Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-03
EIncOnsistencY of Breckenridge Demo
Crata.S

The Banner of Yesterday devotes much of its /
space to an attempt to show the inconsistency Of
Hon. ANDREW EwGNG and other prominent Southern |
Democrats in supporting Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE upon the |
platform upon which he stands. If the charge |
were true that certain prominent supporters OF
Mr.. BREcKNR1DGE once favored Squatter Sovereignty
and now abiure that heresy it ought it seems to |
us to be matter of rejoicing, not Of reviling to
the Banner; that paper having within the last few
weeks declared that " the odious doctrine of
Squatter Sovereignty is fly pronounced by southern
Democrats short cut to all the ends of Black Re
5ublicanism ~ The Banner mistakes the doctrine
of the Democratic party if it thinks that party IA
vors Congressional Intervention to establish slavery
The Democratic doctrine is Congressional nonlnter-
yention. The Territorial Legislature being the
mere creature and agent of Congress, Congresslon-
al non-intervention includes Territorial non-Inter-
vention Then if in violation Of this doctrine the
Territorial Legislature erUeeS or ieTfereS against
the South we believe it is the right and duty OF Con-
gress as the Trustee of all the States to protect as
from such Intervention or Interference. VIII the Ban
ner deny the correctness of this doctrine?
The speech of Mr.. EWING, delivered in January,
1856. from which the Banner quotes was to show
that the question of slavery the territories at that
time was as Mr. EWING said, ian unsettled point Of
belief among the Democratic party" Gen. CAss and
a maiorit v of the Northern Democrats believed in
the power of a territorial Legislature The majority
of the Southern Democrats opposed Squatter Sover-
eighty. Mr. EWING thought this difference OF opln-
ion ought not to prevent eOncertof action between
Northern and Southern Democrats Why? Because,
under the Nebraska bill, it was agreed to be
left TO the Supreme Court of the United States, and
in the language Of Mr.. EWING, Its decision, under
the Constitution must be final and irrevocable'
Mr.. FUTNG said "If the decision should be in our
favor, the Democratic party of the North would
rally As one man to carry out and Uphold the decree
of the court If the decision should be against US,
then so long as we remain in the Union we must
abide bv the law and cannot and will not look be-
wand this contingency" 1t with this under
standing that Mr. EWING said the difference of opin-
ion between Northern and Southern Democrats
would not prevent concert of action. 1t Will be
remembered that this speech delivered in Janu-
uary, 1856 in December following the DRIED SCOTT
case was argued and determined. In that decision
Chief Justice fancy, delivering the opinion of the
Court, said
oTbe powers over person and property, OF which
we sneak Uhat is the power OF conhscating Save
property if taken into the IerrltoTles) are NOT O
not granted to Congress, but are IN express terus
denied and they are forbidden to exercise them
and this nrohbiton is not confined TO tie States but
the words are general and extend to the Whole Ter
rtory over which the Constitution gives II power 70
legisate including those portions OF II uhuer IeELI
torial Government, as well as that coleLeL ~
States II is a total absence OF power every "heTe
within the dominion of the United STATES anu phases
the citizens of Territory, so tar as those lieh's
are concerned on the same footing with tne clIl.es
OF the States, and guards them as nrmly anu PlAIl
against any inroads which the General GoNerInien
might attempt under the plea of implied or incl
dental powers. And If Congress ltseH cannot uO
this-if il is beyond the power conferred on inc
Federal Governmental will be admitted, we pre-
sumo that il could not authorize Territorial GCV-
eminent to exercise them 1t could confer no power
on any Local Government, established by Its Eu-
thority, to violate the provisions Of the Consttu-
ton"
As soon as this decision was announced, Gen.
CAss and many other Southern Democrats acknOwl-
edged its binding force, and in the words of Mr.
Ewing. have rallied "to carry out and uphold the
decree of the court" Not So however, with Mr..
DOUGLAS and his particular friends, North and South
They DENY the binding force of the decision. They
insist that it was not made in the right kind Of a
case. Worse than all, Mr.. DOUGLAS now repudiate'
the efficacy of that or any further decision in favor
of the South. He says:
Il matters not lohdt acdy the 81
,eas Court MAY hereafter decide as to the ABSTRACT CUES
- ,rIefJsr slGreTg ndy or may not 90 INTO a IeT'
sy ,,,er he Constitution, the people hare TIE td'Co
means to introduce or erotde i as they please
No matter ,clai the decision Of The S'loreIs Coz, ~
man he on hat abstract question, stu the T'ya y ..
people 10 make slate Territory or JTeS 1e'''"'S
Derfect and couflete under the Ae5rdSCa D0'
So that under Mr.. DOUGLAS theory, although IN
Constitution may guarantee US rights although tn'
Supreme Court may decide that we are entitled u
enjoy those rights yet the legislature OF terrific
~. every member of which takes an oath to supper
the Constitution Of the United States, may violate
this oath. and, with superior power, deprive us o.
those rights guaranteed by the Constitution and de
olared by the Supreme Court The democratic plat
f,0 simplv maintains that it is the duty of the Fed
al Government to protect rights guaranteed by
a. Constitution and declared by the Supreme Cour
- ;,.orrention or interference Of any power
Ivh.tevpr views may have hitheto been entertained
~ ,be Democrats North or South upon the subjec
.I.o-,- IN the Territories, we hold thatlt Is now
..tor. on them to do Gen CAss has done
nh .Ise views in Difference TO that august til1u
I Iticb has in its keeping the cohs'' is"0
of the whole Union. o..;ons the consist
pfre the Bq,uer further questions Ile ooilsls.
-,rv on any Democrat in supporting 'e ori
Platform will it take position elmer iol " A.
tbe nrinciples enunciated IN the ll"'
those principles right or wrong!