Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-12-03
The Shifting Positions Of Blu
chanan Democracy.


and the shifting positions of the so-called
democratic party. are trdly amusing. This
varied and faneiiul shapes Of the kaleido-
scope, only finds parallel in the thousand
and one phases Of Buchanan democracy.
The many dtfnitons given to the Cincinna-
tt platform, and the many crooked positions
taken by the Presiicnt, as a part Of that
platform, are astoundin, to the uninitiated.
But when it is remembered, that WHATEVER
may be the creed OF the party as promulgl-
ted in resolutions at National Conventions.
the Interpretation thereof, is to do the bid
ding Of the slaye-holding aristocracy Of to-
day, all the mystery is cleared up.
Popular Sovereignty for Kansas, meant,
according 20 Mr.. Buchanan AMI his branch
of the party the right to force slave consti-
tuition on an unwilling people. Never had
there been such arbitrary power exercised by
federal authority over the territories Of the
Union, as was attempted by the party loud
mouthed in professions of belief in this ignis
fats of popular soyerei 5nty All its past
professions and wide spread pnans to this
principle, were ignored in the twinkling of
an eve. when the aristocratic slaveocracy de-
manded halt in that direction or when the
principle, il faithfully carried out, would
initiate against the peculiar institution
! Therefore this darling offspring of the seedy
- !, &. ~ II /
ed to be put in practice The Washington
Union has now opened its oracular mouth.
and Illuminated Its anathemas, loud and Sc
we're against it. Douglas position as its as
sumed and peculiar champion, may be the
ostsnsible cause of this bull of excommunica-
ton against the pet humbug of the party
But the real and primal cause, is to Be
fou nd in the fact that the Shareholders re-
quire step in advance Of any position here
t5tore taken by the party. Congressional
j Intervention in the territories in favor Of
slavery is to be the watchword to keep the
South United The Richmond Enquirer
promulgates the new democratic doctrine Of
intervention in favor Of slavery, in no mine
ing terms, and tie Washington Uaion copies
the article approyinsly. 1t is as follows.
But, while counsellins unity and harmo-
ny, Virginia is not uHmiaiful Of the great
questions that are yet unsettled with regard
to slavery in the t rritories. Virginia sees
that though the constitution recognizes, anu
the Supreme Court sustaias her right to
carry slaves into 6 territory, ye. she also re-
members what Judge Douglas 20 po.ntedly
brought to light in Illinois. tia. tuis right
nav be rendered nN.l and Wild by the non
, action of the territorial legislature. While
Virginia recognizes M power that can com
{ pei a territorial legislature to enact those
) laws necessary to protect the constitutional
rights Of the Shareholders, yet she Goes hold
that Congress has the right, and is in duty
bound, to protect slavery il the territories
until the people OF a territory, when on the
9 eve Of forming state government, may de-
eide the question finally for the future state.
"This question is eng above the platforms
o. parties, and must be met and decided
e3natitu tionally in faver Of protection, or
unconstituti5nally against it. 1t cannot ana
3assst no! be compromised; if the Cincinnati
platform does not provide for this question
i must be made to meet this issue.
This question Of protection to slavery IL
the territories will have TO be met, and the
South win demand her constitutional rights
these rights are recognized in the constitu-
ton. asserted in the Kansas Nebraska bill
admitted by the Cincinnati platform, ant
; have been sanctioned and adjudcated by tht
Supreme Court; and, with this array of au
thority, the South will demand the legisla
= ton necessary to render valid the rights 81
; amply recognized by the party, the country
the Congress, the Supreme Court and th'
Constitution.
"The right to reel, i'm fugitive slaves wa.
given by the constitutions the northern State;
. refused to legislate for the practical enforce
ment Of this constitutional right, and Con
4 gress was compelled to pre- vide the Legislation
a necessary to the usefulness of this provision
= So is it with regard to slavery in the terri
S tories. There is no power To coerce terri
torial legislature to do it, constitutional du
F. ty, and Congress must supply the Legislation
withheld by the derelict territory"
, 1t will be noticed tina. one of the most in
d fpertial party papers in the country, heri
4 asserts that the right to carry slavery in tbs
territories, ''is asserted in the Kansas Nebras
ka bill, and admitted by the Cincinnati plat
; form, and sanctioned and aiiudicated by the
j Supreme Court" "THE SJpru WILL DgMANI
5 THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO RENDER yALru
THESE RIGHTS e, will demand taat Con-
gress pass laws to protect slavery in the ter
t ritories. Here is the squa1ter sovereignty o.
the democratic party. This is all that th'
! party proper. intended By the phrase; and i.
! is all the recognized authority it will eyel
: obtain, Popular sovereignty, then means
by democratic Interpretation, Federal anC
: Congressional intervention TO protect SLAYER
!, in the acknowledgements agains. free
: dom.
. II is wcll to observe who 1t is tina. speak
h thus, and authorita,ively demands that thi
d position shall be taken ''Ths South Uil
: demand &c." Has the South made demand
:, for the last quarter Of century that has no
| been obeyed by both of the political parties
IS The South demanded that the Wilmot Pro
u v!so principle should be ignored and it wa
y obeyed. Tie South denan led the repeal O
|. the Missouri Compromise and through tn
# action of the so-callcd democratic party
q was accomplished. The North was pacific,
with the "sop'' of popular sovereignty. un
o til the onward march of slavery demands Q
e the democratic purity this new principle c
= Intervention in favor of slavery. Do any o
> our readers ask if this request will be &C qui
9 esced in? Ifso, see If you can recall sin
Z Gle instnnce when the South has min ted Ii