Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-08-02
FAYETTEVILLE, TENN: THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1860.

, called the principle Of squsttel
sovereignty, in the power OF the
Territorial Legislature to cOnfscate il
at their will and pleasure. That is
the principle sought to be establish.
ed at present; and there seems to be
al eniiro mistake and misundsr.
standing among portion Of the
public un the subject. When was prop.
erty ever Submitted to the viii OF 8
i majority? ["Never If you bold
! property as an indiyidual,you hold it
Independence CongressoroflbeSta State
legislature, or Of a Territorial legisla.
tnre-it it ia yours, and your Con-
stitution was made to protect your
private property against the assaults
! of legislative power. Cheers. =
Well. now,any set Of principles which
viii deprive you of your property is
| against the very essence Of Republi-
Can government, aud to that extent
makes you a slave; for the man who
j, has power over your property to con-
fiscs.s ii, has power over your meaus
land substance; and yet it is oonte Dded
that although the constitution Of The
| United States eonfers no such power
although no State Legislature has any
such power yet Territorial lsgis-
lature, in ths remote extremities oi
the country, can corfscate your prop
iert.y -
"a Volcs. s'1'hsy can't DO it; they
eint going to do ii, :
There is but one mode, ard one
alone, TO abolish slavery in the
Territories. That mode is pointed
out in the Cincinnati platform, which
has been as much misrepresented as
anything | have ever knosn. That
platform declares thsts majority ofths
Factusl residents of q Territory, Uhen-
lever their number is sufficient to
entitle them to admissions rs State,
possess the power '"to form con-
stitution With or without domestic
slavery, 10 be admitted into the Union
Upon terms Of perfect equality with
1 the other S.ates.' II there be
squatter sovereignty IN this resolu-
ltiop, i have never been able to per-
csive it. If there be any reference
tin it to q Territorial legislature it
| has entirely escaped my notice. 1t
presents the clear principle that at
the time the people form their coa-
stitutioD. they shall then decide
whether they will have slavery or not.
And yet it has been stated over and
Iover again that, in accepting the
norninatiop under that platform, l
endorsed the doctrine OF sqnatter
sovereignty. i suppose YOU have
all heard this repeated Thousand
| times, -
IL A VOICE, "Weall Knew X wGs lie.
Well, j am glad You Did.
How beautifully this plain principle
of constitutional law corresponds
! siti. The bes. interests CT the reesie'
j Under it, emigrants fIcm The NORTH
and the South, from the Est and
West, proceed to the Territories
! They carry With them that property
which they SUPPOSE will best promote
t their material interests; they liy,
r together in peace end harmony
The question Of slavery viii become
:. forsgone conclusion before they bas'
/. inhabitants enough toenter the Uniol
D as a State. 7 here will then be N
: "bieediug Kansas" intbe Territories
a they will all live together in peac
a and harmony, promoting the prosper
q ity of the Territory and their owr
1 prosperity, until the time sbailarrls
rI when i. Lecomes necessary TO fran,
r a constitution. Then the whol
It question will be decided to the ger
,fIefsl eatisiaction. But upon the OF
o posite pribciple, n bat viii yon frd j
e the TerritoTiesY Why. there will b
te strifs end contention. ell the time
10 One territorial legislature may estai
d lish slavery and another territorii
rr legislature may abolish il, aud {
: the struggle si.l be continue
=. throughout the territorial exIsteuc
a. THE people, instead OF dsvoting the
and Industry to rromol
.yttlisir own prosperity, viii be IN
81 state Of constant strife and turmo
-ssEius as We have Witnessed 10 kansa
bel Therefore, there is no possible PR
r. Eeifae that can be SO injurieas to- Z
he best interests ofa Territory as wh
cd has been called sqaattsr sovereignt
utI Now let me place the subject