Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-04
DOUGLAS AND HIS PARTY,

tainly needs reorganization. Therefore it is
not surprising that some Of its many accom-
plished politicians are just now trying to i'm
prove its condition. The party, it appears, has
broken its back, and well nigh made complete
wreck of itself on the slavery question. 1t has
IT ar overdone its devotion to the slave power.
The fire caters have been too fast and reckless
and they are nowise likely to moderate their
zeal. Under these circumstances, can the par
ty be restored to harmony, efficiency, and suf-
ficient popularity to retain control of the gov
eminent? This is the question now under
consideration at Washington and elsewhere.
Washington letter-writers 1.-THE gentlemen
who say SO much and know so Iittle,)
report that a council of the party, in session
there, have settled this question in the affirm
alive. A plan has been devised and a new
platform plank constructed. by means ofwhich
all the Earring elements of the party are to be
charmed into the most musical concord. The
new platform plank is as follows;-"The South
is to drop the demand for Congressional legis-
lation to protect slavery in the territories, and
Douglas is to drop his demand for popular
sovereignty, both sides agreeing that slavery
has rightful existence in the territories I'M
der the bred Scott decision, and is entitled to
the protecting supervision of the Supreme
Court" This, of course, must be treated as
rumor until we have more satisfactory evil
dence of its truth. But there is a significant
modification of the tone of the Washington
Union, (now called the Constitution,) which
affords some confirmation of the rumor.
Last Saturday, that paper had carefully
written editorial, headed, Popular Sovereign
ty VS.. Squatter Sovereignty" which came out
with the tone of manifesto. There was a
pretense that its previous language had been
Inexperienced, with an explanation denounc-
ing "Squatter Sovereignty" and claiming
Popular Sovereignty as an appellation very
suitable to its own views, which were stated as
follows =
Congress cannot, and therefore should not
attempt to establish or prohibit slavery in any
Territory; and the Territorial Legislature, de-
irving all its powers of legislation from Con-
gress, cannot, and should not attempt to es-
tablish or prohibit slavery in the Territories
But since the Constitution of the United States
their rights of property, whenever they may
be found in Territory common to all the
States, protection to that property is duty of
those invested with the power of local legsla-
ton, and it is the duty of the Judiciary to set
aside any unfrfeadty legislation which is calcu-
lated to destroy or impair any right of prop
erty" X
1--WE, therefore, are forced to say the Con-
stitution nhibits the several territorial legsla-
holt bi IN,
the same prohibition applies to the PEOPLE of
territory till they come to form constitution
preparatory to their admission into this Union"
The journal which says this is the leading
organ of the Buchanan Democracy and here
tofore the strict Buchanan men have maintain
ed, against Douglas, that it is the right and
duty of Congress to protect slavery in the ter
ritories by direct legislation. The Constitution
newspaper now drops this point, and turns
over to the Judiciary the business of protecting
slavery in the territories. Will Douglas drop
squatter sovereignty, and agree that neither
the legislature nor the people of territory
have right to oppose the introduction of sla-
very among them Not without betraying
the hope he has awakened among the more
weak in the North for any purpose of his polit-
ical ambition.
Thus we see that the foremost thing in the
Democratic party, and, in fact, the only thing,
is the slavery question 1t is well agreed on
all sides that slavery must be king, and that
slavery extension must be helped and protect
ed; the only question in dispute is, how fast,
and how openly, shall the party go in that di-
rection. The fre-eaters would unfurl the
BLACKLIST banner and nail it to mast; they
would march openly and employ the whole
force of the government to spread slavery
They would scruple at nothing. Others are
quite willing to go as far as they but
urge prudently that it will not do to
proclaim their purposes on the house tops
and swear at the whole civilized world
with such power of lungs. No expedients,
however, are likely TO avail. The atrocous
proceedings in Kansas, together with these no
less atrocious doctrines to give slavery despot-
&c authority in the Republic are forcing this
question to its final issue. This party which
has ruled so long, and, for some years past, SO
little to its credit, is near its downfall
Quiet gentlemen, who love pleasant wealth
er and abhor all disturbance, try to ignore
this slavery question. But they cannot sue
coed. Reason and conscience cannot quit the
world and leave great wrong to attack and
destroy unchallenged whatever may be I'M
friendly to its supremacy. If slavery had
not for years sought to make itself national;
if it had not, in pursuit Of this aim used all its
power to crush out its oppressors, degrade
Northern statesmen, outlaw Republican prin-
ciples, debauch the Judiciary, and transform
the general government into its plant crea-
ture, this question would not now be the
plague of our national politics. 1t is forced
upon us and this battle between light and
darkness must be fought out. The question
cannot be postponed to another age. 1t be-
longs to our time and must be settled by the
men of this generation.
The Horticulturist for May, containing a
goodly amount Of matter useful and interest
ing to the amateur practical gardener and