Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-02
The Tennessee Democracy and Squat
ter Sovereignty.

The Union and american, of the 26th ult.,
referring to the Hon. GEORGE W. JONES, of this
State, said:
''Mr. Jones has been in Congress for eigh-
teen years, and during all that time he has
done no act, he has given no vote, he has
uttered no sentiment in conflict with the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party"
Mr.. JONES in a speech in the House of
Representatives, on the 2Sth of December,
1855, said:
In his opinion the Kansas Nebraska act
recognized the full force and power, in all its
vigor, of the right of the people of the Tern
ries to legislate over the subject [of slavery
prior to their organization as a state govern
ment, as fully and completely as was recog-
nized the power of the people of the States
over the subject of all domestic questions not
delegated to the Government; and in has
opinion. they and they alone should exercise
il. rell ,pliie an territorial condition as in
State Government"
This is the squatter sovereignty doctrine in
all its length and breadth, and so clearly
enunciated that il is impossible for any mind
of ordinary intelligence to mistake the mean
ng of the speaker.
II, therefore, as il has been thus positively
and unqualiiedly affirmed by the Union and
Amenca1, Mr.. JONES, during his long Con-
gressional career, uttered no sentiment in
conflict with the principles of the Democratic
party" and if the principles of the Dem
ocratic party be the principles of the Demo-
ccacy of Tennessee, 1t follows necessarily
that with the principles of the Tennessee
Democracy the principle of squatter sover-
eighty in nowise conflicts, and, consequently,
that the maintenance OF that principle by
the ID, mocratic candidate for the next Pres
dency will constitute not the slightest OBJ
stacle to his receiving q cordial and united
support from the Democracy of Tennesseel
So much in truth, might have been inferred
from the fact that, after Mr.. JONES had boldly
and unequivocally announced his mainten-
ance of the squatter sovereignty principle, he
continued in full fellowship with his party In
this State. and in the enjoyment of its undi-
mnished confidence. Having found no fault
with Mr.. JuNEs for his maintenance of the
doctrine of squatter sovereignty, they can
surely find none with Mr.. DoUGLAs or any
other Northern Democrat for maintaining IL.
1t is worthy of note. too. in this connection,
that in the platform adopted by the Demo
cratic State Convention on the 18th instant.
there is a resolution ON the subject Of
slavery which, as we understand IL, shows
that the party in this State side with Doua-
LAS in the issue made up between him aud
the Southern Democratic Senators in the
Senate on the Esd OF February. The resolu-
ton, as We remarked on n former OCCASION
was manifestly worded in view OF that issue,
and in such manner as TO evince deter
minations on the part of the Democracy Of
Tennessee not to countenance the views OF
Senator's MASON, HUNTER, BRowS, DAVIS,
CLAY and BENJAMIN, which are the views OF
the Democracy of the South proper, but
rather the views of DoUGLAs, PUaH and SruARr
who, On the occasion referred to, unquestiona-
bly, represented the sentiments and opinions
of the Northeru Democracy.
Such course on the part OF the Tennessee
Democracy shoald occasion no surprise al
home, in view Of the sqaat:ersoyereigu
aniec dents o. both Of their Senatorial lead.
ers. Me-srr yoHSsoS aud NIcnoLsox.