The Washington union., 1857-12-06

NoN-INTERvENTIoN OR INTERVENTION
THE DEMOCRACY FoRsAKE THEIR OWN PLAT
FORM TO EsPousE THAT OF THE ABOLITION
IsTsf
The question with the democratic party, in the
present attitude of the Kansas question, is simply
whether or not they viii abandon their own policy
of intervention to betake themselves after their
long and arduous struggle with the blackrepubli-
cans, to the abolition policy of Intervention.
The issue between the adherents of the admins
ration its support of the action of the convention of
Kansas, and those who insist upon resort to the alb
clifton policy of intrusion and dictation in the affairs
of that Territory, is simply an issue between the
principles of Intervention and n-iateruention.
From the beginning of the agitation of the slavery
question to the present moment the whole pro-
gramme of the abotonists has proceeded upon their
claim of power for State section to interfere
with the domestic institutions of another, and for
Congress to interfere in the domestic affairs of the
States During the whole progress of this agitation
the state-rights democracy in their determined and
effective resistance of the abolitionsts, have planted
themselves upon the great doctrines of State
eighty State rights and State sufciency for all pur-
poses of local government
During the latter years, when this agitation has
had little reference to the States, and had more
special reference to the Territories, the democratic
party have carried their doctrine of State soye-
regnty to the logical and legitimate result of deny
ing to Congress the right of interfering with in
choate, incipent States, while taking the steps for
&C Tarri
in the same manner as they had denied its right of
interference in the organized States themselves.
The policy of the democratic party has been that
of requiring total abstinence by the federal gov
ernment from all interference in the local. internal
affairs of the Territories, except for purposes of pro-
lection Whatever may be the abstract opinions OF its
members upon the propriety or impropriety Of sub
mittng the constitutions of new States to popular
ratification whatever may be their abstract opinions
upon the righteousness or sinfulness the blessings
or curses of slavery, they have scrupulousy alb
stained from giving any expression to their various
individual sentiments, insisting only but insisting
always as a party on this that the Territories, in
preparing to erect themselves into States shall be
left entirely free to regulate these and all other Of
their domestic affairs sin their acay subject only
to the constitution of the United States"
This has been the tenor of every resolution they
have adopted, from the commencement of the agita-
ton until now. They have not only contended for
the absolute freedom of the organized States from all
control or dctation from other States Congress Tex
pressly adopting in this connexon the Virginia and
Kentucky report and resolutions of '9S and '99 as
the fixed creed of their party, and basis of their
doctrine of i,erpention but they have insisted
even at the expense of incurring the imputation Of
advocating the extreme dogma of s9atter sopereign
that the Territories in all their acts preparatory to
becoming States, are entitled to the same immunity
ganized States
The reader will be struck by the painsaking care,
the Jealous emphasis, and the varied and studied
forms of phraseology, which the democracy have
used to assert the absolute right of the States and
of Territories preparing to become States, to the
elusive regulation of "the'r AFFAIRS in their
o1cn tpav free from all outside interference whatso
ever. We quote first, from the platform adopted
at Cincinnati, italicizng the passages which most
pontedy the suciency of the States and the
Territories becoming States, for the management Of
their own affairs in their own way and which most
distinctly announce the policy of non-nateruention.
Non Intervention Resolutions of the Cincinnati Platform
Resolved That we reterate, with renewed energy of
purpose the we'll considered declarations of former
yenons upon the sectional issue of domestic slavery
aud concerning the reserred rights Of The States.
L. That Congress has ctc, under the constitution, 10
interfere ti control the domestic institutions of the
several States and that such States the sole and
proper Judges of epehg appertaning to thar affairs
not prohibited by the constitution that all efforts of the
abolitioniss Others made to induce Congress in
ton Thereto are calculated to lead to the most alarming
and dangerous consequences, &C., &c.
g. That the foregoing proposition covers, and in
tended to embrace the whole subject of slavery agta
ton in Congress and therefore, the democratic party of
the Union standing this national platform, will abide
by and adhere to- faithful execution of the acts known
the compromise settled by the Congress Of
1850, &C., &C.
B. That the democratic party will resist all odents at
renewing Congress ont Of u, the agitation of the
slavery question under hde shape color the attempt
may be made.
That the democratic party will faithfully abide by
and uphold the principles laid down in the Kentucky and
Virginia resolutions of 1898, and in the report of Mr.
Madison to the Virginia legislature in l799 that it
adopts those principles constituting Of e main Foundations
Of s POLITICAL creed and re'orci carry them ont their OBJ
meaning ndnnpor.
And, that may distinctly meet the issue on
which sectional party subsstng exclusively slavery
agitation, relies to test the fidelity of the people
North and South, to the constitution and the Union
racy recognise and adopt the principles contained in the
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