Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-09-05
Rnch,p.p on Souatter Sovereignty.

Buchanan on Squatter ooNefeighy
The. Enquirer Of yesterday re-publishes letter
from the Hsntsville (Ala) Advocate, which. we are
coolly Informed "scaters to the wind the Squatter
Sosereignty Interpretation put upon Mr. Bnchanans
letter Of acceptance by the opposition" Most won
derfu letter; it should have been printed in letters
OF gold But there is unfortunately no signature
appended to the epistle The writer's name is cru
civ suppressed, and hmselS thereby deprived Of an
immor tality which he has justly acquired, 1.-THE as
sertion Of the Enquirer be correct The reader may
be curious to know in what manner the magical feat
has been performed-how Mr.. Buchanan has been
acquitted Of the charge Of asserting the doctrine Of
Squatter Sovereignty. The author OF the letter IN
question, it seems, visited Buck-Wheat-land and in
an interview with the Cincinnati Platform. was in
formed by that distinguished individual shat the
people Of Territory had the right, when they came
to form State Constitution, to say whether they
would or would not have slavery that by this egis
iatiou Congress had admitted that the power was
with the people and not in Congress" etc.
Now, il this letter be genuine and gives almost
his very words" the writer alleges, it is an easy
task to convict the ''noble Buck" of weather-cock
Inconsistency, wheeling about" and turning
about" that would throw the exploits of jim Crow
entirely into the shade. In the first place, we would
invite the readers attention to the letter of accep
tance in which Mr.. Buchanan expresses himself in
this language:
.sThs legislation Is founded upon principles as an
oient a. 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 slavery shall shall not exist
within their limits"
Again he accepts the platform of principles cree
ted by the convention and in his wheatland speech
avowed that he no longer James Buchanan; he
had lost his individuality, and was thenceforth the
embodiment of the Cincinnati platform. Well
what does that platform declare:
"Resolred, That recognize the right of the peo-
pie OF all the Territories, including Kansas and Ne
bras<a acting through the legally aud fairly express
ed will OF majority of actual RESIDENTS, to form
constitution with or without slavery" etc.
II the term residents" does not comprehend
"squatters" and include persons or every hue natlN
" aud allegiance, we will alter our opinion Of the
word but mark the contrast with the resolution of
the American PLATFORM" which declares "the re-
oognition OF the right of the native-born and natu
rallied citizens Of the United States, PERMANENTLY
RESIDING in any territory thereof to frame their con-
stitution" etc The difference between these fea
lures OF the two platforms can be illustrated by
ference 70 the municipal regulations Of this city
The law requires voter TO exercise the right of suf
frage in the ward In which he may reside An 'ac
tual resident of the first ward may, the day before
an election, remove into the second ward, and next
day his in that ward but a citizen ''per
manently residing in the first ward cannot do this
In the one case the has only to & street
and take lodgings where he listeth i'll the other.
there is something at stake the voter has identified
himself with the ward, and before he exercise
the privilege of voting in another ward, he must
cease ~ be permanent resident" of the first But
forgetting James Buchanan. Mr.. Anonymous
says that 'old Buck" repudates the doctrine of Con-
gressionsl sovereignty the territories rather
that "the people of territory have tn right
when they come to form State constitution to say
whether they would or would not have slavery
II he contends for the latter doctrine now he
Of course repudiate the other, for the same power
cannot be vested in Congress and the people of n
territory at one and the same time. Mr.. Buchanan
so tells himself in letter written by him in Au
gust, 1913, to one T. Sandford Esq, in W hich he
says:
"Havng urged the adoption of the Missouri COM
promise the inference is irresistible that Congress
ia my opinion Possesses the power to legslate upon
ab,nrdity would it then be it. whilst asserting this
sovEREIGS POWER N CONGRESS, which power from its
nature be EXCLUSIVE, should in the very same
breath also claim this identical power for the popu-
lation OF territory in an unorganized capacity"
Mr.. Buchanan in this Sandford letter, as the above
extract shows seeks to relieve himself from the
"sluatter sovereignty" doctrine but, in doing 81.
assumes that the Sovereign power" resides with
T.. -. IL. II
Advocate, assuming its authenticity, he says, in eff.
feet that Congress does not possess the Sovereign
power"-that 1t is vested only in the people
Territory when they come to form State consttu-
ton. In his letter OF acceptance and endorsation of
the Cincinnati platform he gives a very wide lat-
tude to the depository Of the sovereign pow
sr;" in fact, airms the very doctrine which he re.
pUdiates In his Sanford letter, unless words when
used by Democrats havea different Specification which
the same words have when used by other people But
why should there be so much uncertainty about Nr
Buchsnau's position on this question lie must be
either for or against "squatter sovereignty" If his
friends sincere in their belief that the last expo
sition from Wheatand is the correct one, why not
give US the proof in reliable shape? Why not re.
move all doubt and suspicion at once, by inviting
Mr. Buchanan TO interpret his letter Of acceptance
himself, and make known in an Ineligible perspic-
uous manner whether he believes the supreme con.
troll the Territories to be vested in the "sauat
tiers" in Congress, or in neitherg
We regret 10 state that Dr. VERIFY efficient Ameri.
can electoT for the Bay district has been compelled on
account Of III health to renqush his post for brief pc
od 10 order that he may visit the mountains and recruit
biz strength.
FILLMORE hFEuNo.-A very large and enthusiastic
meeting Of the members Of tbs Fillmore and Done.on Ma
tiona Union held in Philadelphia last TUESDAY eve
ming. Hon. WIN. Smith Of Alabama, was introduced
10 tho audience and made eloquent forcbe speech
The Hatong prospects Oft success Of the national
Uniou nominee we're given The character If Mi.fd Phi,
more pure aud statesnsnlke had drawn around him true
tried aud determined onds who enter the bate onl, "a
win, and November would show when the smoke Of the
battle ha. cleared away. that there no obstacle N hin
Il L.