Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-04-06
SQuatter Sovereignty.

an opinion about DOUGLASS internal doctrine of
squatter sovreiguy II TINT thing is to be tolera-
tod all constitutional landmarks might ms well DO
obiterated."
A word or two in response Many weeks ago,
this paper did denounce the opinions of the Illinois
Senator, upon this very point, as "heretical"
Since that time, we had been induced to think
that those opinions wcro by no means so extreme
US newspaper reporters had represented them and
VIC were inclined to modify our judgment of that
statesman's political soundness accordingly Thus
impressed, We penned this brief paragraph in our
issue of the End March:
"By the way, tho "Littlc Giant" is narrowing
down his notion Of squsttor sovereignty to worry
small point. llo declares that slaves are proper
ty; and that shareholders have perfect right to
take them into any territory while it romans n
territory; and, furthermore, that territorial
Legislature haa right to inhibit savory or to les-
sntc against it, for thatany such legislation would
be unconstitutional. lie declares though, that it
is entitled to no more special protection than any
ohor species of property. Now, il this implies
that there is, under tho organic act elsewhere,
any general protection Of all kinds Of property
Slavery includctD tho Illinois Senator'S political
msl-fsssanco is not 50 heretica as was supposed"
by developments which do not admit of doubt,
it now appears that Mr.. DOUGLAS was not misun-
dcrstood as to the extent Of his opinions on the
subject of popular sovereignty. In other words,
his Southern friends and would d-bc-supportcrs havo
failed to give any such cooring to his doctrine as
can at all recommend it to Southern appreciation.
When Mr.. DOUGLAS says that the pooplo can
drive slavery from territory By unfriondy lcgis-
lation, injurious enactmcnts, &C., and that Congress
cannot intervene to prevent them, we hold that he
is subverting the principles Of our government in
a most dangerous point. Tho doctrine ofaon- in
tervention, as established by the Kansas Nebraska
Act had directly in view this vital question Of
slavery, and was understood to he IN agreement
that all citizens of tho United States, with any and
all kinds of property, should enter tho territories
with equal rights and remain there with equal
rights until such time as the people, emerging into
life as State Sovroisnty, should be recognized by
Congress rs tho proper power to decide for itsolf
this and all other questions of domestic polity
Then md then alone does thoro arise, on territori
al ground, any authority of equal power with that
of the Federal Govornment,-any authority, in
fact, which is not the creature Of the Federal
government and amcnable to its CONTROL in oil
easos of unconstitutional legislation. Then and
thcn alone, does tho authority exist any tchcre to
legisato for or against African Slavery. If such
bo not tho doctrine Of non-intervention then have
many of US at tho South sadly miscalculated the
progress of sound principles as held forth by tho
Democracy of the Union.
But others do not 50 quito to the DoueLAs eI-
treme of squatter sovereignty. They maintain that
the territorial government has no power to legslate
against slavery, by acts directly prohibitory; and
yet, that it can withhold protective Liquidation to
such an extent as will cGectually exclude or ban
ish shareholders from tho occupancy Of the terri
tories with their peculiar kind of labor. 1t il.
matter of deep regret to observe that even few
Southern journals are looking upon this position
with sumo dcsrco Of tolcration How is it possible
that they can do so? Whatererit be Of goycrumen-
tai influence TINT inilitntcs against slavery in the
territories whether the nctun or the non-action Of
the territorial authoritics, whether The cnmity or
the neglect Of the territorial officials 10 do equal
nsticu to ALL it is alike viuatrc of Southern rights
and in contravontiun Of constitutional Justice. The
South asks no special projection for tho property
Of her citizens in the terrtories.-that is, 10 fur
thor protection tlnn is rouchsafud to every other
kind of property against in jurics and trespassus.
But this last dogroe of protection she docs claim
under tho broad pgis of the Constitution and that
son Of hcra who would yield this claim for mo-
ment ia surely deluded by some strange infatua-
ton. We neither need nor ask that nny new
regulations or laws be instituted by tho territorial
governments for tho safety Of our slaves. But We
demand that our property in thom shall stand
securely under the protection of the Courts and
the officers Of the Courts. We insist upon our
right to as prompt redress In the territories as VIC
can obtain in the District Of ColumLia. We fur
this redress by tho territorial legslature,-ay,
more, that nny omission of theirs by which this ro
lress may be impaired, demands the intervention OF
Congress in our behalf; if an obstacle, it is an
unconstitutional act which Congress is bound to
reverse if An omis.ion it is an unconstitutional
refusal Of justice which Congress is bound to rcme
dy Admit that our appeal to the Courts will bo
sufficient in such cases, and Congress may rest i'll
peace. But if it 10 not so, then Congress must
intervene to mako it 50. If this be inconsistent
with the boasted discovery of non-intervcntion,
then down forever with the stupid delusion. Sure
| ly the South will stand ~ one man upon an issue
involving so clear principle rs this. Surely our
Southern delegations in Congress will be required
by the people Of the Southern States to hold fast
the faith on this vital point with n tenaciy that
shall know no fnching. Let tho Democracy be
blown to tho four winds if this concession is to be
the condition of its preservation. IT this shall prove
to lie the turning point Of that party's existence.
then is il time tht its rankS he ,issnlvnd AMI some
other uriaa;ume Le lifted for our political Sal
vaiinn
But VIC hope yet for better things. Wc trust
that the '.old guard" Of the Constitution is not to
he dcmoralized and destroyed hy any such judicial
blindness. We trust that the mere ambition of
party success will not bo suffered thus to stain its
nc-honored bunner Rather let it "cling to tho
pillars of the temple of our liberties and if it must
fnll, let (tho party perish amidst the ruins"
Perishing thus is better than victory on other
terms, Because, perishinS thus, it may arise
again into yet brighter and more glorious being.
But conqucring with false cclors, its victory will
terminate in the loss Of honor, aud then will it
fall, like LucIrgR, never to rise again" Wc al-
peal then to tho party to steer eear of this aooml-
nsbls DOUGLAS brrcsy. If it will not, We unite
with those who urge Tho South to come together
ut once and breast tho storm that gathers around
and above US.
| Joe Hndden's Trick.
jog WAS belatcd in Augusta the other night.
Returning to Hamburg, the bridse-kcepor refused
| In got m and lot him through the gate. What to