Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-07-07
Look upon this Picture and upon
that

that"
no course Of conduct either ON the part
OF individuals or of associations of indi-
yiduals can sink them lower ia the csti-
nation Of the world, than time.serving,
yacilating, and contradictory policy upon
any question, adopted merely for thopur-
pose ofobtoining place, power, or pecuni.
AIRY profit. A more degraded example oi
this kind is rarely witnessed in politics
than the one now presented TO the peo.
pie Of Pennsylvania by the two wings OF
the opposition in this State, who in their
efforts TO effect a fusion are about ignoring
the main principles of Their doctrines, SO
vehemontly promulgated in the cam
paign Of 80 and knocking from under
their feet the only plank in tho plat
form Of that campaign, which furnished
'hem ioothold. This, to say the least
Oft is unkind and ungratcful. But as q
question Of party policy there is still a
much more un.uyorablo light IN which it
cannot but be viewed by all honest men.
iu the Fremon! campaign the doctrine of
popuipr sovereignty as defined in tho Gin.
cinnati platform, was denounced in the
strongest terms by the self STYLED Repub.
lican panty, And an unlimited amount
Of paper, printers ink, and gas, we've ex-
pended by the press and the demagogues
inits service, in endeOvoring to delude the
people into the belief that Congress by
virtue Of the Constitution of the United
States ''has sovereign power over the Ter
Iltories for their government" While the
Republican convention at Philadelphia,
held the l7th juno 1856, which placed
John c. Fremont in nomination for Pre-.
sident, and Wm. L. Dayton for Vice Pre-
sident, and from which tho immortal
Lemucl Todd derived his authority, EN-.
bodied the sentiment of their party on
that issue in the following resolution:
Republican Rtsoires Of the I'm Of June
lso6.-Resolved, That the Constitution
cOnicrs upon Congress sovereign power
over the Territories of the United States
ior their government. and that in their
exercise of this power, it is both the right
and the imperative duty of Congress 10
Proht6h m the territories those twin relies of
barbarism-Polygamy and Slavery.
That we deny the authority Of Congress, of a
territorial Legislature, or of any individ,tol
or association of individuals 10 qive Aqal CO.
sle"ce to slavery in any Territory of the u
St1tas
tion shall be maintained.
Here is plain and unequivocal decla-
ration that Congress has full power under
the Constitution 10 legislate for the terri.
tories, in contradistinction to the doctrine
that all power emenates directly from the
people, and that they alone have the
right to determine what shall be their
own domestic institutions. And especial
ly is this resolution directed to the prohi.
btion in the territories of those twin
relics Of barbarism-- 'polygamy and
slavery This is one picture. But behold
what change has come over the spirit of
the Republican dream in the short space
oi two years. AT a Union meeting Of the
united opposition in Chester county on
the l4th ult., the following among other
resolutions was adopted:
Resolved, That we recognize, assert. and
VIII MAINTAIN, the right Of the people of
every Territory of the United States TO de.
termne for themselves, when prepared to
become State the form and character of
their Constitution, and that every aitempt
on the part of the General Government to
control their choice or prevent in any way
the free enjoyment of that right. is an If.
regular and illegtimate exercise of its au
thoIlty, which deserves TO reprobated, and
ought 10 be resisted by all constitutional
means.
AT another Union" Convention neld
in Montgomery county on the Goth ult.,
asimilar one was adopted as follows. al.
though the NoristownRepuJL-as says there
were many dissenting votes.
Resolved, That we recognize the sacred
ight Of the people of Territory, when
making application for admission as q
state, to form and regulate their own con-
'N''N'lNi "lN laws WITHOUT HnN lntoItCr-
cnce by Congress whatsoever; and any at.
tempt to force upon such people con.
stltuton and laws, in opposition to their
lawfully expressed wishes, deserves and
should receive the severest condemnation.
This is to be the basis of their platform
forthe campaign Of '5S, preparatory to which
State Convention of this "united oppo-
sition' party is to be held at Harrisburg
on the l4th inst, TO nominate candidates
FOR Supreme Judges, Canal Commissioner,
&c; and to devise ways and means to Sc.
cure their election.
This is the other picture. But, what is
not surprising, this somerset is too much
for the inAexible joints Of many Of the
more ultra of the Republicans, and the
abohtionists, much as they have been
drilled "right-obout facing" and cen,
erpl osiaastics within the loss inv wears