The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-27

Breckenridge and Popular Sovereignty.
A short time since we gave the record of

was q member Oh Iuc L cucTdl I1OuSt vi
Representatives, 1860, and including the
Campaign of that year, when be was can
didate with BUCHANAN on the Democratic
presidential ticket. We showed from his
speeches, IN Congress and on the stump,
that he fully committed himself to the Kan
sas-Nebraska act and Cincinnati platform,
not merely in general terms, but specifically,
and to the precise Interpretation uniformly
given to it by DOUGLAS, himself We now
ascertain that this doctrine of Congressional
NOn-1ntervention, and the sovereignty of
the People of the Territories was firmly
held by Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE as far back as
1850, when MIR. CLAY introduced into the
Federal Senate his famous plan of compro-
mise, which subsequently, in the shape of bills
framed by Mr.. DOUGLAS, was enacted in the
several laws popularity known as the "Com-
promise Measures of 1850" The Chicago
Times has been looking into the Legislative
history of Kentucky during the time while
the resolutions of Mr.. CLAY were pending
in the United States Senate, and finds that
the Legislature of that State was then in
session, and that Hon. JOHN G.. BRECKIN-
RIDGE, then just commencing his political
career, was member-representing Fa-
yette county in the House of Representa-
tives.
The record thus "found" and "made note
of" by the Times, shows that on the 10th of
January Mr.. BREcKINR1DGE read and laid
on the table preamble and several resolu-
lions on the subject of slavery in the Terri
tories. The first resolution was as follows
RESOLVED, By the General Assembly of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, that the question
of slavery in the Territories, being wholly local
and domestic, properly belongs alone to the
people who inhabit them.
On the 24th of January Mr. ARNOLD
submitted resolution declaring that Ken
lucky had "taken decided stand with the
South upon the subject of slavery; and that
as the opinions of the people of that State,
and of the Senators CLAY and UNDERwooD)
representing the State, were at variance
therefore those Senators be requested to
resign"
On the 3lst of January Mr.. W1cKL1FFE
submitted series of resolutions of al ultra
character, the seventh of which was in the
following words:
That slavery in the Territories is a subject
which belongs exclusively to the people of
those Territories, and that their right to exclude
slavery therefrOm can be exercised by them
only in their capacity as an independent State,
and in forming their constitution for State
government
Mr.. WICKLIFFE's resolutions were referred
to the committee on Federal Relations.
On the 18th of February, Mr.. S1MMs, from
the Committee on Federal Relations, re-
ported, in lieu of all the resolutions which
had been referred to that committee, several
resolutions, the fourth of which was in the
following words:
! 4. That, in the distribution between the Cen
eral Government and the States Of the powers
! which should belong to each, those which were
! general and foreign were given to the one,
those which were local and domestic were re-
! tanned by the other; that the question of slavery
belongs to the latter class, and any attempt by
! Congress to deprive any State or Territory of
the Union OF the sole and exclusive power to
| retain or abolish it would be to distrust its ca
! paclty for sef-gOvernment, to encrOach on its
undOubted right to control its internal interests
and to endanger the integrity of the Union !;
and that any bill for the government of the
| Territories containing the provision of the
| WilmOt prOvisO is in conflict with those great
principles and compromises of the COnstitu.
ton.
This resolution, which is sound popular
sovereignty doctrine, was not broad and
district enough for Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. 1t
is true it was reported in lieu of the resou.
tions of Mr.. WICKL1FFE, which denied to
the Territorial Legislature the power to
regulate the subject of slavery, yet it did not
60 far enough for him. 1t did not repudiate
in terms sufficiently strong the doctrine of
Congressional interference with the domestic
institutions of the people of the Terrific.
ries. So Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE, from the mi
nority of the committee, made the following
report
The undersigned. the minority of the Com.
mite on Federal Relations, have not been able
to concur in the resolutions of majority of the
committee.
The two sets of resolutions will be found
to differ only in two essential particulars.
Those presented by the undersigned take the
ground that legislation on the subject of sla-
very, except in certain specified cases, is not
within the power of Congress, and they in
struct our Senators to oppose Congressional
interference with the subject The resolutions
of the majority surrender the power to Con-
gress, or at least fail to deny it clearly and eX
plicitly, and do not propose to instruct our
Senators to carry out the will of the people of
Kentucky.
The undersigned cannot doubt that the reso-
lutions they have the honor to submit occupy
firm, moderate ground, proper for Kentucky to
assume, and answerable to the decided senti-
ment of the State.
Signed J. c. BRECKENRIDGE,
J. p. BATES
j. P. METCALF.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resoired by the General assembly Of Keatuc
ky, That the Federal Government possesses no
other power than those specifically delegated,
and such other power as may be necessary and
proper to carry into execution the enumerated
fha