Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-01-03

slavery?
Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee. 1t is well known
that there is a difference Of opinion between
northern and Southern gentlemen upon what Is
called the question Of HSquatter Sovereignty
l have never regarded it as Of any Importance.
l know that q large portion Of the people Of the
North, OF all parties. believe that the people, in
a territorial capacity, can exclude CT admit
slavery, because they believe 1t is an Inherent
Ttght, and one not conferred by Congress. The
people OF the South disbelieve that, with some
exceptions. There are some in the South who
believe that the people have an inherent right
to admit OF exclude slavery in a territorial ca
believe that the people of a Territory have not
that power untilthey form a constituti- n 10 ask
admission as a State into the Union.
L nave said regard this as a question Of no
practicability. Ihave held that in a territorial
capacity they had not the right to exclude
slavery. Yet the majority OF the people in the
territory wall decide this question after all. In
a Territory we must have laws, not 10 establish,
but to project the institution of slavery; and IL
a majority of the people of a Territory are OPP
posed to the institution, they will refuse to pass
laws for its protection.
We have the right to take slaves into tie
Territory without any law establishing the in
s~titution. But Southern men must be satisfied
that there will be laws for their protection be-
fore II 81 will take their property, whether ne
groes or horses, with them into any State or
Territory Of the United States.
Mr.. H. Marshall. | would inquire whether
MIR. Buchanan, in the Presidential campaign,
took the Northern or Southern construction Of
the question?
Mr.. Smith, Of Tennessee. He took the bold
and strong ground that the people had the right
to settle the question for themselves. He has
always taken ground against what the gentle
mar terms " Squatter Sovereignty"
Mr.. H. Marshall. Do | understand the gen
tieman to say that Mr.. Buchanan holds that
the people OF a Territory, prior to the formation
Of a State constitution, have the right to ex-
clude slaverY7
Mr.. Smith, Of Tennessee. Mr.. Buchanan
has never taken any such ground. / will read
the ground he has taken.
Mr.. II. Marshall. know what be saws in
his letter of acceptance. As the Democratic
party went into the canvass with two construc-
tions of the question, | only wish to know which
he took, or whether be took both?
Mr.. Smith, of tennessee. Here is the ground
be assumed. The following resolution is a part
Of the platform adopted by the Democratic Ma
! tlonal Convention which nominated Mr.. Blu
chanan, and which lie most cordially approved /:
"RssotUef, That we recognize the right Of all
the people Of all the Territories, including
Kansas and Nebraska, acting through the le-
gallY aud fai~rly-expressed Will Of a majority Of
actual residents, and whenever the number OF
their inhabitants ~justifes it, to form a consti-
tuition, with or without domestic slavery, and be
admitted into the Union upon terms Of perfect
equality with the other States.o
That Is the ground taken by Mr.. Buchanan
and The convention which nominated him. The
doctrine that the people of a Territory have
the right to form their own institutions in their
own way is the true and Democratic doctrine.
/ A.. . - sha s,-ESanE,.. r
to prohibit or establish It until they form a con-
s~titution to ask sdmittance as a Slate into the
Union II the people Of a Territory are op-
posed to the institution Of slavery, they will
hot pass laws to protect it, and it will not 90
there. II, on the contrary, they are in favor Of
it, they will pass laws for its protection, and it
will go there. 1t will either 90 there or not,
according to the popular sentiments Of the peo-
pie Of the Territory. The gentleman from Ken
lucky himself supported a candidate for the
Presidency who maintained the doctrine Of
squatter sovereignty.
Mr.. H. Marshall. Our candidate did not hold
that doctrine. He was opposed to it, az every
man who supported him North and South was
opposed to it.
Mr.. Smith, OF Tennessee. How many times
did the gentleman's candidate vote for the prin-
cIplss of the Wilmot proviso?
Mr.. H. Marshall. Do you understand that to
be squatter sovereignty?
Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee. The seventh sec
ton of the platform upon which the gentleman
fought the battle contains what the gentleman
himself considered an endorsement of the doc
tTine OK sqCatter soyereignty-the language OF
the Nebraska bill.
Mr.. H. Marshall. Not at all.
Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee. Yet the gentleman
talks to m Of squatter sovereignty, when his
candidate has voted for the principles Of the
I IUsn--E 1910 - a. -
House when be was a member OF that body.
He denounced the rereal Of the Missouri con-
promise, which compromise excluded the gen
tleman and myself from going to the Territories
Of Kansas and Nebraska unless we left our
servants behind US. Such are the strange scenes
presented to us aud they go to show more for
chilly the truth Of what l stated to the gentle
man from Ohio, that there is a movement or
foot 20 unite all the elements Of opposition tc
the Democratic party in the canVasses which
are to come off in the future.
It has been frequently stated that the Demo
cratic party North and the Democratic party
South take different grounds in reference to the
affairs of Kansas and future OF that Territory.
The gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Sherman said
that the Democratic party in the North assumed
the ground that they were a better..frse soil
party than the Republican party. Now, ! have
a right to speak on this subject. was in the
4 CANVASS NptNu anu Ooulu. 1 SPOKE u Tree dNl
slave States. ! addressed the people of the
gentlemsn's own State at Cincinnati, together
with two others, one from Ohio and one from
Connecticut. ] spoke in Trenton, New Jersey,
with gentlemen from Pennsylvania and New
York, one of them Prince John,o as he is
sometimes called. The sentiments uttered by
these gentlemen were precisely those / enter
tain and have published to my people. The
Onlydiference between Us was his / live ina
siaua State in The midst of fhe fuqfffuNfcu ard
like it they live in free States, and did not
like it; yet they had the patriotism to stand up
to a maintenance Of all the guarantees Of the
Constitution for the protection of the %institu-
ton. This in my judgment, entities them to
the more credit.
Mr.. Sherman. The gentleman has said that
be has spoken at the same meeting with Prince
John Van Buren,. Now, | would ask him
whethePhe endorses the doctrines promulgated
BY that gentleman during the late campaign,
and whether they would stand upon the same
stump and rehearse them togetEerP
Mr.. Smith, Of Tennessee. most certainly
agree in all that Mr.. Van Buren, said at TTen-
ton in reference to the question OF slavery. 1t
was the only one of bis speeches / heard. IT
was published, aad gentlemen can see it if they
so desire. He there boldly ayOwed his oDposl-
ton to any interference with slavery in the
States or Territories, and stated that he would
! cuppOIt tic cAD4SSAOi VI AduodH illo TIE Union
as a slave or free State, as the people should
determine.
Mr. sherman. My question is not answered
at all. Do you concur in the opinions express
ed BY John Van Buren, in the last campaign in
regard to the events in Kansas and the policy
of the repeal Of the Missouri compromise?
Mr.. Smith, Of Tennessee. | heard nothing
from him which / did not concur in, though |
do not remember to have heard him speak of
eveats in Kansas.
Mr.. Sherman. One further question. l
would ask the gentleman if be is aware that
not only John Van Buren,, but that Wendell
Phillips, a well known Abolitionist, voted with
the Democratic party?
Ar. Smith, Of Tennessee. an authorized
10 deny that Wendell Phillips acted with the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Sherman. have been informed that he
did.
Mr. Smith, OF Tennessee. Whether he did
or not it is not material. know that a dis
tinguished gentleman from South Carolina,
Mr.. Orr, who occupies a seat upon this floor,
and the two gentlemen from Georgia. ( Mr.. Ste
phens and Mr.. Cobb, went to Pennsylvania,
and syowed openly aad put upon the record