Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-09-15
A Consistent National Democrat. >


| Yesterday we bad something TO say
about the kind Of character the Cincinna.
ii Enquirer regards "a a Consistent ma
tional democrat" We then alluded L
tue matter in general way. II will prob,
ably be more sa aisfactory TO our readers tc
be more specific, and give g specimen
cimen brick or two Of the kind Of men
whom the Enquirer claims as consistent
National Democrats" And probably no
better specimen can be found than his ma
jesty, King James l. He is the Grand
High Priest Of the Nsiional Denagogues,
and bis political portrait deserves to be
drawn, framed and hung up in public
view, SO that the people may admire his
Consistency"
He first appears upon the stage in the
year 1919, IN public meeting, 81 the time
the country was excited from centre to
circumference in regard to the admission
Of Missouri. slave state, into the Uuion
Mr.. Buchanan was on the committee TO
draft resolutions expressive Of the Heuti-
ments Of the people on the subject. They
reported that "Whereas, the people ofthis
state, pursuing the msxims and animated
by the bene6cence Of the great founder of
Pennsylvania, first gave effect to the grad.
ual abolition ofslauery by a national act,
which has not only rescued The unhappy
African within their territory from the de
noraliziaq influence Of slavery, but anne
iliorated his condition throughout Europe
and America; and whereas, It would lily
comport with those humane aHd christian
efforts to be silent spectators when this
great cause Of humanity is about 10 be ag-
itated in Congress by fixing the destiny Of
the United States, therefore" they resolved
to instruct their representatives TO Congress
to use their "utmost efforts" to aprsvent
the er'stenes of slavery in any ofths Ter.
rtt0ries or new States which may be ere.
stsd by Congress" They also resolved to
instruct them to use their "most jealous
and strenuous exertions to iahi6it the eris.
taRce Of slavery in any Of the Territories
or State which may hereafter be created
by Congress"
This is now considered pretty good Re
publican doctrine; it is held universal BY
the Republicans of the United States; but
the Enquirer denounces them Sc enemies
and traitors. aud will not grant them their
true titles, consistent National Demo.
Gratis"
Notwithstanding the efforts of Mr.. Bu-
ehsnan and Others, Missouri was permit
ted to come iuto the Union as slave
State, but at the same time what wGs called
the Missouri Compromise was adopted
that is, slavery was prohibited forever in
ell territory North of the line of Sc deg
80 min. North latitude. This Compro-
mise was for long time-for over thirty
years-held to be of equal validity as q
constitutional enactment; nobody believed
that it was right and proper to repeal
this prohibition against slavery.
10 1848, Mr.. Buchanan who was then
Secretary Of State under Mr.. Polk, wrote
letter 10 Harvest Home celebration in
Berks county, urging the extension Of this
Missouri Compromise to the Pacific Ocean
and said that shaving urged the adoption
of the Missouri Compromise, the inference
is irresistible that Congress, in my opin-
ion, possesses po'0er to legisl0ts upon tie
subject Of slavery in the Territories"
This was in accordance with the senti.
msnts expressed in his report to the mee-
ting in 1919. He was still of the opiu.
ion that Congress had the power to pro-
hibit slavery in the Territories.
In 1866, Buchanan got new light
He was then nominated for the Presidency,
and in bis letter Of acceptance of the nom
nation says that the legislation which
formed the Kansas Nebraska bill as
founded on principles as ancient as free
government itself, and in accordance with
them has simply declared that The people
Of "a Territory. like those Of Stale, shall
decide for hemsslves, whether slavery
shall or shall not exist within The limits.
In other words, that Congress has no
right to exclude Slavery from the territo-
ries, but the people Of the territory might
admit or reject it as they pleased. Here
is consistency for you. Such ''consis-
tency" cannot be sufficiently admired.
In the year following, 10 1857, Mr.. Ru |
chanan made another change. He repu-
dates both bis position Of 1919 and ls48.
aud also bis position Of 1853. To his let
ter to Professor SilIilnan and Others, be
said:
"Slavery existed at that period-when |
he Kansas aud Nebraska bill was passed
and still exists in Kansas under the Con.
titutiou Of the United States, This point
!.