Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-09-27
Mr. Fillmore Opposed to ''Squat-
ter Sovereignty"
wiz southern Wen Longer Hesitate ?

ter Sovereignty
Will Southern Men Longer Hesitate?
The following letter, addressed to Mr.. PRY-
OR, editor of The Memphis Eagle, will be read
with great interest. Col. WILLIAMS, the wri>
ter, is a planter of Louisiana, q gentleman of
high standing, well known in this State and
question his statements. 1t will be seen shat
Mr.. FILLMORE, regulates Squatter Sovereign>
ty, and holds to the true Constitutional, Ameri-
can doctrine. Read, and choose between the
advocate Of Squatter Sovereignty, "the ingen-
ious substitute for the Wilmot %proviso," and
the national candidate who advocates the equal
rights Of the South in the territories:
MEMPHIS, Sept. u, 1856.
Col. J. 2. PRyoR.-Dear Sir: Your note
OF this instant, asking for publication, the subs
stance of a conversation between Hon. Mil
J lGrd'Fillmore and myself, upon the subject of
Squatter or Territorial Sovereignty, has just
been handed me. I cheerfully comply with
your request, as | was placed under no restraint
by him in reference to the matter.
Upon my return home from the North, /
called to see Mr.. Fillmore at his home in Rutfa-
10, New York, on the 4th inst. During our
conversation, | asked him what he thought Of
Squalter Sovereignty, and in reply, he entered
into a free and unreserved expression Of his
views. lie said he was decidedly opposed to
this doctrine, as advocated by Cass., Douglas,
Buchanan, Van Buren, and others; he believed
that q Territory, until its inhabitants were
sufficiently numerous to authorize the formas
ton of q State Constitution, preparatory to ad.
mission into the Union as a State, could only
be regarded as in q condition of pupilage,
possessing no sovereignty whatever; and res
ferred to the Utah and New Mexico Territorial
bills, sanctioned by him, as a correct indication
Of his opinions.
Twas gratifed to find that Mr.. Fillmore occu.
pied the same position upon this question
which is maintained by the American party in
the South, and by the whole band Of national
Americans of the North, headed by such men
as Fuller, Of Pennsylvania, Haven, of New
York, and others, and | told him I would like
to be at liberty to speak Of the explanation
received ffoAn him. He replied that he had
expressed the same views to others and that |
conld make such use of them as | thought
proper.
Yours, truly,
JOSEPH II. WILLIAMS.
Here, then, this matter is sett led. While
Mr.. BUCHANAN maintains o doctrine which is
directly ut variance with the interests Of the
South and opposed to the spirit of the Con-
stitution-while he undisguisedly advocates
that pernicicus principle, Squatter Sovereignty,
which gives to a squad of emigrants who first
nminr1fae IN q U1orritowy fbo r;rbA ~ Frc,,o
their own laws and abolish Slavery if they
think proper-what says hIr. FILLMORE 3
lie speaks bis convictions. and takes the Sou
thern and Constitutional view Of the question.
These convictions. and this constructions the
Constitution, arc antagonistical to the inter.
ests OF those among whom he has been reared
and among whom he lives. But this influence,
as j. is seen, has no weight with a man who
"would rather be right than be President
A pretty principle this Squatter Sovereignty,
which the Democratic candidate for the Presi~
dency advocates, when our readers reflect that
while one Southern planter, after lhe passage
Of a Territorial bill, is winding up his affairs,
preparatory to his leaving with his slaves for
said Territory, FIVE hundred emigrants Cand
probably half Of them from foreign countries)
can squat down there, frame their W laws,
and Of course interdict the entrance of the
planter with bis slaves when he gets to the
boundary line Of the Territory--and do it too
with Sharp's rifles upon their shoulders! In
the name Of our common interests and COM
mon honor, how can The Democrats of the
South endorse the pernicious views of Mr..
BUCHANAN with reference to Squatter Sover~
eighty?
Really, tie Democrats are in bad luck--and
what i worse, misfortunes increase upon them
as The day Of election approaches.
In the first place, the Bachelor of Wheatland
would never have received the nomination but
for the belief that he would sweep the Free
soil vote Of tile North, as PIERCE did. Fac
MoNr's nomination upset Democratic ~caleula-
tons in this respect. The canvass was opens
ed by Democratic leaders and presses by the
most exhuberant outpourings Of praise upon
the heads of the Old>Line Wings. But they
met in Convention and endorsed the nomina-
ton of FILLMORE and DoNELsoN Thereby
repelling this new-sprung Democratic ~attaciv
n1ent, and proving TO the world that the Old
Line Wings God bless themD loved their