Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-09-07

OF the Constitution of the United States" and that
kansas is, therefore, at this moment as much a
slave State as Georgia or South Carolina" He asks
it this is true, "why does it not exist in Pensylva
MIA by virtue of the same Constitution p The an
swer is plain. 1t does not exist in Pennsylvania,
simply because Pennsylvania has not established it;
it did exist at the time in Kansas, and Kansas was
"as much slave State as Georgia or South Carroll
na," because Kansas had established the institution
by her Lecompton Constitution That was what
the President meant. He told Congress that slave
~ existed in Kansas before she framed her Const-
tuition at Lecompton, because by the repeal of the
Missouri restriction and under the Dred Scott deci-
sion, Shareholders had been permitted to carry their
slaves thither; and that Kansas was then as "much
slave State as Georgia outhCarolina," because
her people had so declared in State Convention.
Mr.. Douglas also quotes from Mr.. Buchanans let
ter of acceptance the following sentence among 9TH
ers, and endeavors to make it cover his squatter
sovereignty doctrine: "This legislation is founded
upon principles ancient free government ITSELF
and in accordance with them has simply declared,
that the people of Territory, like those of State
shall decide for themselves whether slavery shall
shall not exist within their limits" Mr.. Buchanan
here speaks not of the inhabitants, but of the peo
pie of a Territory. 1.-The people Of Territory,
like those Of u ,Stnte," &c. What does that mean?
Why, the people of the States even cannot cstab
sh or prohibit slavery by their Legislatures. They
can do it only In Conrention where the power re-
sides, and alone resides to create and abolish prop
crty Mr.. Buchanans meaning, therefore, was that
1.-The people of Territory, like those of State"
in Convention assembled, should have the power to
decide this question for themselves. But to render
this view Of his meaning perfectly clear, quote
follows from his Sanford letter. In that letter he
said: "In my letter to Berks County, of 25th Au-
gust, 1857, | had said under the Missouri compro-
mise slavery was fovever prohibited north of 36 de-
grces, 80 minutes, and south of this parallel the
question was left to be decided by the people
What people' Undoubtedly the people Of the Ter
ritory assembled in Conrention to form State Con-
stitution uad ask admission into the Union and
not the first adrenture,s or first comers cho might
happen to arrire in the Terrtory assembled in pub
lie meetings."
There is a resolution in the national Democratic
! platform, which Mr.. Douglas never quotes. We do
not find it in this recent essay nor do We remcm-
Der to have it referred to by him in any of his
speeches delivered during the last year two. 1t
is as follows:
-. 1er-uerrrr rrCugn1Ze the right OF the
people of all the Territories including Kansas and
Nebraska, acting through the legally and fairly ex
pressed will of majority of actual residents, and
whenever the number of their inhabitants justifes
! it. to form Constitution, with or without domestic
slavery, and he admitted into the Union upon terms
of ity fho oth
! This resolution embodics the doctrine of popular
! sovereignty as against the Wilmot Proviso. We
were satisfied with it in 1856, and we arc satisfied
. with it now. There is no squatter-no Territorial
sovereignty in it. By the clearcst implication it
, torbids the people of the Territories to interfere
with the rights of Shareholders until, by permission
of Congress- they assemble in Convention to form a
. State Constitution. Their action in calling Con-
vention must be legal-that is, under law of Con-
gress, called "enabling" act; it must be fair,
that majority of the people may be heard; it
must be final because it is sovereign act; and the
Convention in order to arrive at Just and fair de-
cision so far as slavery is concerned must not have
been forcstalled or prcjudged by unfriendly" le-
gislation or by non-acon with reference to slave
to the Territory Just as well guarded and protected
as other institutions i'll relation to which it has been
called TO act. Any other construction would rem
der the action of the Convention on the slavery
question the vericst mockery. "Unfriendly" ac
ton non-action while in Territorial condition,
would III all probability, leave the Convention but
one course to adopt and that would be to form a
Constitution "Without" slavery
We have thus rapidly and somewhat hurriedy
glanced at the leading arguments and positions o
Judge Douglas; arguments and PORTIONS, some Of
which are new to the Southern Democracy, and
which we believe will not receive the approval o
thu Convention at Charleston. The Wilmot Pro
vso, Territorial sovereignty, and intervention by
Congress to protect slavery in the Territories,
all, but not equally, Objectionable. The Wilmo
Proviso proposes to prohibit slavery in the Terrific
ries by act of Congress. That is the Seward doc
trine. Territorial sovereignty proposes to exclude
or prohibit slavery by the Territorial Legislatures
That appears to be the Douglas doctrine. Inter
vention means that Congress shall nterpose to pro
tect slavery in the Territories. That is the Wis,
doctrine. We are opposed to all of Them If tn.
Constitution and the Supreme Court, both being ii
our favor, cannot command for shareholders fail
hearing, and fair trial of their species of labor II
the common Territories, Congress cannot; and i
Congress could, it would not. 1t is idle to ask fo
Congressional protection. twill never be granted
1t is also idle to ask for it. if do so for the pur
pose of making point on which to stake the exist
ence of the Union, for the people will sustain nj
movement looking to dissolution on such point a.
that If the Constitution and the Supreme Cour
cannot protect our property in the common Terrific
res, then might makes right, and the government
has failed to answer one of the great purposes fo
which it was established.
The "opposition" in this State and elsewhere il
the South, are estopped from saying one word il
condemnation Of the doctrines of Senator Douglas
| Tho Comard dootr;no of tho Wilnot pror;so u,o