The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-10-05
,YaIIEd NUMBER 30
have existed prior to the aQt. .pf iihe sixth

tdDIiSuluS, VI aaoo iSutpS iasSty.
In this form,J and ritk ;this distinct
understanding Of its a"e.gus! iptsns lsnd
meaning y the bill passed the two houses
of Congress, and became 7theghw of the
land by the approval Of the uRrsaiSsnt.
May 80, ls54.o qsa:rsIzar
InI856, the Democratirl party, as
sembled in National Couveptlonoiss tn-
cinnati, declared by q unanimous vote o.
the delegates from every. State in the
Union. that v.upso aiiLnE1g "a
"The American Democracy recognize
and adopt the principle contained ia the
organic laws establishing the TERRITORIES
of Kansas and Nebraska as rembodying
the only sound and safe solution of the
slavery question: upon which the E9tsat
national idea of the people Of this whole
country can repose in itsO 'deterhiined
conservatism of the e, Union-non- Inter.
vention by Congress with slavery in State
and Territory, or 10 the nistrict2of Co.
lumbia;n rr,e,btF q 9qvFkJ
"That this was the basis of-the Com.
promises of 1850, confirmed. by, both 1.-THE
Democratic and Whig parties in Nation.
al Conventions ratified BY the people in
the election Of 1862 -snd rightly applied
to the organization Of the Territories in
1854; that by the uniform application Of
this Democratic rpri9cip ITO the organi-
cation of Territories and to uthe admis-
sion of New States with orFithost slavery
as they may elect, the equal rights of all
will be preserved intact T,hsSiginal com.
pacts of the Constitution maintained
inviolateTand the perpetuityr and ex-
pansion. of this Union insured to its
utmost capacity of embracing in peace
and harmony. any future American
State that may be constituted Or annexed
with Republican form of government
In accepting the nomination OF t6is
Convention, Mr.. Buchanan, in rsilestes
dated June l6, 1856, said: e"i 'ah-'AHA
"'The agitation n the question Of do
nestle slavery has too long distracted lha
civided the people of this Union. and
alienated their affections frUm each other.
The agitation has assumed many fdtms
since its commencement, but it pow ssenab
to be directed chiefly to the Territories
and Judging from Its present character,
think we may safely anticipate that It Z
rapidly approaching q 'hnality.T The re-
cent legislation of Congress respecting
domesticI slavery, derived, oas 1t has bssdt
from. the original and pure, fesptaiBse
legitimate political power. the, will off, ) tbe
majority, promises ere long, to ,allay Tho
dangerous excitement. Q The legislation u
founded upon principle ss ancient as free
government itself: and Id accofdancS Ewath
them has simply declared that the people
of Territory, like those of State, sks8
decide for themselves s0hether slavery shall
or shall not .erist sOithin their Emitss,s,s
This exposition of the history Of; these
measures shows conclusively that the, an
thors 9of the Compromise Measures Of
1850, and of the Kansas. N ebraska Aes'
of 1854, as well as.the members of the
! Continental. Congressoih laf4giahdE Eshe
founders Of ,our system of government,
I subsequent to the Revolution. regarded
the people of the Territories and Colonieg
4 as political Communities which were en-
4 titled tos free and exclusive power of
A legislatiohin ia their Provincial legislatures,
where their representation could alone Be-
preserved, in allcases0of taxation q and ins
ternal ,polity, This right pertains to thas
people collectively as q law. abiding and
peaceful community, and not 70 the iso-
lated individuals who may wsnder upon
the public domain in violation Of law. Il
can only be exercised where there are fn,
habitarts sufficient to constitute O. governs
ment, and capable Of performing its yar.
ious fusctions land fiutiesAs fact to bsaS-
certained and adeterminedi by Congress.
Whether the number shall be 6xedostte6,
fifteen, or twenty thousand inhabitants
does not affect the principle, .ao. aid, :,
4 The principle, under our political sys,
, tenn, is that every distinct pohihcdl C6mmss.
nifty, loyal to the Concentrations and the
Vason, Is entitied to aH sbs rights; pFSss
+ ileges, and daimmanitiesnetS se!6govs',s'ne''t
IN respect to- their local, concerns and sas
> Fternal polity, subject only 70 Mer Consfis
t,ttionoft Tie United States. 80"