Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-08-15
(Frsm the Lancaster Intelligencer.)
WHO HAS CHANGED GROUND?

1t is alleged that Mr.. BUCHANAN and
the Southern Democracy have changed
ground on the slavery question since his
election to the Presidency. Let US see
how this is. On the 18th Of March, 1857,
previous to taking the oath Of office, in
his inaugural address he said, speaking
of the right of the people ofa Territory
to regulate their domestic affairs in their
own way--"A different opinion has arisen
in regard to the point of time when the
people Of Territory shall decide the
question (of slavery for themselves. -
This is happily amatter Of but little practi
cal importance besides it is judicial qneS-
ton, which lesitma:ely belongs to the
Supreme Court ofthe United States, be-
fore whom il is now pending, and will, it
is understood be apeedly and finally set
tied. This was done few days thercaf-
ter in the bred Scott decision. To their
decision in common with all good citizens,
shall cheerfully submit, whatever that
may be, though it has ever been my indi>
vidual opinion that under the Kansas
Nebraska act, the appropriate period VIII
be ,ohen the number ofactnaL residents an The
Territory ShaHjushfy reformation Of a ConSd-
tuition, wiH Uic,o 10 lis admission as a State in
10 the Union." .
This was the doctrine held and promul-
gated by MI. BUCHANAN when he assumed
the duties Of the presidency, and his ms
augural address gave universal satisfac-
ton, not Only to the Democrats, but to
the conservative portion of the American
people outside of the Democratic organi-
zation. The same doctrine was shortly
after enunciated by the Supreme Court
in their decision OF the bred Scott case.---
Everybody, except few rampant Abolit-
ionists, was satisfied with the position ta-
ken by the Executive and Judiciary, and not
a dissenting voice was heard in the Demo-
cratic party for nine months thereafter,
and until the Annual Message was trans
mitted to Congress in December following
Then it was, and not till then, that the
first symptom Of dissent to the doctrine OF
the President and of the Supreme Court as.
lsumed the form of open rebellion in the
Senate of the United States, and from
that day to this the country has been
torn and distracted by question which
the President very justly observed was a
matter of but little practical importance.
The Presidents orinion, uEles we great
~ mlScOHcelN5 Eis poslllOD, Is pFeclseig
the same as it was on the day of his in
auguration-nothing more-nothing less.
He was then in favor of the people of a
Territory, when they come to form a
Constitution preparatory TO asking Cor adj
mission as q State-dnd net betorc-to de-
eide whether they will or will not have sla
very. He is in favor of the same thing
now, and nothing more. The Supreme
Court have decided the question in the
same way, and have farther decided that
the people of a Territory, SO long as it re-
mains in that condition, are entitled TO
the protection of the general Government
in their persons and property, whether
hailing from the North or South
From the above then, it is evident that
Mr. BUCHAYAN and the Southern Democ,
j racy hare net changed their ground, whatever
others may have done, since his admins.
tration commenced. They stund now as
they did then, on the broad platform o
! the Constitution as eXpounded by the Su,
preme Court, and time will show that
their position is impregnahle, and no sue,
ccssful effort can be made to drive then
! from il. ... ...r