Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-19
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRI-WEEKLY By
EDGAR sNOWDEN.
ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 10, 1858

TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 10, 1888
Judge Douglas a. Squatter Sovereignty
The Richmond Enquirer, and fe" other
Democratic Journals of the South, 10 sus'
tanning the political course OF Judge Doug
las, have endeavored to show that be
(Douglas) is not in favor Of "Squatter S'v-
ersignty."
How such On opinion can be entertained
by those who profess to know any thing Of
his course on the slavery question, seems
strange. We need not look to tho opln-
ions of the Judge as expressed 10 the can
yass between himself and Lincoln, which
is now going on in Illinois. for information
upon this point. lie has not left us in the
dark as to bis antecedents 10 this respect
If he had never told US as he has recently
done, that 'the people of q territory can by
laufM means exclude slavery, before 1t
comes in as a Ssate;" if he had never said
what he has recently said, that "the right OF
the people to make it slave territory or
free territory is perfect and complete under
the Nebraska BILL" We would not have been
left without information as to his where
abouts 10 the premises. Soon after the pas
sage of the compromise measures ol 1871,
the Judge took occasion to address his fell
low-oitisens at Chicago. In that speech be
employed the following language: a have al
ways held that the people have right to
settle that question as they may choose, not
only when they come into the Union as a
State, but, that they should be permitted TO
do so while territory"
There is no installing the meaning OF this
language: it is "Squattcr Sovereignty" fat
footed. To pursue Judge Douglas little
further upon this point, we give his views as
expressed during tho discussion Of the kah,
sas bill. Judge Trumbull, when the Kansas
bill was pending, offered an amendment, re-
citing shat the people Of Kansas Mrough
their territorial legislature, should be ieii
perfectly free, to regulate the Institution OF
slavery 10 their own way, and that until the
territorial legislature acted upon the SUBJECT,
the owner Of a slave in one Of the States
has no riqM or authority to take Such Start
into the territory of Kansas, and there hold
him az slave, but every slave taken to the
territory of Kansas by his owner for pur'
pose of settlement is hereby declared 10 be
free, unless there is some valid act OF duly
constituted legislative assembly Of said ter
ritory under which he may be he'll as
slave" Against this amendment, Judge
Douglas, it is true, voted, but he voted a
painst it, as he stated Immediately after the
amendment was defeated, "beeause, although
it erpressed tile true idea. it was improperly
ATTACHED 10 this bill" And again, 81 stated
at the time that l voted against it because It
would be impracticabie to attach it to this
bill, although agreed that its legol eOect caS
the same as Hat Of the original JW."
How the Enquirer with this evidence
upon the record against Judge Douglas can
insist that be is sound on this question &C,
cording to the Virginia standard of democra-
tic orthodoxy is truly marvellous. The de-
mocracy Of Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi
Georgia, and Florida, have solemnly put 1t
upon record "that under no political necessl'
ty whatever will they vote for man Tor the
Presidency or Vice Presidency who enter
tains the opinion that either Congress or
Territorial Legislature has the power to In
hibit the introduction Of slaves into the ter
ritories." The democracy of the South have
again and again declared with MIR. Calhoun
that this doctrine Of "Squatter Sovereignty
is worse than the Wilmot proVisc--that Its
recognition is the recognition of the "ilpo'
nroyiso in its most odous form. Notwifh'
standing the fact that this same southern de-
mocracy were willing to break up the UNION
in the event of the passage OF the "iimo'
proyiso, and notwithstanding the fact tna'
this same southern democracy have denoune'
ed the souatter sovereignty doctrine of Cass
and Douglass, as worse than the Wiimot pro-
yiso, vet we find some of the organs Of this
same democracy. preparing the way for then
support Of Douglass for the next Presidency
What curious thing ia this democracy.
SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DIsTEIcT.-lh'
announcement by Mr.. Henry Shackc!i1Id
of Culpeper. that he is candidate Tor Con
press from this Congressional District, and