The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-05-25
Popular Sovereignty VS.. Squatter Sow
ereignty

Il j. essential to the intelligent discussion Of any
question that the precise sgnlhcu"n 81 the phrases
ami M, hopeless confusion Of ideas exhibited in the
illusions of many of oTr cutemporarles upon the
l,adIng political topic If the day furnishes CON
-pIcuuu~ illustration Of this automatic truth. We
Will not DO uGr opponents the injustice Of assuming
that this confusion Of the phrases We have prehKed
20 article D. thr result Of lack 81 dlscrlmina-
ton. On the contrary. as the doctrine Of popular
sovereignty" rightly Undcrto0d. must necessarily
prove ~ popular as thht 81 -'ilgter sovereignty
i odou- from IT. unconsttuuonality, the ofthe
two phrases Unfortunately argues rather adTOit
ness, useful enough to those whose principles will
not bear analysis.
Brt j. there any foundation for assuming the con
yrrtibltv If these teTmSf And u il fair TO charge
thar one i an adyot Of "quatter sovereignty be-
cause he has gwen lu his adhesion to the doctrine
Of popular -ovcr-igntyg7 We think not. Popular
soytr, guty and squ8tcr sovereignty are doctrines
only distinct. Gut aut5Eoni-yc. and the dstinc
uon l. 50 clear, the autaZpnsm 50 palQable that he
show
Mr. buchanan. in his letter Of acceptance and in
his Inaugural Address, has furnished the cearest
possible definition 81 popular sovereignty. In ms
letter of acceptance ne says: The people Of Ter
rtory like those Of STATE. shall decide for them
selves whether slavery shall or shall not exist IN
their limits" and IN his Inaugural he SAYS: ~ diff
erence Of opinion has arisen ~ 70 the point Of time
when the people 81 territory shan decide tins ques-
ton for themselves. This is happily Of ba5 little
practical Importance. Though
! il has ever been my individual opinion, that under
the Nebraska Kansas act the appropriate period viii
ho when the number If actual residents in the terri
tory shall Justify the formation of constitution it'll
| q view 70 is admission state into the Union ="
This l. popular sovereignty IA the territories. 1t rec
o-nises the exercise by territorial legislature 81
every power consistent With the provisions of the
constitution lutt does not recognise the exercise 81
amy power inconsistent with the rights "t the people
of the states. ia whom resides the ultimate sovereign
| ~ over as vel - the ownership o. all the common
! territory Of the United State.
Nguatter sovereignty. on the contrary, recognises
the night Of those men whatever may be their num-
Der VINO may have sluartad nu the public domain m
advance Of the public -UrV ov~ and without the own
er~hp Il one acre @. the soil % elect Legislature
which shall undertake prohibit slavery within 81
territory, and thus practically deprive nearly half OF
the partners Ia this cuufderacy Of States, Of the
right Of cmgrating with their property t. sEy por-
tiun Of their vast and extended domain. Ia other
words tins sduatter sovereignty confel- on the first
settlers Of territory absolute and unlimited power
! over the property rights Of al future Immigrants
Thus understanding the matter, we proclaim, un-
hCSitatingy, that, while we shall ever advocate popu-
lar sovereignty, will wage eternal squat
ter sovereignty. While the one doctrine Is Just. CON
stitutionsl and in conformity with the spirit Of our
| institutions, the other Is UNJUST unconstitutional
| and IN violation Of the equality Of the States. The
one j. ihe doctrine 81 ihg democratic party; the
other j. the doctrine Of the dlsorganznrs and briters
who seek to divide and destroy the democratic party,
and with it the Union.
II was in pursuing this tram Of thought we were led
! into an expression which has been perverted to
mean thc very opposite Of our intentions We said
| few days ago: lhe principles eInbl3zoncd on the
| democratic banner are. -nou-nteryention, b Con-
greSs by territorial legislatures either To establish
or prohibit slavery in the territories and the protec
toa of slave property therein, long the terrific
rial condition shall remain 10y the Judiciary, under
Jhc constitution of the United StsTe-." The plain
fore should not. attempt to establish prohibit slave
~ IN any territory. and that the territorial legislature
| deriving allItS powers OF legislation from Congress
cannot and should not attempt TO establish or pro
! hbt slavery in the territories But. since the con
-;itution Of tine United States protects III Gifts people
| m the enjoyment 81 "i Nelr rights 81 property
| whenever they may hp found in territory common
10 al the States protection TO that property duty
Of those invested with the power cf local legislation
and II Is the duty Of the Judiciary aside any
frsity legislation which Is calculated 70 destroy
| impair any right Of property We consider these
1 self X 60 IA soma
quarters that the people Of the Northern States vii
not sustain TINS Interpretation Of the powers Of q
people an territory. II this be true. tWich lrit
Morn bstCus the people Of the Northern States are
ready 10 set aside the constitution. destroy the equal
~ o tho states, and present to their brethren Of the
south the alternative Of submission % dshunog. :"
the yndcatiou Of their rights over the ruins OF the
| constitutional Union which they have long cher
I~hrt - a priceless heritage, And Il may he E->uIh
ed - certain. mat no people trained 10 seligoyern
ment amt vtluinE liberty above sll other things. vii
continue {" consider themselves bound by com
/ pSct when perverted 10y mere numerical majority
their partners into an ntrument Of oppression and
wrong.
We stand by the Cincinnati platform-al tru,
democrats willard that procsim- uon-intcrferenct
by Congress with slavery m the states. IN the terri
tories. IN tho District of Columbia. We stand hy
tho bred scott 'i>on Of the supreme Court. whici
secures t" the people Of the states the right /" ,ml
CRATE %, and remain M Gny territory OF the United
States It'll tLr property they may have held in any
/ o. the STATES We, therefore, are forced say tn
constitution inhibte the several territorial leglsl9
lures rom aholslhhg property IA slaves and ih'
same prohibition applies 10 the j..3pI, Of a TERRITORY
till they come To form constitution preparatory L
! their adHl~Sion mt" tins uluu. "" are willing @
trust tho people OF territory protect ~ their PEG
pie IN the enjoyment of ~ their rights. and whcl
| mtneudly legislation !. attempted. If such atemp
l. ever H,de, We ere willing 90 trust the Judiciary Il
/ correct It.
The territory of Kansas furnishes the hest cyl
dcncc of the iudl~po>fun Of any people to do man
| fest wrong to the individuals who compose 10. |
ever the passions ola community have been thorough
! ~ aroused ami the antslaNcrN feeling fretged int
absolute madness anywhere, il Wa IA Kansas; "
her legislature resisted a the appeals II INTERESTED