The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-10-01
VOL. XX---NO. +.

ed the Compromise Measures is hereby declared in
operative and yoid-a beiag TIE t-n. and man
toiy or .Stufe nor srclude Merefror Tut 70 Lavs
the Pfopie ereJ psf,cfIy free to form aud regulate
osg t. I,sS.g I'M "on.uon ] Of a. G"ed aotS. "g '"'''
To which was added, on motion of Mr.
| Badger, the following:
"Propided, That nothing herein contained shall bs
construed revive put in force any law regula-
lion which may have existed prior to tie act OF the
sixth OF March 1920 either projecting absbng,
| sbolsbng slavery"
| In this form, and with this understand
! ing of its true intent and meaning" the
| bill passed the two houses of Congress, and
! became the law of the land by the approx
/ al of the President, May 80, 1854
! In 1856 the Democratic party assembled
| in National Convention at Cincinnati, de-
! clared by a unanimous vote Of the dele
! gates from every Slate i'll the Union, that
The American Democracy recognize and adept the
principles contained in the organic laws establishing
the Territories Of Kansas and Ne rsska, embodynE
the only sound AMI safe solution Of the slavery ques-
tion Upon which the great national de Of the people
OF this whole country in its determined
serva.m OF the INSTRUMENTATION hy Cengr .ss
viii slavery in State and Territory, in the District Of
| Columbia"
"That,h was the basis Of the Compromise Of 1850,
confirmed by both the Democratic and whg parties in
National Conventions-ra,ifel by the people in the
election OF lS2-and rhsly applied to the organiza
tion OF Territories in lo hat by the uniform appl
cation Of this Democratic principle to the organization
OF Territories and to the admission Of States With
without domestic slavery, they may elect, tho
equal ghts Of AL will be preserved n,ac-he original
compact. maintained invioats-and
the perpetuty AID expansion of the Union insured to
its utmost capacity Of embracn in peace and harmony
any future American State that may be constituted or
annexed with a Republican form Of government
| In accepting the nomination of this
Convention, Mr. Buchanan, in letter
dated June l6, 1876, said:
] TT
has toe long distracted and divided the people OF this
Union and ai-natsd their affections from each sthsr-
This agitation has assumed many forms since its
nsnceneht but 1t now seems {" be directed chiefly 10
the Territories and judging from its present chsrac
ter, thns We may safely anticipate that it s rapidly
approaching fnsy The recent legislotioa Of Con-
gress respecting domestic slavery derived, IL has
oesn from tie original and pure fountain Of legitimate
political power, the Will OF the majority promises
long, TO silay the dangerous excitement. This lsyss
tsn is founded upon principle. ancient free
verDm.nt itself AID in accordance with them has sim.
STAT, mn dscide for pt.m.eirss miet.er slarery
e4aH o. st'iH not e.rist ,cit..H their H,aats'
This exposition of the history Of these
measures shows conclusiyely that the au-
thors Of the Compromise Measures Of
1850, and Of tie Kansas-N ebraska act of
( 1884, as well as the members of the Cont
mental Congress in l1..4, and the founders
OF our system Of government subsequent 10
the Revolution regarded the people Of tho
Territories and Colonies as political COM
inunities which were entitled to free and
exclusive power OF Legislation in their pro-
viucial legislatures where their represen-
tatiOn could be preserved. in all cases Of
taxation and internal polity. This right
pertains TO the people collectively as law
abiding and peaceful community, and not
to the isolated individuals who may wan
der upon the public domain in violation of
law. IL can only he exercised where there
are inhabitants sufficient 10 constitute a
government. and capable of performing its
vlriou, functions and duties-a fact to be
ascertained and determined by Congress-
Whether the number shall be fixed at ten.
hft or twenty thousand Inhabitants
does not affect the principle
The principle, under our political sys-
tenn. is tia: svery distinct political community,
hoy1l 10 he Constitution and the Jnion, is eati-
tied TO all the rights, prlgileGcs, and in,muni,ies
q Se.t-yor,rEn.cat IN respect 10 their local con-
Germs and tntrn1L poitV. suiject only 10 tic
Constitution Of tie UaiteG States