Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-11-01
pplitifal ReaNlng.
Squatler Sovereignty.

marks tha. "squatter sovereignty
never was known or recognized as
Democratic principle at ell, aud i:
not now" That is most certainly
the truth. What national democrat.
ic convention ever declared that no
matter what the Supreme Court de.
cided, the people OF a territory bad
a plenary power to prohibit slavery!
We see that the Black Republi-
cans at Worcester endeavored to
fix this principle on Senator Cass.
1t will be fount in Summers TRADE
on the "ive headed barbarism Of
Slavery" that the place where i; was
fist announced is Casss Nicholson
letter. Now precious good care is
taken not cite this letter. 1t is
dated December "a, lS47, is be-
/ fore US, and this is its doctrine as to
legislation on slavery
II am opposed 10 the exercise of
any jurisdiction by Congress over
this matter; and Iamin favor Of leay
ing to the people of any Territory,
which may be hereafter acquired, The
right to regulate it for themselves
under The gFnera! principle Of the
Constitution
There is no sovereignty here!--
"Who,' General Cass has repeatedly
said in the Senate, "talks about SOW
ereignty being in the TerritOrles,--
Surely | have not" When did be
elevate them, as Douglas and Tha.
! yer are doing, to the condition OF
states? Here are the pTeclss words
Of Gen. Cass in lS47 Of this very
Nicholson letter, out of which DEM
ag)gues are extracting so freely the
absurd doctrine that the Territories
Iare cosqual in the slavery qaestiOn
to .StdieS:
"In various respects the Territories
differ liom the States. Some Of their
rights are iDchoale, and they do not
pcs sess tie pecaliar attributes Of s0p-
eragaiy."
This doctrine, We repeat, OF squat
ter sovereignty, never was held to
be democratic doctrine, nor ever will
be; aud if we were asked TO point
Iout the precise time when and place
where, Senator Douglas departed from
tie sound democratic faith, it would
be at the tins aud p!ac, where, IN
the Lincoln discussion, he said that
the people of Territory might 3ro-
hibit slavery no matter what m'ghi be
| the decision Of the .Snpreme Court.
| Perhaps no paper ever issued oy
President Bnchanan e0mmanded so
wide an approval as the lsteer whfeh'
shortly after bis Inauguration, be
wrote to Sil,im4u and bis assoeiates
of Connecticut; aud it wss not only
unrnly approved by the democratic
party. BY wbt m it was hailed with
exultation, but by the national inon
throughout the country. AS a
speciman Of the Democratic praise
take Col Forney's words. He said
that this reply "shed along the dark
pathway that has led in our Kansas
troubles flood Of light it "diSsl-
mated thousand ialsehooas in an in'
7 stent," it ':derived s9ctionalism oi
} the only weapons left in its arIno-
, ry Of expedients, and it "iDvigora.
ted the friends Of the constitution.
And said the democratic.,press gencr'
! ally, and the National Wing press
lif it did not go tothis extent OF Gu
, ilogy, bore cheerful testimony to the
mastery ability Of its presentation
of the slavery question and to the
S0OnuU6SS oi ito Ooioiitu''oS" P''"
eiples. Now here is an extract Iron
this reply
!, "Slavery existed at that period
and still exists in Kansas under the
constitution of the United States
: This point has at least been tinali,
: decided by the highest srlbuna
known to our laws. How it coul'
y ever have been seriously doubted /
a mystery. = confederation o
: sovereign States acquire new Terri
! tory at the expense OF our common
blood and treasure, snrely oae Sc
of the partners Ca have no righ
: to exclude the other from its enjoy
ment by prohibiting them FROM tab
ing into it whatsoeveris is recogslze
o to be property by the common Col