The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-05-25
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

those of State, should decide for them
selves whether slavery should or should not
exist within their limits. There is nothing
equivocal in this language. 1t is squatter
sovereignty in its broadest sense, as the
Senator from Mississippi uses that term.
The people of Territory, like those of a
State, shall decide for themselves whether
slavery shall exist or not Mr.. Buchanan
told the people that slavery could not exist
in Territory unless the people of Terri
tory said so it should exist if they said so,
and not otherwise. Mr.. Buchanan was
elected on that construction of the platform.
l do not ask that you shall now give it that
construction. | only ask that you readopt
the platform, and let it construe itself.
But MIR. Buchanan was perfectly sound on
that platform in 1856, with construction
Identical with that which is now denounced
as a heresy. The distinguished gentleman
who was nominated and elected Vice Pres
ident on the same ticket with Mr.. Buchanan
understood the platform in the same way
that MIR. Buchanan did. After his nomina-
tion at Cincinnati, be returned to his home
in Lexington, and his neighbors assembled,
as might have been expected, where they
had such devotion to their distinguished
fellow citizen, and congratulated him on his
good fortune in receiving the nomination,
and MIR. Breckenridge, in reply to that con-
graduation, made them speech, which
was published at the time, from which
present an extract, showing you how he un-
derstoOd the Kansas. n ebraska bill and the
Cincinnati platform.
Mr.. Pugh read, as follows:
upon the distracting question of domestic
slavery, their position is clear. The whole
power of the Democratic organization is
pledged to the following propositions that
Congress shall not intervene upon this subject
in the States, in the Territories or in the Dis
trict OF Columbia; that the people of each Ter
selves, and be admitted into the Union upon a
footing OF perfect equality with the original
States, without discrimination on account of
the allowance or prohibition of slavery"
Mr.. Douglas. 1t seems that the Demo,
cratic party, in its whole organization, was
pledged to the proposition of non.nterven
ton by Congress, and referring the question
to the people of the Territories. That is
the way understand it. stand upon that
platform now. l have great difficulty with
my political friends in harmonizing upon
platforms, and have rendered them various
propositions. l have rendered them the
Florida platform of l847, and they would
not take it; the Georgia platform of 1854,
and they would not take it; the Alabama
ultimatum of 1856, and they would not take
1t. | tender them now MIR. Buchanan's
letter of acceptance in 1856 let it construe
| i hor
that; or tender Mr.. Breckinridge's speech
of acceptance in Lexington, in 1856, and
let it construe itself. will not dot an 4 or
cross a t. Gentlemen, will yon take your
own language when you accepted and con-
strued the platform? am willing to be
accommodating. do not insist on plat.
form from my speeches or my writings. l
can pick one up all over the Senate, all over
the country, from the speeches and writings
OF those who now arraign me as not being
sound on the slavery question. Applause
in the galleries.
Even after the election in 1856, the same
principle was emphatically announced and
affirmed for in Mr.. Buchanan's inaugural
address, he declared:
We have recently passed through presiden-
tial contest, in which the passions of our fel.
low-citizens were excited to the highest degree
| by questions of deep and vital importance
but when the people proclaimed their will, the
tempest at once subsidized, and all was calm.
| The voice of the majority, speaking in the
manner prescribed by the Constitution, was
heard, and instant submission followed. Our
own country could alone have exhibited so
| grand and striking spectacle of the capacity
OF man for self-government.
What haDDV cOncention then for
Congress to apply this simple rule-that the
will of the majority shall gevern-to the settle.
ment of the question of domestic slavery in the
Territories! Congress is neither "to legislate
slavery into any Territory or State, nor to ex-
| clude it therefrom; but to leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way.
subject only to the Constitution of the United
| States" As natural consequence, Congress
| has also prescribed that when the Territory of
Kansas shall be admitted as State. it "shall
be received into the Union, with or without
| slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at
the time of their admission
A difference of opinion has arisen in regard
to the point of time. when the people of Ter.
ritory shall decide this question for themselves.
This is happily matter of but little practical
Importance.
"What happy conception" be says "for
Congress to apply this simple rule-that the
will of majority shall govern-to the set
Element OF the question of domestic slavery
in the territories !" And, having applied it
to the territories he says, that, "as natural
consequence, Congress has prescribed that
when the territory of Kansas shall be admit
ted as State, it shall be received into the
Union. with or without slavery as their
constitution may prescribe at the time of
their admission p So it seems that the right
of the people to decide the slavery question
at the time of admission was natural con-
sequence" of the right of the people to de-
eide the same question was deemed of "but
little practical Importance" by Mr.. Buchan>
an. Yet the very point of time which was
deemed of little practical Importance, is now
urged by his professed friends as sufficient for
breaking up the Democratic party, and en-
dangering the existence of the Union.
speak of these things with entire res
spect. 1 do not bring them up for the pur>
pose of condemnation, or to place any man
in false position. If these gentlemen
stand now where they did in 1856, 1 am
with then. II they do not, the question
arises, who has changed /? If they have
changed, do not complain of them for it.
If they have had new light, if they have
studied the subject more maturely, and have
honestly come to the conclusion that they
were then in error, they were bound as honest
men to change. But if that be the case,