Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-20
Ffom mo " IfIpunc.
where is squnster sovereignty.

FROM tho " 4 . iriounc
where fs squntter sovereignty.
"What can DO fairer than to lie, the pco-
pie OF any Territory settle tho slavery
question Cor tliemselves?' Such was the
inquiry triumphantly urged by the advo-
Gates in the Free States Of Buchanan's
election through tho late exciting canvass.
The Republicans were necessarily charged
by them with making an invidious, I'M
founded distinction between American cit
liens residing IN States and those who
may have migrated thence into Territories,
denying to the latter important rights uni
versally conceded the former 1t was on
the platform thus formed that minority
Of the Free States were carried for Buch.
anan, and his election secured. Patiently
and earnestly did the Republicans labor to
prove this pretensc Of ''Squatter Sover-
eighty" delusion and a snare. The des-
pcrately blind who wero determined not
to see were re-cnforccd by a smaller num-
Der really deluded, and the equal right of
Americans living in Territories with those
living in States was proclaimed as the gen.
uinc Democratic doctrine, aud ratified as
aforesaid. vainly did we point TO the
Cincinnati Democratic Platform as arIfully
embodying that very doctrine Of Terrific
rial pupilage aud wardship which II was
Wanted as denying. New.Jerscy. Penn
sylvauia, Indiana, aud Illinois were carried
for buchanan on tho false pretenso that he
aud his prominent supporters were hostile
to Slavery Extension and tenacious only
that the people OF tho Territories should
decide tho Slavery Question for them.
selves.
Now mark the doctrine OF Mr.. Buchan.
ans Inaugural Address on this very sub
joct:
"a difference of opinion has arisen h
regard to tho time when the people Of .
Territory shall decide that question foi
themselves. This is happily matter o.
but little practical importance, and besides
II Is ajudicial question which lcgltlma,el,
belongs to tho Supreme Court Of tho Uni
ted States, before whom II h now pend
ing, and will. IT is understood, DO fnall,
settled. To their decision, In common
with all good citizens. I shall cheerful,
submit, whatever this may be; though /
has been in my individual opinion that, IN
der the Kansas Nebraska act, the appro
pirate period will be when de number e
actual residents in The Territories shall jas
tyy tie formation Of Constitution 10Th
vieio TO its admission asa State into tho Tn
lon"
10 where, tell mo whcren Is S1uatte
Sovereignty? Where the inherent, indie
feasible right of the people Of aTcrritory
equally with those Of a State,to form an,
change their own institutions? Wien the
come to form STATE Government they ma
forbid Slavery--of course they may--n
thanks to "Squattcr Sovereignty for thai
: But as people Of 7errto,y.no such rigl
Is conceded them. Nine tenths, ninety min
hundredths Of them may desire to kce
Slavery out Of their community from III
start; but no power to do this is concede
them. and every single stakeholder is NJ
thorizcd to establish slavery pratcsll
among them, in defiance to every one els
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures opinion"coms
!, practically to this result; and he points I
to the Supreme Court rs about to give a
authoritative decision, which decision,
he well knew, would sustain the most G,
travagant claim of slave breeders. All ii
acts passed by so many different Congress
es (thc LIST includcd), are nullifed at
blow-even the act or joint resolve autl
q orizing the annexation Of Texas. is obno,
n ious to this sweeping condemnation. An
n Shareholder, under this new decision, ma
}. plant Slavery in Minnesota or Nebrasl
q tomorrow, in ostcntatious defiance to the
: whole people. Such, reduced to practic
Q is squatter Sovereignty.