Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-07-20

mated him, although it was composed of
nearly all the certain Democratic States,
did not contain the two-thirds; and there
fore every Democrat is at perfect liberty
to vote as he thinks proper, without
running counter to any regular nomina-
ton of the party. Applause and cries
Of three cheers for Breckenridge and
Lane" Holding this position, | shall
present some Of. the reasons why | prefer
Mr. Breckenridge to Mr.. Douglas. This
l shall do without attempting to interfere
with any individual Democrat or any
State Democratic organization holding
different opinions from myself. The
main object of all good Democrats,
whether belonging to the one or the
other wing Of our unfortunate division,
is to defeat the elect u of the republican
candidates and l shA yer oppose any
honest and honorable ., -rse calculated
tc accomplish this object
To return to the point from which |
have digressed, | am in favor of Mr..
Breckenridge because he sanctions and
sustains the perfect equality of all the
States within their common territories,
and the opinion of the Supreme Court of
the United States establishing this equal
ity. The sovereign States of this Union
are one vast partnership. The Terrific
ries were acquired by the common blood
and common treasure Of them all Each
State, and each citizen of each State, has
the same right in the Territories as any
other State and the citizens of any other
State possess. Now what is sought for
at present is, that portion of these
States should turn around to their sister
States and say, E" We are holier than
you are, and while we will take our pro-
perty 20 the Territories and have it pro-
teeted there, you shall not place your
property in the same position" That is
precisely what is contended for What
the Democratic party maintain, and what
is the true principle of Democracy is,
that all shall enjoy the same rights, and
that all shall be subject to the same du-
ties. Property-this Government was
framed for the protection of life, liberty,
and property. They are the objects for
the protection of which all enlightened
governments were established. But it is
sought now to place the property of the
citizen, under what is called the princi-
pie of squatter sovereignty, in the power
Of the territorial legislature to confscate
it at their will and pleasure. That is
the principle sought to be established at
present ; and there seems to be an entire
mistake and misunderstanding among a
portion of the public upon this subject
When was property ever submitted to
the will Of the majority? /" Never" u
If you hold property as an individual
you hold it independent of Congress or
of the State legislature, or Of the terri
tOrial legislature--itis yours; and your
Constitution was made to protect your
private property against the assaults of
legislative power. Cheers. Well, now,
any set Of principles which will deprive
you of your property is against the very
essence of republican government, and
to that extent makes you slave for the
man who has power over your property
to confiscate it has power over your
means Of subsistence and yet it is con-
tended that although the Constitution Of
the Unit ed States confers no such pow
er-although no State legislature has any
such power, yet a territorial legislature,
in the remote extremities of the country,
can coniscate your property!
A VOICE. They can't do it; they
amt going to do it."
There is but one mode, and one alone,
to abolish slavery in the Territories
That mode is pointed out in the Cincin-
natl platform, which has been as much
misrepresented as anything l have ever
known That platform declares that a
majority of the actual residents in Ter
ritory, whenever their number is suiIi-
cient 10 eHtitle them to admission as a
State, possess the power to form con-
stitution with or without domestic slavery,
to be admitted into the Union upon terms
of perfect equality with the other States"
If there be squatter sovereignty in this
resolution have never been able to per-
ceiye it. If there be any reference in it
to a Territorial legislature it has entire
ly escaped my notice. 1t presents the
clear principle that at the time the peo-
pie form their constitution, they shall
then decide whether they will have slave
ry or not. And yet it has been stated
over and over again that, in accepting
the nomination under that platform, / en-
dorsed the doctrine Of squatter sovereign
ty. suppose you have all heard this
repeated a thousand times.
A VOICE. owe all knew it was
liep
Well, | am glad you did.
How beautifully this plain principle Of
constitutional law corresponds with the
best interests Of the people Under il,
emigrants from the North and the South
from the East and the West, proceed to
the Territories They carry with them
that property which they suppose will
best promote their material interests /;
they live together in peace and harmony.
The question Of slavery will become
foregono conclusion before they have in
habitants enough to enter the Union as
a State. There will then be no "bleed-
ing Kansas" in the Territories they will
all live together in peace and harmony,
promoting the prosperity Of the Terrific
ry and their own prosperity, until the
time shall arrive when it becomes neces-
sary to frame a constitution. Then the
whole question will be decided to the