The Shasta courier., 1859-10-15


The PLANES: and most simple Interpretation
of the true meaning THAT is, as understood by
the Democracy of the doctrine of popular
sovereignty" or squatter sovereignty,
apparently, few people seek for it, and yet where,
of all places, a Democrat should expect to find
it--that is in the Cincinnati Platform. Here
it is:
Resolped, That we recognize the right of the
people of all the Territories, including Kansas
and Nebraska, acting through the legally and
fairly expressed will of a majority of actual re-
sidents and whenever the number of their in
habitants justihes it to form n Constitution,
with or without domestic slavery, and be admit
ted into the Union upon terms ofperfect eqnali-
ty with the other States.
Here it will be observed that the Democratic
Party of the entire Union, in Convention assem-
bled, declars that the proper time for the peo-
pie of a Territory to pass upon the question of
slavery is, when they come TO form Constitution
preparatory 10 seeking admission into the Lnion.-
OF necessity, then, the Cincinnati Convention
never held that, according to the doctrine of
popular sovereignty" Territorial Legislature
could, by positive enactment, exclude slavery.
Mr.. Douglas never contended Tor sueh an inter
probation in his last canvass. In his famous
Freeport speech, he said that Territorial Leg
islature might, by refusing to pass certain police
regulations, which are necessary to the security
PRODUCTION" of it into the Territory Orr of
South Carolina, Andrew II. Stephens, of Geor-
gia, Gov. Smith, of Virginia, and Brown, of
Mississippi, said the same thing three years ago
By refusing to pass certain police regulations -
by maintaining a - mastery inactivity" upon the
subject-a Territorial Legislature undoubtedly
may make the possession of Shave property so
insecure as to prevent any Shareholder from
taking that sort of property into the Territory
That would be virtually excluding it And
while we believe great wrong would be COM
mit,ed by the Territorial Legislature-while we
believe that in refusing to give the necessary
protection to the peculiar property of the slave
holder, these Legislators would be guilty of
virtual perjury, We are forced to admit that
there is no remedy.
hT DuCudHtH, III MS famous tctter 10 certain
Connecticut Clergymen-and which letter was
endorsed by the Democracy throughout the
land, and pronounced by Forney's Press to be
a master effort ofa great Statesman-laid down
these three propositions
l. Slavery exists in the Territories under the
Constitution of the United States
Q. The Territorial Legislature cannot abolish
a the nnlx ba val ,l,o
people of the Territories when they come to
form State Constitution.
3. These principles having been finally deci-
ded by the Supreme Court in the bred Scott
case, should be maintained in good faith by all
law-abding citizens.
The Dred Scott decision on this point was
this:
"T Congress itself cannot do this (prohibt
slavery in Il Territory ;T 1t is beyond the powers
conferred on the Federal Government, IL aiH be ad-
sitted, zoe presume, that il could not authorise
Territortdt Government 10 exercise them II could
confer no porer on any local Government, esta6-
hshed By us authority TO uioiate the provisions Of
the Constitution.
And if the Constitution recognizes the
right of property of the master in slave, and
makes no distinction between that description
OF property and other property owned by cit
izen, no tribunal, acting under the auth 'rity of
the United States, whether it he Legislature, er-
eeutre otjadiciai, has right TO draw such a dis
tinction or deny TO It the benefit of the propisions
and guarantees rhich hare been prorided for the
protection Of prirGte properly cgainst the en-
erodehssertS i ~ Government"
Thus we perceive the Supreme Court of the
United States has decided that neither Congress
nor Territorial Legislature, mere creature OF
Congress, can abolish slavery in Territory
and that no tribunal =. whether Il be legislative
executive or judicial" has right to refuse to it
the benefit of ample protection They have 10
such right but by violating their oaths to sup
port the constitution of the United States, and
refusing to perform their duty, they can indi-
rectly exert the powsr.
We are aware of the fact that many faithful
and pure Democrats will differ with these views
Let us agree to differ. until the Charleston Con-
'vention settles the question for US. The as
ceudency OF Democratic principles, men, and
measures in this Republic, is of Infinitely great
er importance, than the adoption of either in
terpretation of this popular sovereignty doc
trine.