The Van Buren press., 1860-08-31
"Easily Answered"


ply to an article in the Press, in which W
quoted from the speech of Mr.. Breckinridg
SAYS -
1--WE suppose Mr.. Breckinridge mean
what he says he meant. viz that the peo
PIE of terrio:S shall determine the ques
ltion for themselves. when they meet t
form a constitution
Now if Mr.. Brieckinridge meant il
his speech. to say. that /" the people SHOULD
determine for themselves. rhen they meet (,
form constitution" why did he net so.
so, IN 50 many rords5 He did not NEAR
so-and the Editors of the True Democra
know it-ani we win prove it out of ths
Vice Presidents own mouth After hi:
nomination at Cincinnati, he returned tt
his home in Lexington. Ky, and on being
congratulated by his ncighbors, he made q
speech, from which we make the following
extract, right to the point. showing con
clusiveiy how he stood Men on the question
Of popular sovereigny
Upon the distracting question Of do
mestic slavery, their position is clear. Tht
whole Powe. of the democratic organiza-
ton is pledged to the following PROPOSE
tions: that Congress shall not intervene
upon this subject, sR the States, IN tie Ter
ritories, or in the District of Columbia
that the PEOPLE of each TERRITORY
SHALL DETERMINE THE CUES
TON FOR. THEMSELVES. and he ad-
mitied into the Union upon footing oi
perfect equality with the original STATES
without discrimination on account o. the
allowance or prohibition of slavery
Is there any mistakins his meaning in
this. If he had meant that the people
of Territory should determine for them
selves. schea they meet to form a eonsttu
t;on," would not he have said so? Mos
certainly he wouli-there is no reason OF
excuse why he should have quibb!cl o,
twisted at that timc-nonc at all.
Again, they say
"We ask our friend of the Van Surcn
Press. if the distinguished democratic lead.
ers of his State, the Ingersolls. The Tou-
ceys, SevmourS, ana others, do not con
denim the odious dogma of squattcr sovcr
eighty. and ratify the nomination of Brecls
inrdgc and Lane as the standard bearer:
of the constitutional democracy %
We cannot speak for tie distinguished
gentlemen, of our native State who are
referred to. Mr. ToUcEY AMI Mr. ISGEn-
SOIL, both. voted for anil advocated thu
Kansas and Nebraska bill. .ani gave !:
Meh the same construction. tia. M DoUG
LAS gives it now.
Mr. ToUcEY, as well as the venerable G. n
eral CAss, both members Of Buchanan.
Cabinet, we hear it reported, are both 70
Judge DoUGLAs-and it would be unnatur
al for them TO be any other way. Sucl
men as Isacc Toucey and Lewis Cass, ar
not puied about by every wind, nor do the,
allow any man-bc it even the PrcSiden
Of the United StateS-;o dictate to Them
who they shall support.
We copy from an exchange the follow
ing item. in regard to the position of Gen
CaSs-which he has never ,lenied by wor,
or action-it is reasonable. therefore. I;
Gen. Cass not only supports Douglas
but he was actually an advocate OF hi
nomination. Before the Charleston con
veniion assembled, this fact was known t,
many, and the Harrisburg. Pennsylvani;
Sentinel, gave on undoubted authority tn
following words of Gen. Cass. in conver
sation with a prominent Ohio democrat
':This way upon Judge Douglas and hi.
friends have always discountenanccd l
is wrong. all wrong sir; and if persiste,
in must ruin the democratic party. Judg'
Douglas is democrat. as good democra
as lives to-day; and il: the politicians sue
ceed in defeating him at Charleston. as :
party, we are los. and God only know.
what catastrophe may follow
Thus General Cass talks Now. unlc
these circumstances, We assert that both
Mr. TorcEY and Mr. CAss. arc at heart fol
Judge Douglas. and will cast their vote
for him; and we challenge the Editors o
the Truc Democrot to show. over the gentle
mems own signatures that they will not.