Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-11


Monday evening and laid before the read
ers of the Patriot in our edition of yester-
day morning.
We have looked for it with some interest
for an exposition Of the views of the Presi-
dent upon the subject of Squatter Sove-
reignty. We are gEatifed to find that he
differs with Gen. Cass, his Secretary of
State, upon this important question, con-
strung the Kansas-Nebraska act as it has
been construed by its Southern supporters.
This is something more than we expected
of him, and we are not indisposed to render
him all proper credit for it. But at the
same time, we must regret that he has
adopted the heresy of Alien Suffrage re-
Gently condemned by the almost unanimous
vote Of the Southern members of the Uni
ted States Senate. Upon this subject we
quote his views, as follows saag1as
A different opinion has arisen in regard to
the time when the people of Territory shall
decide this slavery question for themselves.
This is happily matter Of but little practical
Importance, and besides, it is judicial ones
ton, which legitimately belongs to the Su-
preme Court of the United States, before whom
it is now pending, and will, it is understood,
be speedily and finally settled. To their de-
cisioE, in common with all good citizens,
shall cheerfully submit, whatever this may be,
/ though it has been nv individual opinion that
under the Nebrsska-Kansas act, the appropri-
/ ate period will be when the number of actual
residents in the Territory shall justify the for
nation of Constitution with a view to its ad-
| mission as a State into the Union; but be this
as it may, it is the imperative and indispensa-
bic duty of the Government of the United
States to secure 10 eUery RESIDENT INHABTTANT
the free and independent erpressiOn Of has opi1-
ion By his cote. This sG cred right Of EACH IN
DIvIDuAL must be preserved. This being &C
complshed, nothing can be fairer than to leave
the people of Territory free from all foreign
Influence, to decide their own destiny for them
selves, subject only to the Constitution of the
United States.
The meaning of the President in this quo.
tation is plain to the dullest comprehen'
sion. He does not believe that only native
born end naturalized citizens Of the United
States should be entitled to the right of suf
frage, and through it to exercise an import
ant influence in determining the character o.
the institutions of an inchoate State, bat that
it is ''the imperative and indispensable du
/ ty of the government of the United States,
to secure to erery resident inha6itant the free
and independent expression of his opinion
by his cote" This is an expression of his
full faith in the abominable heresy of Alien
Suffrage. 1t is doctrine too dangerous
for any Southern man, who desires to see
the rights of the South maintained, to cor
daily approve 1t is saying to the people
of other nations "Come to our territories,
settle in them, and though you be but the
resident inhabitant of day, you shall have
equal rights with the native-born and nat
rallied citizen, in forming the character OF
the institutions by which you are to be gov
erned, and to decide whether our citizens
of the South shall hold their slave property
in your midst" If this doctrine should be-
come the settled policy of the government,
not another slave State, formed of our ter
ritories, would be admitted into the Union
The emigration from the North and from Eu-
rope would decide the question of slave in
situations against the South. The position
of Mr.. Buchanan on this question is char
acteriStic Of the man. Having taken sides
with the South on the doctrine of Squatter
Sovereignty, he throws sops to the Cerbe-
rus of black republicanism in the shape of
Alien Suffrage. OF a like character are the
views of Mr.. Buchanan on the subject of
internal improvements. Whilst contending
for strict construction of the constitution,
he finds in that instrument ample warrant
for building a railroad through the terrific
ries of the United States to the Pacific
ocean. And again, in speaking of the Ia
riff, be has good word and a kind look for
both the protectionist and the anti-protec-
ZIONIST. From these indications, it is APP
parent that Mr. Buchanan cannot be relied
upon for straightforward, consistent adj
ministration of the government. He can
not lay aside his natural propensities and
become straight up and down, direct, and
positive character, and it is idle to exp ect
it of him.