Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-08-31
WHICH re THE FRIEND OF
THE SOUTH?


NRIDer, "when the Nebraska bill passed, and gave
it my voice aud vote, and because it did what i.
did, viz: 1t acknowledged The right of the people
Of the Territory 10 settle the question for themselves
and not because I supposed, what do not now be-
lieve, that 1t egisated slavery into the Territory
The Democratic party is not pro-savery party"
That ia, he voted for the Nebraska bill because it
contained pure, unaduteraed squatter sovereignty,
and not because he supposed, for moment, that it
tended in the slightest degree encourage the in
PRODUCTION of slavery into the Territory And what
did JOHN BELL say, again and again, about the abo-
minable doctrine of squatter sovereignty In his
speech, on the 25th of May, 1854, he made the
following explicit avowa Of his sentiments on this
subject:
GAS to the principles of squatter sovereignty,
"wish further to say, that in the late contest be-
"tween Gen. TAYLOR and the honorable and dis
"tinguished Senator from Michigan (Gen. CAss, it
twas distinctly brought forward as an issue before
% the people of Tennessee. = In that con-
"test, in common with the South generally, they
1.-THE people OF Tennessee repudiated the idea
"that handful, or any number of inhabitants in
"a Territory of the United States should have the
power granted to them by Congress of regulating
their domestic institutions and at their discretion
to deny to the citizens of one section of the Union
"the power TO enjoy the right of property IN slaves
We were not prepared to reverse and set aside the
previously established practice and doctrines of
1.-The Government from 1889 to that time We
thought that, if Territorial Legislature should
"in one or two years, establish or abolish slavery
the agitation of the question of slavery would
"still 90 on. We, in Tennessee at that time, be-
"lievedw we were advocating principles and doctrines
on this subject approved in all the Southern States
1.-The principle then contended for was, that the
people of Territory, phen they came 10 form their
State Constitution, and then only, qualified to
Establish their domestic institutions. "
So it seems that BRECKNRDGE voted for the Ne
braska bill expressly because it embraced squatter
sovereignty and because it did not egisate slavery
into the Territory whilst JOHN BELL voted against
II because il did inaugurate squater sovereignty,
and because it legisated slavery out of the Terri
tory-indirectly, 1t is true but most efIectualy.-
And now the seceders, who repudiated Douglas for
his squatter sovereignty are supporting BREcKIN-
RIDGE with the same political sin upon his Shout
ders, and denouncing JoHS BELL Ms unfaithful to
the South, Such specimen of dupcity--of down
right knavcry, can hardly find its parallel in the
history of corrupt party. If the lANCEYITEs are
honest in their opposition TO DOUGLAS they are
grossly dishonest in their support of BREcKNRIDGE
If they are honest in repudatng squatter sover-
eighty nmcal to the rights of the South they are
villainousy dishonest in denouncing john BEEL be-
cause he opposed it, and in lauding BRECKiNRIpGE
who voted for it, DOUGLAS Is traitor because he
contends that handful Of territorial squatters can
exclude slavery from Territory ELL is traitor
because he believes they can't and BREcKrNRDGE is
political saint because he agrees with DOUGLAS and
differs with joins BELL.
We ask the people to look at the question through
the medium of common sense and common honesty
aud not suffer themselves to be deluded by pack
of political gamblers who win swear that black i,
white if their own sclEinerest suggest the pronul
CATION Of such alSehood. II DoUGLAs is trait
or to the South because he advocates certain doc
trine, BREcEINRlDGE must be traitor, for he adyo
Gates the same; yet the lANcEyTrEs constantly de
nounce JonN Bril- who consistently opposed III,
reasonable doctrine and is the on'y slave-holde
among the candidates for the Presidency. Look tn,
subject honestly in the face, and deal with it lk,
patriots and American freomen Spurn the dicta
tion of the 0reh-plotters against the Union, auC
stand by your whole country he no longer slave
Of party-the tools of dcmagogues, but yindicat,
your claims TO The character OF ircc and eulight
people knowing your rights and daring to main
tain them.