The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-05-03
Squatter SovereigntY..tAe Plot Gradually
Developing,

00uultor S0VerelBntya~th0 EsOt OiuuNoihS
Developing.
The Buchanan administration went into
power under the squatter sover,iguity
doctrine, or, especially, that the psOpls
of tha territories should settle their inter-
nal and domestic affairs in their own
way. This was reasonable theory, and
had the party stood by it, the administrs.
lion would have Geen more popular to-
day than it Is. But the scene has chang.
ed; the purposes Of the slave holding In.
terest have not been consurnated. with ro-
gard TO their peculiar institution. Dcs'
pite all their efforts, aided both directly
aud indirectly by tho Administration. to
force slavery into the territories, and to
fasten upon the people Of Kansas the Le'
compton Constitution and to establish
slavery there, they have bten folcd, and
We are permitted to learn more of the de-
signs hitherto kept behind the screen.-
The sovereignty Of people lie abandon
ed, and with It, the want Of constitution
al power of Congress 10 legiSlalo for the
territories.
The friends Of the Administration are
ardenlIy pressing the subject now, OF The
right and duty of Congress to protect
'propsrty'of every descrip ion,in any fer
sitory Of the United S atcs. 1t will be
teen by reference 10 resolution which
we publish 10 another column, oHsred in
the Charleston Convention, that this Il
likely to become one of the points ofcom
promise between tIlc Northern aud South
ern wings Of the Democracy.
The siacerity Of the leaders Of the pas
ty with regard TO the rgh:s Of The people
of the territories, receiving at first but lit
tic confidence from the masses. is now be
ing stripped Of it's a'msy covering. by tn
force oil circumstances. The southern
wing Of the party. and their dough-fsce,
allies Of the North, now come forwar,
with the rights which they think the,
have secured under the decision OF the Su
preme Bench of The United States, in tn,
Dred Scott case, and ask for "p ole ito,
ofMeI property in The ter,itoriss.'
Five Of The seven JudgoI Of that higl
court, were pro slayory, and were unani
nous in their opinions the two dissent
ing we're opposed TO the extension OF slave
". The use that was to bo made Of thi
decision Of the Supreme Court, was to-
illdisgused not 10 be understood. Th
case Of bred Scott furnished q point ex
acly fitted for tho position 10 be gained
and having gained that stand, Dred Scot
and his family are emancipated and for
gotten.
The foray 10 this tact will he made wit
the plea. that The confederation recognis
cd slavery. or rather the right Of properi
in slaves. and therefore. as a lega! infsl
ence. the federal government assumed tn
obligation, moi only TO permit the holder
Of slaves 10 carry them into tho terrific
ries, but 10 protect them iheIo in all til
rights which they claim. This is a star
ling position for tha! party 10 assume I
this time. contrasted with tho doctrine
held BY Them in 1855; but nothing b
yond what was to be expected. II the,
the right Of property in slaves exists, an
the obligation Of the federal governmel
TO protect those rights in tho territoreI
1t amounts de (acto To the propagation
slavery in oil tho northwestern territC
ries; and the same may be claimed in lh
States nov living under free CJnstiIu
tions: and If "hs people # Tie Lerritorh
byinaetion. EHfrisRdiy IcgiiiotioH or otks,
riss. Shoaid endang'r he tenure of sue
property. or discriminate against il by Vitl
holding that Prots'ticn given to other prop
srty in The territories, il is the duty 1M
general government 10 interposs BY an detir
erscutiOn Of is eonSt tmionai pOUer to s,
cure he rights Of tho Slae'holdsrs,' wha
becomes Of fthe rights oi tie people. an
what becomes Of the Democratic doctrin,
ofwhich we have heard so much for til
last three or four years. Of the nonintsr
fe,euce Of Congress in territorial lcgi'lo
ton. and especially Of ,hcir right to lOgii
late slavery in or out Of the territories, fc
the want Of constitutional power?
Can the fretmen Of the Unilcd State
further trust a party that have thus fol
fsited all claims 10 their sulIrages?
--s~S~.----
Democracy.
As il appears in one Of It's phaso,,