Daily national Democrat., 1860-01-07
The Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Platform.
From the following extracts, it will be seen
that there was great unanimity at one time
among the Democracy on the power of Ter
ritorial Legislature over the question OF
slavery:
The people of Territory, like those of {
State, shall decide for themselves whether
slavery shall or shall not exist within theil
limits. JAMES BUCHANAN.
The majority of the people, by the action
of the Territorial Legislature, win decide the
question; and all must abide the decision
when made. HOWELL COBB.
The great and leading feature of the Kan
sas Nebraska bill was to transfer the slavery
question and all other subjects to the Terri
torial Legislatures.
JAMES L. ORR, S. c.
l am willing that the Territorial Legisla-
ture may act npon the subject when and how
they may think proper.
ALEX. H SrErHESs, of Ga.
I am connected with no party that has for
its ot iect the extension of Slavery, nor Nth
any to prevent tie people of State or Terri
tory from deciding the question of its existence
wih them for themselves.
JoHN c. BREoKNRIDeE.
The principle of selfgovernment in the
Territories enables us Co Danish from the halls
of Congress another fertile source of diseon-
tent and excitement
J. P BENJAMIN, of La.
Under the Kansas act, citizens from the
slaveholding States may go into the Terrific
~ with their slave property citizens of the
free States may go there holding no such
property; and when they get there, and
meet in common council, as a legislative
body, they may determine whether the in
stitution shall prevail
]. NJ. MASON of Va.
IF the people of the Territories choose to
exclude slavery, so far from considering it
as a wrong done to me or my constituents, |
shall not complain of it-it is their business
GEo E. BADGER, of N. G.
We intend that the actual settlers of the
Territories shall be protected in the full exer-
else of all rights of freemen, and shall legis-
late for themselves uhiie they have Terrific
rial Government. X. TooMBs, of Ga.
1t is the right of the people to govern them
selves, and they alone, shall exercise it. as
we'll uhile in a Territorial condition as in the
position of State
GEO. w. JONES, of Tenn.
The people of the Territories are expressly
authorized to legislate upon all subjects what
soever, slavery included They may either
establish or abolish it, at their pleasure.
J. PETIT, of Ind.
I believe that under the provisions Of this
tKansas) bill, and of the Utah and New Mex
leo bills, there will be perfect carte blanche
given to the Territorial Legislatures to legis-
late as they may think proper.
A. P. BUTLER, of S. G.
The bill (Kansas and Nebraslza) provides
that the Legislatures of these Territories shall
have power to legislate over all rightful sub
ieets Of legislation.
r. NJ. T. HUNTER, of Va.
The citizen of Virginia is as much entitled,
IN the common territory. to the protection
of his property as the citizen of Illinois but
Doth are dependent upon the legislation OF
the Territorial Government for the laws to
protect their property, of whatever kind it
may be. WM. A. RICHARDSON, of Ill.
would leave the people Of the Terrific
ries, who are to be affected by the institution
of slavery. to determine the question for
thems elves, in their own way.
S. A. SMITH, Of Tenn.
The power to establish or exclude slavery
will be found among those which were re-
served to the people, and which the framer
of the Constitution never intended to be sur
rendered to the Federal Government by any
portion of the people in this country whether
living in the States or aftsr-acquired Terrific
yies. T. F. Bowie, Of Md.