Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-26
Eon-Iutervention.

Tie politicians who assume tie leadership in
the Democratic party are putting their heads
together all over the country, and endeavoring
to barmonize their little differences in such a
way as to be able to elect President in 1860,
and with that victory get the spells and plumber
of another four years of Democratic msrule.
Of course, these leaders have long ago d;scoy.
cred that their case IS utterly hopeless, unless
the Northern and Southern wings Of the party
can come to some common ground, on which
each without too much sacrifice of consistency
can stand upon the question of Popular
Sovereignty. That ground would seem now to
b. reached. it is simply this; No Congress
;,,ooi interference with Slavery in the Terrific
rios The other branch of the original Squatter
sovoroionty clause in the Kansas Nebraska act,
which left the power to regulate and exclude
the Domestic Institution to the people OF the
Territories, is to be ignored at the North, and
at the South utterly secuted. Supreme
Court IRE to be called to the rescue as soon as
the people of the Territory shall enact laws
prohibiting Slavery, and are expected to decide,
following out the reasoning Of the bred Scott
Scott ease, that any Territorial law that ex-
cludcs Slavery is Unconstitutional. This is a
very pretty scheme, and turns the Supreme
Court to some use, Gs support OF the lnstltu-
ton Of Slavery position for which they have
had itching fingers for some time. There seems
b ~ he l4nssyss Zach doubt that Douglas will
be recone " ii such a platform as this, if it be
not in fact tIsezact reflection Of his views. 1t
is precisely identical with his positions, as sta
ted in his sreech in the Senate during the win
ter. to whicb we called attention at the time.
I The Constitution, Mr.. Buchanans new organ
ut Washington, thus authoritatively enanci ties
this doctrine
awe STAN by the Cincinnati Platform--all
true Democlg Is willard that proclaims non
Interference oy Congress with Slavery IN the
States. in Il Territories, or in the DISCREET OF
Columbia. We stand by the bred Scot decls-
ion of the 5 preme Court, which secures to the
people Of ii States the right to emlgrate to,
and remain in any Territory of the United
States with the property they may have held IN
any of the States We, therefore, are forced TO
saythe Constitution inhibfs the several territori-
rial ley,sialureS from abOhShing property IN
s'aues and the same prohibition dpphes 10 me
PEOPLE OF territory till they come to FORM a
Constitution preparatory to mar admission 'Hto
this Union We are willing to trust the peo-
pie of a Territory to protect III their people in
the enjoyment Of all their rights; and, when
unfriendly legislation is attempted, II such an
attempt Is ever made, we are willing to trust
the Judiciary to correct it,"
And Che Constitution calls this Popular Sow
ereignty Ttneeis no gift of prophecy to scetbat
the candidate Of the next Democratic Nationa
Convention will be compelled to stand upon a
platform Substantially like what is above quoted;
though fer the purpose of deludng some simple
men at, tic North who want to be Democrats
if they can, it may not be so broadly stated
| But to Southern mind that is Just the long
and the short of the doctrine of Non-lnterven-
ton, and the only Interpretation of it that they
will abide by minute. ana tney woulu not NC
content,with that, if they did not know thai
no law protecting Slavery in the Territories can
be driven through Congress for years to come
And this is what the stump speech in the
belly of the Nebraska act has amounted to-
This is Populas Sovereignty This is Non In
tervention. 1t was judicious in the Constitution
to preface its article in this wise;
alt is essential to the intelligent discussion Of
any question that the precise signihcation OF the
phrases employed should be clearly and accu-
rately defined"
Certainly there is nothing more valuable than
dictionary, and from this specimen brick OF a
new Democratic lexicon, we are led to expect
great things from the balance of the work when
issued.