Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1858-09-24
4 Compromise in ysop.rdx.

ly proclaimed bis adhesion to the odious doctrine Of
Squatter sovereignty-that is, he asserts the right
OF tho people OF Territory, through their territorial
Legislature, 10 exclude the institution OF slavery
therefrom and this, too, whatever the number Of
their population. II were needless to remind our
readers that this doctrine. properly reprobael by
the Usion, has always been denounced by the Sou
thern people Of all parties infinitely more offensive
and dangerous than the wimot proviso; and vet il
Is the almost universally accepted doctrine of North
ern Democrats
The Union alleges that at the time Of the passage
Of the Kansas Nebraska act there were two classes
OF Democrats who supported it, the one denying the
Sqaatter sovereignty theory and the other sustaining
IL The one claimed that, by virtue Of the Federal
compact the Territories being held in Joint tenancy
by the States. all property recognized by any mem,
Der Of tho confederacy must be protected by the
Territorial governments-that the citizen claiming
such property has right to demand protection for
u, aud that there Is poper IN the local autAori
ties TO Withhoh &c. This was the doctrine of the
united Southern Democracy, without an individual
exception. Ii was the doctrine Of all those every
where who opposed the mischievous dogma OF Squat.
ter sovereignty. The other class of Democrats.
who Supported the Kansas-Nebrasks bill, maintained
that slavery could only exist by the authority of the
perfectly competent for the Territorial governments
tn ordain or prohibit that institution as the Terrific
rial Legislature might determine. This was the
doctrine OF Cass, Douglas. and all the Northern De-
mocrsts, with here and there exception; and this
doctrine called Squatter sovereignty, and dc
nounced from one end OF the South to the other rs
the very essence Of Abolitionism
Yet, notwith standing the difference which existed
between the Northern and. Southern Democrats in
regard to the power Of the Territorial Legislatures
over the subject OF slavery they all united in sup
port the Kansas Nebraska bill agreeing to leave the
question at issue between them to the decision Of the
Supreme Court And herein, as the Union main
tains, consisted the compromise between the two
wings OF its party, vexed subject at the time ofthe
passage Of the Kansas Nebraska act 1t maintains al
So that the Court subsequently, decided in the bred
Scott case in favor OF tho doctrine held by the Sou
thern Democrats and against that held by the Nor
thorn Denocrats-that is il decided that the doc
trine OF Squatter sovereignty heresy, and that
the Territorial Legislatures were constitutonaly
bound to afford ample and equal protection to all
kinds Of property, slave property included 1t quotes
from the Dred Scott decision follows in support of
its own views-"H the Consultation recognizes the
right Of property ofthe master in slave and makes
distinction between that description of property
and other property owned by q ctiz,n, no tribunal
acting under the authority Of the United States
whether Legislative Executive, or Judicial, has q
right to draw such distinction, or deny TO IL the
benefit Of the provisions and guarantees which have
been provided for the protection of private property
against the encroachments Of the Government"-
That is the substance Of the bred Scott decision ON
the question Of power slavery in the Territories
IL will be that the Court distinctly takes the
ground that there is no distinction between slave
property and any other sort Of property and that,
therefore, the Territorial Legislatures bound 10
afford full and efficient protection to slave proper
ty as To any other property And vet in the face Of
this decision by the Supreme Court, to which the
Democratic supporters Of the Kansas-Nebraska act
agreed to refer their difference Of opinion in regard
to Squatter sovereignty, and which agreement con-
stituted the compromise on this subjcct-a compro-
misc that would Danish slavery agitation from the
halls Of Congress and deinitively settle the whole
vexed question Of slavery in face we say, Of this
decision Of the Supreme Court, we find Douglas and
nearly the whole Northern Democracy openly repu
dating the terms Of settlement as contained 10 the
Nebraska act and asserting the full and entire right
OF the Territorial Legislatures TO exclude slavery
from the Territories at their pleasure That is they
assert and advocate the doctrine Of Squater sover
eighty in all its length and breadth doctrine which
the whole South, and especially Southern Demo-
Gratis, have over and over again characterized as
downright Aboltonism in its most obnoxious and
dangerous form. And yet Douglas and bis eonfede-
rates arc nov generally sustained by the Democracy
In his present contest with Lincoln who Is Wilmot
provisosi, and who, as Wmot provisoism Is less Of
fsnsive and less dangerous 20 the South than Squat
ter soversigntyism is therefore more Of Southern
man tLan Douglas and should have the sympathies
al tho south in the existing struggle in Illinois
IL ~ really notifying to noto the many Disagree
bic stiails in which the Democracy are continually
involVing themselves in regard TO their slavery adj
juSsments They are eternally tAmperng with the
question IN some form other and eternally settle
4ng " PsynansHfly and finally, and yet it is eternal
= ~ yetarnihg TO embArrsss aud torment them. The
washington Union, in COMMENCING its article 10
which We have alluded, innocenty says:-" UstI
gerry recently We had supposed it TO BE- the SINCERE
wish Of every true DemOcrs,-of every true pst,;o,
that the question Of slavery in the territories should
be dshnitvely settled" But il s nov oompoll.d -
admit that there is no such thing a. settling a IN
consequence OF the here,cal doctrines on the subs,
proclaimed by distinguished leaders Of ts own psrt,
and sustained by the OF the Democracy Al The
North. The conclusion is therefore irresisbls that
the slavery dispute is which the Democracy are
Wholly unable 10 cope uith-whoy incompetent 20
adjust And Jet At every session Of Congress, they
renew the ridiculous experiment which only spds
in ridiculous ialure Ia u not time for them 20
sbsndOn the futile effort, and make way for others
Who may be more successful, but who cannot pousi
bic do vorsef is II not time for the people thon-
selves 70 take The matter IN their own hands and No
lOngor leave u - football for agitation and cleo
toDesrng purposes on the part Of incompetent reck
les and unscrupuIous politicians and hunters
The Dsioa IL right in heading is lugubrious srt
cls-"A Cempromiss IN Jeopardy" The Kansas
Nsbrasks OOmpfOmiso h IN jeopardy beyond al
doobt; and necessarily IL the Drod Scott decision
ard IN jeopardy from those who loodY profess to b,
the vsrm and peculiar friends Of both. And So too
4 the boosted Eagiiah Compromise Of the late sos
sisa % Csagresa, ss the UstoA will find out 70 IL
sarrov nsrt vinler. Bot Why cannot the Usio'
sad s Of ~ southern friends see what every bod