Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-08-02
THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRACY.

The late address OF the Democratic State Com
mittee Of Pennsylvania, embodies the Consti'
tutional doctrine Of equal protection in the fol.
lowing terms What a rebuke this staunch
loyalty oc the Keystone Democracy administers
to our weak -knccd brethren at the South. The
following is an extract from the address:
I'VE cannot, therefore, subscribe to the lille.
Ultimate assumptions of Squatter Sovereignty.
We are clearly Of opinion that Territory OF
the United States can. in no respect whatever,
be regarded as either foreign or sovereign
State. Nor can it enjoy, by possibility, any po-
tical capacity independent OF, or inconsistent
with, the Government Of tho Union established
by the States, By whose agency they, tic States,
through m expenditure of M.ir treasure, and
it may be their blood have acquired the very
territory in question, as so much public domain,
or common PROPERTY Where let us ask, re-
sides the right of eminent domain over Terri
tory of the United States? Is it not admitted
bv all to be with the Federal Government 2
Where shall we look for the right and power to
ascertain and fix all Territorial boundaries !?
Is it not to the Federal Government? Where
shall we seek the right and power and duty to
dispose of all lands embraced in the Territory !?
The answer is, in the Federal Government.
Where in the Government Of Territory is
lodged the Executive authority: 1t is lodged
in the hands of 4 Federal Governor. Where
is the Judicial power ol Territorial Govern
ment: In the keeping of Federal Judiciary.
Where is the Legislative power? Every
one knows i: did not exist, and that it could
not legally exist. until called into being by the
Federal Congress, in the organic act Of Terri
torial Government. In al these dc,nonstra-
tons of power, and there can be none others
outside of them in 4 Territorial Government,
we behold the direct. positive, and tangible
evidences Of the presence of tie sovereignty Of
the Government Of the United States, excluding
The pretensions Of Squatter or Territorial Lc.is-
lativc Sovereignty. or Popular Sovereignty,
when used as convertible term with these, ~
being alike untcnable in fact and prcpostcrors
in logic"
The ADDRESS goes Oh 70 say
I'VE are opposed however, to the introduc-
ton OF any provision particularly protecting
Slave or any other kind of property, into AN
uct organizing Territorial Government But
# Territory attempt nulliicaton, or rebellion,
in the shape Of resistance to acts oi Congress,
or to judicial decisions in their proper logical and
legal consequences, OF 10 ANY othci leSit'ii"'t
acts done in and by virtue OF the constitutional
authority Of the United States over the same
then the Federal Government should Mt once
in,cryose and put it down."
This resolution distinctly represents the
marked difference between the revolutionary
efforts Of the first sguattcrs in new Territory
to abolish negro slavery. or to prevent the In
PRODUCTION Of slave property into the Territory
10y the incompetent ascnry "i Territorial
Legislature. and the CONSTRUCTIONS! aud quiet
exercise of lhciights of sovereignty hy the peo
Ole Of Territory, in the formation Of State
Constitution with or without domestic slavery,
a, the; uay determine. in the meantime, the
citize,S Of each and every State, being in all
respects equal with each other under the Con-
stituticn, take their various kinds of property
into the Territory with them: and while in
Territorial condition they and their property
are all equally protected by the Constitution OF
the United States and the Dred Scott decision.
We thus stand on the sure foundation OF the
Constitution and the law, which stcrnly and
Justly deny the arbitrary po"er ef one "t q
settlers 10 eo4t;seate tie property et a"othr