The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-07

y
exhibited. t
The President finds no provision in the
Kansas Nebraska act authorizing the con-
vention to submit any portion of the con-
stitution to the people " except that which
relates to the domestic institution of slav-
cry" | would ask if there is anything in
that act prohibiting the submission Of the
whole constitution? Mark the sophistry.
he says This will be rendered clear by
a simple reference to its language" 1t
was not to legislate slavery into any Ter
rltory or State, nor to exclude it there
from, bit to leave the people thereof per-
fectIy free to form and regulate their do
mestic institutions in their oeon ,cav."
Instead Of meaning what the President
says it does the express language constru-
ed properly implies exactly the reverse
If slavery constituted the sum total of do
mestic institutions, Mr.. Buchanan's in
ference would be correct. But appre-
hend his definition will not be acquiesced
in by discriminating public. The north
ern States, England, France, Germany,
in fact every portion of the globe where
negro slavery is prescribed are entirely
destitute of domestic institutions in the
| Presidents estimation
Slavery is truly peculiar institution.
The term domestic institutions is used
in the Kansas Nebraska act in the plural
form, and evidently embraces more rela-
tlons than exist between master and slave
will admit the force of Mr. Buchanan's
! logic moment, that negro slavery does
constitute all the domestic institutions of
astate. The Kansas Nebraska Act "ieaves
the people perfectly free to form and reg
ulate their domestic institutions | e ne
gro slavery in their Own way. Does the
President propose to give the people of
Kansas the full benefit of his own inter
pretation? Now it is generally under |
stood that seyen-tenths of all the legal
voters of Kansas are opposed to slavery in
every form, and only want an opportunity
to record their verdict at the ballot-box
The unkindest cut is reserved for the last
To block up every avenue of escape and
refute what he AYERS to be " clear" in-
Jerence from the language of the organic
act. He says should the constitution |
without slavery be adopted, the right Of
property in slaves now in the Territory
is reserved. These slaves ware brought
into the Territory under the Constitution
Of the United States, and are now the prop
erty of their masters, This point has at
length been decided by the highest judi !
ciai tribunal of the country"
Not content with perverting the plain
language of the organic act, the President
brings to his aid, mercenary decision
emauating in a corrupt court and by a
process of special pleading as unwarrant-
able as it is ingenious, successfully diverts
from the application to Kansas, the great
principle Of self government.
! No one conversant with the superior
tactics of southern statesmen, and the ar
rogant demands ofan Oiigarchy composed
OF three hundred thousand slave holders
will be surprised to see man possessed
I of no more stamina than James Buchanan
first waver and finally submit to every ex-
action If the organic act contains provi-
sions in any wise antagonistic to the prin-
ciple of popular sovereignty Mr.. Buchan-
I an should have recommended the remov-
al of those obstacles by congressional
f amendments, and not held them up as
, lnsurmountabie barriers. Who can doubt
the ability OF Congress to remedy this de-
feat and enable in a constitutional way
the people of Kansas to vote on the whole
constitution MIR. Buchanan went into
the Presidential contest in 1856 and made
the principle of self government which
: implies right to frame just such con-
stitution, and just such laws as they deem
e best adapted to their wants the issue.
: On this issue he triumphed and on it we
/, had reason to expect he would base his
e Kansas policy, Throughout the campaign
! under the supervision Of VIM. f. Packer
: & Co, handbills were circulated, on which
i wasinscribed in large capitals: "Buchanan
:, breckenridge and Free Kansas" 1t was
: stupendious humbug and "made good
: run" as Barnum would express it. 1t is
f 10 vain we lock for an impartial Rd,ninis