Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-05
Squat.er Sovereignty.

In some remarks made IN the House upon
the Message Of Prcsidcn, Pierce. during the
last session Of the 3ith Cungrcss, We advert.
ed to the position occupied by the black de-
mocr,cy on the question of squa,ter sovcr.
eighty. We though, we then saw the inev.
iuablc downward tendency Of the black de.
mocncy upon this question, and that they
would finally abandon all their former pro-
LESSONS Of honesty and rrpuiate the whole
doctrine; and We submit 10 the caninr Of
our readers, II the concluding potion Of the
following extract irnm our remarks (Jan.
%. 1851 does not predict a state Of thing.
now actually existing:
The President. in his hlorel argument
~ h,vur of the repeal OF the Missouri re.
suiriiun. SAYS
Congress lc:islatrd upon the slhj'ci in
such trrms as wrrr most cu-,nani with the
principle ~ popular sovereignty which I'M
drflits uur ubv,rumcnt
All then Substantially avers that the
people approve! thc rp-,l aud adopted the
riuciplc ruls,di,l IN the KanSts-Nrhraska
bali IN TIE recent presidential vlccIiun.
:, Car irom this bring true, the Demo.
cratic party has ~ settlci opinion o.. o. the
cN,sut " limitation "i the principle u
,qHaiirr sNr isuty; and IL. leading mem.
b.r. are TODAY at l'.g rh,,is al over tho
,.,uuity ~ o. what the ~'rit,n IN the ~
tr,,s, bill m~ms Sluaitrr sovereignty
NHrgl d, ugr thing. aad equalizer .uy'resu'y
S1ptl !, guit" an'titr. aud they tr'-, uia-
never can o. made O. hlIinouitr.
Democracy S,ulh denies that Congress.
under the Constitution, has any power u
l-.,.late upon the subject uf slavery in the
Territories. AMI consequently cannot dele.
gate power it dles Mt itself p1ssrss % the
people of a Territory.
Democracy North admits that Congress
has thi. power, that IL can confer 70 upon
the people of a Territory. and that they
through their local Legislature can exercise
It.
In the controversy now going on between
upon this question, the Democracy North
admit away their whole case. They admit
the power onn,ended for by the Republl.
cans and the uuly remaining question BE-
TWEEN them Is one OF rIvrdicncy, whether IL
shall be cIerris',i hy Congress ~ transfer.
r,d 10 the people IT the Tcrritri--.
Bot Democracy Snuth lays dawn the doc.
iriuc that the Constitution. pruprig rigors.
carri-s slavery into the Territories Their
Ts-itlun 3. simply thu, that the Constiiu.
tion up"rst-s t. pSoi,f and sgaiss slavery
m ail the Territories during their ,riole icr.
rilriai crWssos, and that the pcnplc are not
uuly without power. hutarc absolutely Pre-.
vented hy the Constitution from lrgl.latng,
~ uthcrwi.' Protecting thrmsrlvr, against
IT, introduction ~ existence. Every intel
lls-nt man knows the " domestic ILstitu.
tiuu. ~ Territory are formed long before
thr time when they form a ~ou-tituiiIn pre-.
piratury o. admission ~ u State. Hence
Ihr people ul Territory. instead II being
lrlt perfectly FREE" have the Institution
ul slavery forrsd upon them. with M power
on their part. O. resist. until IL j. tro late
% make resistance of any practical benefit.
N"rthern Democrats prcach "squaticr
sovereignty With nappaNnts show Of fair
ness southern Democrats bold up the
shadow. hut scout az the substance. There
). one thing certain. this miserable humbug
has bad its day Tho dclu,iun las BEEN
praetIerd upon the people In the frcc States
Tor the last time. Northern Democrats will
hereafter D. compelled by tie Sruih totally
and unquali6rdly u ah,ndou the doctrine
of popular -'Vsrcignty -thci: only practical
weapon of defense ~ the free States. Thy
,riH yi'H, as iA,y alray' hare done. and this
surrender ill be- an cni uf the old Demo
cratic party in every FIRE State IA the Union.