchase from Louisiana, and the sub
segment extinction of the Indian titles
the Territory became ours. TO dispos'
of and govern as we pleased, for th'
: common benefit Of all the States. TIL
e States can only exercise their sover
4 eign administrative and governmental
rights, through the instrumentality o
the Federal Government"
1.-The Federal Government canno
discriminate invidioasly between tn
: citizens OF the States in tie enjoy
: ment of the common property, no
A impose partial anu oppressive burden
upoa those who stand on the level o
perfect equality. For illustration
0 the Federal Government say to tn
4 citizens OF New York. You may car
ry your property to Kansas. and L
. The citizens os Virginia, You shal
: not carry your property to Kansas.'-
: Now, more: the Federal Government
e is empowered and obliged TO see tina
the citizens Of the otates have equa
j., rights in the Territories, and to secur
them in the quiet enjoyment OF thei
. property. For illustration: if an,
operative local law should exclud
J. Slavery from Kansas. the Federal Gov
i eminent is bound to remove the re
striction II Territorial Legislator
were to attempt to abolish Shaver,
: within the limits Of any Territory,
u would be the imperative duty of tn
y Federal Government to interfere AM
!. protect the securities of property
. These are political postuIates. seli.ev
= ident propositions in the theory Of GU
7" Government"
, This is clear. There is no ambigui
}, ty about it. The Cincinnati Conven
: ton must assert the equality Ct III
~
, States" in this form. and under thi
: exposition of its meaning. Congress
{ cannot prohibit Slavery in the TER
: tories; and if the People of the TER
tories themselves should do so, Cor
gress must repeal the prohibition !
: This is the meaning Of Consultations
equality" And cit may be-" say
the Enquirer, in the paragraph jul
quoted, THAT the assertion in the pla
'r form Of the abstract proposition {
n State equality may suffice to carr
, along with il the consequence whic
L we desire" To this complexion. az
IS cording to the Enquirer. comes I
81 least the Popular Sovereignty doctrir
Of Of the Nebraska BID This will q
ie ford signal relief to Brown, Over
A. Law, and others. who, six years ag'
le asserted the right of Congress to lel
sr islate for the Territories. II will en-
ID barrass them little. inasmuch as
m proposes that that power be exercise
Al to protect Slavery in the Territory il
Is stead of to prohibit its introduction
D. But they are good at twisting and tn
Of ming. and can soon worm GU, of III
y embarrassment.
The Kansas Difficulties.
d. To the exclusion Of our usual vari
n