The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-11
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY NOVEMBER IL

and supporters, it is not the fault of those
who did understand it precisely as 1 inter-
preted it at Freeport, and as the country
understood it in the Presidential canvass of
1856. Mr.. Buchanan, and leading members
of his Cabinet, at all events, understood the
Kansas ebraska act in the same sense in
which it was understood and defended at
the time of its passage. Mr.. Buchanan, in
bis letter accepting the Cincinnati nomina-
ton, affirmed that "legislation is founded
upon principles as ancient as free govern
ment itself, and in accordance with them
has simply declared that the people of
Territory, like those of a State, stall decide
achether Slavery shall or not srist within their
limits" Gen. Cass, now Secretary of State,
has always sustained, from the day he
penned the "Nicholson letter" to this, that
the people of the Territories have right to
decide the Slavery question for themselves,
whenever they please. In 1856, on the I'd
day of July, referring to the Kansas.Ne-
braska act, he said II believe the original
act gave the Territorial Legislature of Kan
sas full power to exclude or allow Slavery"
Mr.. Toucey, the Secretary Of the Navy,
interpreted the act in the same way, and on
the same occasion in the Senate, said: "The
original act recognizes in the Territorial
Legislature all the power which they can
have, subject to the Constitution, and sub
ject to the organic law of the Territory"
Mr.. Cobb, the Secretary of the Treasury, in
speech at West Chester, Pennsylvania, on
the 10Th of September, 1856, advocating
Mr.. Buchanan's election to the Presidency,
said : "The Government of the United
States should not force the institution of
Slavery upon the people either of the Ter
ritories or of the States, against the will of
the people, though my voice could bring
about that result. I stand upon the princi-
pile; the people of my State decide it for
themselves, you for yourselves, the people of
Kansas for themselves. Thatis the Consti-
tuition, and I stand by the Constitution" ?"
And, again; in the same speech he said !:
Whether they" (the people of Territory
''decide it by prohibiting it, according to
the one doctrine, or by refusing to pass laws
to protect it, as contended for by the other
party, is immaterial. The majority of the
people by the action of the Territol ial Leg
islature will decide the question and all
must abide the decision when made"
Here we find the doctrines of the Freeport
speech, including "n non action" and Gun
friendly legislation" as lawful and proper
mode for the exclusion of Slavery from a
Territory, clearly defined by Mr.. Cobb, and
the election of Mr.. Buchanan advocated on
those Identical doctrines. Mr.. Cobb made
similar speeches during the Presidential
canvass in other portions of Pennsylvania,
in Maine. Indiana and most of the Northern
States, and was appointed Secretary of the
Treasury by Mr.. Buchanan, as a mark OF
gratitude for the efficient services which had
been thus rendered. Will any Senator who
voted to remove me from the Craftsmanship
of the Territorial Committee, for expressing
opinions for which Mr.. Cobb, Mr.. Toucey
and Gen. Cass were rewarded, pretend that be
did not know that they, or either of them,
had uttered such opinions when their nomi.
nations were before the Senate? am sure
no Senator will make so humiliating con.
fession. Why then were those distinguished
gentlemen appointed by the President, and
confirmed by the Senate as Cabinet Ministers
if they were not good Democrats-soundo on
the Slavery question, and faithful exponents
of the principles and creed of the party? Is
it not significant fact that the President
and the most distinguished and honored of
his cabinet should have been solemnly and
irrevocabiy pledgedlto this monstrous heresy
of Popular Sovereignty" for asserting
which the Senate, by Mr.. Gwin's frank
avowal, condemned me to the extent of their
power?
1t must lie borne in mind, however, that
the President and members of the Cabinet
are not the only persons high in authority
who are committed to the principle of self
government in the Territories. The Hon.
John G. Breckenridge, the Vice President
OF the United States, was member of the
House Of Representatives when the Kansas
Nebraska bill passed, and in speech deliv-
cred March %, 1854, said
Among the many misrepresentation sent
to the country by some of the enemies of this
bill, perhaps none is more fragrant than the
charge that it proposes to legislate slavery into
Kansas and Nebraska. Sir, if the bill contained
such feature. it would not receive my vote.
The right to establish involves the cOrrelative
right to prohibit and denying both, l would
vote for neither. The effect of the repeal
(0f tne missouri COmpromlse) therefore, IS nell
ther to establish nor to exclude, but to leave
the future condition of the Territories depend
ent wholly upon the action of the inhabitants.
subject only to such limitations as the Federal
Constitution may impose. 1t will be OBJ
served that the right of the people to regulate
in their own way ALL their domestic institu-
tions is left wholly untouched, except whatever
is done must be done in accordance with the
Constitution, the supreme law for us ALL"
Again, at Lexington, KY, on the 9th of
June, 1856, in response to the congratula
tions OF his neighbors on his nomination for
the Vice Presidency, Mr.. Breckenridge said:
"Tne whole power of the Democratic orga-
nization is pledged to the following PROPOSE
tions That Congress shall not interpose upon
this subject slavery in the States, in the Ter.
ritories or in the District of Columbia that the
people of each Territory shall determine the
question for themselves, and be admitted into
the Union upon footing of perfect equality