The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-10-03

Mr.. Buchanan's Leiter--The Mask
Thrown Off.-MOnstrOus Doctrines.


Mr. Buchanan,s Letter--The Mask
Thrown Off.-MOnstrOus Doctrines.
Another stage of national apostacy has
been reached, and boldly proclaimed by the
President of the United States. Well would
it have been for the country had deception
avowed its designs little sooner. The Dred
Scott decision would never have disgraced
civilization James Buchanan would have
been defeated, and the nation saved from the
abyss to which he has plungedit.
The Cincinnati platform maintained "non-
intervention by Congress with slavery in
Territories" but did not deny the porer OF
Congress over it if deemed expedient to ex-
ercise it. This aided duplicity. The plat
form also said that Territories ''may form a
Constitution with or without slavery" as
States. But whether they had any right or
not of protesting against slavery as terrific
ries, the oracle did not say. That vital
point was carefully left open to construction
adapted to each latitude.
True, the country had heard long lectures
on "Squatter Sovereignty over all such
matters, but that cheat had done its work,
and must give place to another.
John G. Calhoun and other extreme slave
holders had labored for thirty years to OBJ
tain for slavery recognition by the govern
ment as constitutional property, with the right
as such to existence in Territories undis-
turbed.
And the time had now arrived when the
faithful old party, which had borne all their
past burdens, must be loaded with this-but
prudently and covertly at first, lest it break
down under it. So the question whether
Territories had right of selfprotection was
left to inference-denied in the South-af-
filmed, when necessary, in the North. Large
handblls were posted all over Pennsylvania
-" BUCHANAN AND FREE KANSAS"
This would do till the people were swindled
of their ballots, then the mask was to be
thrown aside. The Republican party
charged them with repudiating all "Squat-
ter power in the matter, but this was vigor-
ously denied. Now, however, Mr. Buchanan
declares that slavery exists in Kansas by force
@Me Constitution ITSELF and no power shall
touch it ! And this is adopted as genuine
Democracy by the whole party. Its late
Territorial Convention here
''Resolred, That the Administration of James Bu-
chanan has already furnished signal proofs that the
honor and destiny of the American Democracy could
not be more safely entrusted than to his patriotism and
sagacity."
We now quote from Mr.. Buchanan's letter
in answer to remonstrance from large
number of distinguished clergymen in Con-
necticut, respecting his expressions in Kan
sas. The letter is dated, Ang. Is, 1857, and
says:
"The Congress of the United States had most wisely
declared to be the true intent and meaning this act
the act organizing the Territory,-not to egislae
Slavery into any Territory not to exclude it therefrom,
but to leave TO the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regul their domestic institutions in their
way, subject only to the Constitution of the United
States As natural consequence, Congress has also
prescribed by the act that when the Territory of
Kansas shall be admitted Sate it shall be received
into the Union with without Slavery their Consti
Slavery existed at that period, and still exists in
Kansas under the Constitution of the United States
This point has at last been decided by the highest tbu
nal known to laws. How it could have been
riously doubted is mystery
Nothing so bold, so monstrous as this ever
before came from the head Of our govern
ment, if indeed from any government on
earth barbarian or civilized, Christian or Pa
gan. And if there ever can be occasion of
deep concern for the liberties of our country,
this is the time. We blush with shame
while We look over this paragraph.
Its reference to the Nebraska bill is itself
a confession of chicanery. That said 'the
people Of any Territory a1ere to be left perfectly
free to form their own institutions" Now the
decree is that they shall have nothing to do
wIh them! Look at it, Congress was not
to 'legislate slavery into Territory
The people on the ground were to decide that
matter, Subject only to the Constitution
(which says that neither Congress nor people Of
Territory as such shall touch IT,! What
absurdity! What mockery! And he fol-
lows this up by coolly wondering how any
body could have even dreamed otherwise
But this is not the worst The great OBJ
ject to which Calhoun devoted all his later
life is gained, and Slavery is exalted to the
common level of property under the Consti-
tuition, sharing all its rights to the protection
and fostering care of the Government, on
land and sea. All Congressional power and
all Territorial authority fall null and void be-
fore it. 1t lives in and goes with the Con-
stitution wherever that extends. Wherever
the national flag waves, there Slavery reposes
in safety. 1t may sweep over the continent
and no hand shall stay its dark internal
waves.
Where then are we? AS nation we are
Conspiracy against the rights of man. Our
Constitution is compact of pirates and fill
busters. We exist to plunder and opprcss.
Der organic law charges US with the mission
of COrtez and Pizarro-the dread of Earth
and scourge of Heaven. The "sum of all
villanies " is exalted to nationality, and Liber-
ty is driven to a scorned sectionalsm. We
stand upon plundered rights, we traffic in
human blood, and tyrants and despots are
our coadjutors by fundamental law. Here
we are, before God and the Nation, in the
year OF grace, 1857!
Men of Minnesota, ofall parties, of no par
ties Will you sanction such as this by
your votes? Remember, that the ballot box
is our last hope, and to it is our last appeal.
Remember, too, that if all these rights are
allowed to "property in human flesh by
the Constitution, State authority cannot
stand against five years, and then its sweep
will be universal. This is the next step, and
is already demanded. We appeal to you for
your country and your children, save Mime
sofa from sustaining these fatal principles.
MIR. North,s Appointments.
We regret to state the Hon. j. w. NORTH
is compelled by sickness, most reluctantly to