The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-08-18

Others deprive him of political rights
Ih's he conceives to be a parallel with
the diversity of sentiment among the
Democrats upon the questions indicated
But he formerly admitted that Republic
cans do possess the one principle of op-
position to Slavery extension. He can.
not now deny it. They do not profess
to be all actuated by the same motives
IN this opposition, nor can we see that
this is necessary in establishing a Just
claim to the principle. They profess to
be opposed to the extension of slavery,
and they act unanimously and uniformly
for the curtailment of that Infamous sys-
tem When their acts tend to any other
result, Mr.. HEDGES may accuse them Of
violation of principle, and not before.
But we do Insist that there is no con-
formlty between the profession and prac-
tice of the Democratic party-no uni
form adherence to any principle. In all
questions of governmental policy, differ
ent sections and factions of the party
stand in antagonism to each other, and
no man. can tell when voting with the
party, what doctrines he is helping to
render ascendant. For years past, all
has depended upon the demands Of the
South whatever it asks, the Democratic
party has uniformly granted. Ii has OPP
posed specific tariff duties. AID SO our
FORCES and manufactures have been left
! silent and deserted, while our country is
kept constantly impoverished in order to
pay for foreign goods. 1t has opposed
the granting of the publici lands to actual
settlers, and therefore the Homestead law
has been three times defeated. It. has
demanded a radical change in the policy
of the country towards the slave interest,
and the Democracy have granted it UNI
hesitatingly. All this has been done,
too, in the face of declarations in oppo-
sition by the leaders of the party at the
North. 1t is therefore apparent that. just
so long as the Democratic party remains
in power just so long will the policy of
the government be that of the South, the
most earnest asseveratons of northern
Democratic leaders to the contrary not
withstanding. 1t is at the South that the
strength Of the party lies, and it is that
interest which has and will dictate its
policy. That interest now declares in
favor of Congressional Intervention in
favor of slavery in the territories, and
whatever Northern Democratic leaders
may profess, the demand will be granted
Just SO sure as the party again succeed
to power. They talk much of territorial
sovereignty, but ii is always with the con-
venient reservation "subject to the con-
stitution." The Supreme Court on APP
plication will most surely authorilatively
reiterate the opinion which Democrats
North admit was foreshadowed, in the
bred Scott decision, if not distinctly
avowed, that under the constitution SOW
ereignty does not obtain to the people of
a territory, but that slave property under
the constitution, must be protected on
the public domain. Then the South will
demand the enforcement Of the decision,
and coming in this shape, Northern
Democrats will not be prepared to refuse
congressional action, as Senator BIGLER,
of Pennsylvania, has already given no
tice. 1t therefore makes no difference
what Democratic leaders in the several
Northern States may resolve in reference
to Popular Sovereignty, it is absolutely
certain that the position of the South and
the Admihistration-that slavery ust be
protected in the territories-wil be the
doctrine of the whole g National Democ-
racy" Immediately after the next presi-
dental contest-providing they are sue
cessful-if not previous to it.
This matter is not foreign to our pres
ent State contest. The next Legislature
elects United States Senator. The
Senate has heretofore been the strong |
hold of Slavery, and ina selection of
Of that body, it becomes i'm
portant that we should look at the past
and Judge of the future We think it
proper, then, to discuss this
question of principles now. We have
shown that for free homesteads, for free
labor, the Democracy have ever been un-
reliable. The interests, the instincts Of |
a majority Of the party are against them,
and there is every reason to believe that
however much State conventions may re-
solve in favor of the sovereignty of the
people of a territory, there is a conYe-
nient way "under the constitution for
the leaders still further to strengthen