Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-09-08


tionsl democracy, on the slavery question, from
the policy formerly advocated, and even avowed
during the last Presidential campaign BY that
party, in the free States, in order to obtain votes
for Buchanan, is indicative Of the woful effect OF
the '.peculiar institution" upon the politics of
the country. Why. it is but a few years
since the whole united democracy of Mas
sachusetts, as represented BY their delegates in
the persons Of six hundred such good and true
s.national democrats" az Hsllett, Cushing,
Greene, Butler Griswold, &C., resolved unani-
mously -
,GThat we are OPPOSED TO SLAVERY IN
EVERY FORM AND COLOR, AND IN FA-
voR OF FREEDOM AND FREE SOIL
WHEREVER man lives throughout Gods heri-
tage.
That as slavery does not exist by any municipal
law in the new territories, and Congress has no
power to institute it, the local laws of any State
authorizing slavery can be transported there,
can slavery erist there, but By local law OF
the territories, sanctioned by Congress, or the
legislative act of State in its sovereign ca
pscily.
That we are opposed to the extension OF Slauery
to free territories and in favor of the exercise Of
ali constitutional means to restrict it to the linz
its within which it does or may exist by the local
law of the States"
Such was the doctrine once avowed by the de-
mocracy throughout the free States, when they
numbered within their ranks statesmen like
Banks and Boutwell, in our own State, Preston
King and B. T. Butler in New York, Wilmot in
Pennsylvania, Salmon P. Chase in Ohio, Trum-
bull in Illinois, and others of like stamp.
But, now, what falling of James Buehan-
an was elected in 1856 by the united votes of the
Northern and Southern democracy, and what pO-
sition do we see him officially taking during the
first year of his administration
In response to the memorial of Professor Ben
jamin Sillman and forty-two others of Connecti-
cut, imploring him not to enforce the infamous,
unconstitutional, border rufian edicts of Missouri
upon the people of Kanzas, President Buchanan
gsplies in long letter announcing in true "bor-
der Tufian" style his determination to execute
them, at all hazards. Among other arguments
made use Of to support him in such determine
ton, Mr.. Buchanan says
''Stavery eristed at that period when the Ne
braska act was passed, and still EXISTS IN Kanzds
under the Constitution of the United States. This
point has at last been decided By the highest tribe-
nat ksloacn to our laos. HotD Il eUer could hare
been doubted IS a mystery. II a confederation OF
sovereign States acquire new territory at the
expense of their common blood and treasure sure
ly one set of the parties can have right to ex.
elude the other from its engagement by prohibit
ing them taking into it whatsoever is recognized
to be property by common Constitution p"
Here is the grave declaration fiom the highest
official funcliOnary of the Democratic party, and
of the government, that, by the Constitution of
the United States. slavery has legal right to
exist and spread itself in all the national Terri
tories, and neither Congress nor the Territorial
Legislature have right to prohibit it.
The members Of the Democracy of the North
who can be induced 10 follow their party in such
an entire and total change in its doctrine and
policy, from that avowed few years since, as
quoted above, must be few indeed.
That during the Presidential campaign of last
year, totally opposite doctrine to that last quot.
ed above, from Mr. Buchanan, was advocated
from the press and the stump, to promote his
election, we have only to quote from the loading
presses and orators Of the party, North of Ma
son and Dixon's line. For instance, the Hartford
Times, which occupies the position, next to the
Boston Post, Of being the leading organ of the
Democracy in New England, published and en-
dorsed the following statement, in its report of
the speech of leading Buchanan man, in Hart.
ford, last October, and commended it as stating
the correct idea of the matter and similar state.
ments were made in that and other leading jour
nails of that party, during the campaign, as true
exposition Of its creed:
There had been three opinions advanced in
relation to the power of Congress over the subject
Of slavery in the Territories. First, in the Mich.
olson letter of Gen. Cass, it was claimed that the
people of Territory had the inherent right to
settle the question themselves, Congress not hav-
ing the power to dictate any terms to them. Sec.
ond, 1t was claimed that Congress has power to
legislate upon the subject for the territories but
that as just principle, Congress ought to dele
gate that power TO the people themselves, and
authorize them to make own municipal laws and
this Is the doctrine upon lohich Mr.. Buchanan o,o
stands tR relation to the subject 1t is the pri,acs.
pie adopted By the Cincinnati Convention and en-
bodied IN The Democratic platform. Third, it
was Mr.. Calhoun's opinion that the power to
prohibit slavery in the territories was neither in
the hands Of Congress nor of the people of the
territories, but that slavery could 20 into the ter.
ritories, in the absence Of positive law, and re.
main till state government was established.
1nls doctrine had out teto supporters IT not
the doctrine on achich the Democratic Partg of the
Nation stands North and South.
The bestcommentary on the above, is perusal
of President Buchanan's letter to Professor SILL
man, which announces the determination of the
former to execute by all the force of the general
government, the whole border rufian code of
Missouri, by one of the provisions of which,
sentence to the penitentiary for two years is the
penalty for speaking or writing, or assisting in
the circulation Of any thing against the legal
right of slavery to exist in the territories, with
other still more infamous, tyranncal, and uncon-
stitutional provisions.