Daily national Democrat., 1860-10-04
senator Bigler on Non-intervention


Cincinnati Convention. When the roll of the
Convention was called to vote for the candi
date for the Presidency Of the United States
as the choice of Pennsylvania, one hundred
and twen;y.seven delegates voted for James
Buchanan, five for Gorge NJ, Dalles, and one
for the nominee Of the National Convention
Thus was James Buchanan declared almost
unanimously 10y the Democracy Of Peunsyl-
yania to be their first choice for President
But the reader may ask, "What Of all this -
Well, We will show what the vote for Buch-
anan amounts TO. Hon. Hcudricl b. Wright
presided over the Convention. lie made a
speech endorsing James Buchanan. lie said
they wanted a platform adopted at Cincinna-
ii worthy for james Buchanan to stand upon
an that platform, said he, (Which we are
to entrust to our delegates, let rs concede
nothing to tie South, but let us do the South
equal and eyen-handed Justice En-
bodied in that platform, let there be the great
principle of age, that Of popular sovereignty
AS embraced in the Kansas. n ebraska bill"
This language was received with terrific ap.
plause. lie said 81 am one Of those who
think that we had better look to the welfare
and happiness Of twenty-seven millions of
white men, than to that Of three millions Of
black men" This remark was received with
tremendous applause. Speeches were made
by several delegates. Col. Samuel W. Black,
speaking of the slavery question, said
81 say that the great question Of slavery
is to be met, because the issue is national
one, and Whenever it comes, the Democratic
, party is not afraid TO meet it. And on what
grounds will they meet it, sir? On the
grounds of popular sovereignty in the Ter
Titories as well us in the States-on the
ground that the people have the right to es-
tablish whatever sort Of domestic government
they please within their own borders, wheth.
= or they exist as a republic independent, as a
, republic connected, or as territerv estab-
lished under our system by an act Of the gem
eral government in Congress assembled.
Now, sir W 90 into this Conv ention assert
ing that the people of every territory of this
| Mon have the right to establish whatever
q form of domestic government they please,
always provided they keep within the limits
e OF the Constitution ofthc United States. II
they choose to prohibit Slapoyy, they can do it,
! If they chose to tolerate and establish it.
they can do it. The General Government
can take no notice of it as l contend, either
y at the time it exists in territory, or wher
r that territory knocks at the door of the
e Union for admission as a State"
e But we will leave Col Samuel Black, anC
!. hear what Senator Bigler had to say. Il
y his speech before the Convention setting
forth the claims Of James Buchanan, and ex
4 pressing his views as to the principles of the
Democratic party, and the why and the
. wherefore he thought Buchanan ought to be
the next Democratic candidate for the Presi-
! dency, he used the following language in re
gard to the slavery question:
{ 'ln 1850, after the proposition to settle
finally the question of slavery in the terrific
ry, by extending the Missouri line to the Pa
n eiic Ocean, had been repeatedly rejected by
the very men who are now so clamorous
> about the repeal Of the act of 1920, General
$ Cass, an able statesman and tried patriot
}. urged his policy of transferring this danger.
= Gus controversy from the halls of Congress
to the people directly interested This wa
) not the introduction of a new idea in oui
system OF government 1t was the suggestion
of new application Of an old idea, a Qrea
5 idea the greatest in our system-the idea Q
e selEgoyernment, as found in all our State in.
W stitutions. This was to be the substitution fo
+. amere arbitrary rule. A principle cooxtensiv,
> with all the territory we had then or coul,
Is ever acquire, and as imperishable as human
Il institutions. IL 'cds simply Hdt tile soyereig,
o pcopte, residents IN a TERRITORY. through Men
= local representatives, pithout restraint or con
troi from any quarter Mould decide uHethel
! yHSy 3r1sy1I E,y,t. D.,
not. 1t was an extension of the right of self
= government-that right exercised bv the
people Of every State in the Union-a iinali-
t ty as to principle on which this question
: was to be settled, and not as to its applica-
tion. On this broad doctrine, the Democrat
lc party has taken its position 1t was in ac
), cordance with these doctrines and principles
that the Kansas and Nebraska bill was passed
e in 1854; and it is in conformity with the uni.
e form peryersty OF our opponents, that hose
4 who denounced the Missouri line most. wher
= 1t was adopted, should now be the loudest il
Their complaints at its repeal. This new poll
| ey OF the Government Is but permitting The
citizen of State who emgrates to terrific
ry, to carry with him oil the rights of self
If government, which he enjoyed as the inhabi-
g tant OF a state; and, certainly, it will not bC
contended that the right Of self-goyernment
under The Constitution of the United States
s Is dependent upon locality, or restricted by
c locality. All the powers not expressly
I granted to the United States are reserved to
The States, and the people; the term people"
applying as well to those whose reside in a
territory as to those in a State 1t would be
difficult for You or me, Mr.. President, to
show the difference between the extent OF
that reserved right when claimed for the
70 citizens OF State, as against the resident Of
T a territory and l um sure sir, it would be
quite impossible TO tell, why the inhabitaut
OF a territory should be less capable of choos-
ing and regulating bis domestic institutions
= than he who resides in State; his fitness is
no more dependent upon his place Of resi-
! dence, than IS the extent Of his rights The
right OF people Of a territory, preparatory
, to admission into the Union as a State. TO
! regulate the question of slavery as they
please, to adopt or reject the the institution,
without mOlestation or influence from anv
quarter; and that territory, having the
necessary population and republican con.
stitution, is entitled TO admission into the
Union irrespective Of their decision on the
slavery question, is the doctrine Of the Dem
ocratic party. On this broad ground they
intend to contest the next Presidential elee.
uon; on these sentiments, and the mainten-
ance OF the civil and religious liberty Of the
citizens, as guaranteed in our paramount
r laws, against the eucroachmonts of Know
Nothingism, the issue will be taken"
e Breckinridgers what do you say concern
ing the above extracts from speeches deliver
ed to show the position and policy Of the
party which uOminafad Jonee PucLoro,, G.,