Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-07-20
Ges. joseph Lase's Opinion Of Squa,ser
0Ovaeetguey.


WOvasetgney.
Below We publish the opinion of Gen.
10. Lane, tho old "war horse Of Dcmoc-
racy, on the doctrine Of Squatter Sow
crc'gn,y. Though that able gentleman
is now running on the Presidential tick
ct in opposition TO Mr.. Douglas, VIC can
not forbear giving publicity to the fact
that he endorses the Little Giants ideas
on the great questions OF tho day. Mr..
Lanes endorsement Of the doc trinc OF
Squatter Sovereignty 10 unequivocsl and
unqualified. 1t can no msre be mistaken
or questioned that Mr.. Lane is 1T heart
an on, and ont Douglas man, and We
venture the opiuioo that if he votes &C
cording to his own avowed ideas, he
will cas-. his ballot at the coming cleo
ton for Stephen A. Douglas.
Here Is his language:
Now, gentlemen, there is nothing peculiar.
nothing new in that, for it is not the fret time
Congress has passed laws organizing Terrific
rier. But that law organizing the Territories
OF Kansas and Nebraska placed 10 the hsDcs
of the Opposition = pref. ~ for attacking Dem
ocratic principles. They raised hue and cry
throughout the country that the area Of ave
~ was 10 be extended-th.t new States were
to he added TO the Union. Is there anything
IN the X, nsas Nebraskr bill to justify this hue
and cry, and the consequent excitement?
There is nothing in the law, gentlemen. but
what every enlightened American heart shou.d
approve The idea Incorporated in the Kan
sas Nebraska bill is the true American prin.
cipie for the bill does not establish or pro-
hibit slavery, tut leaves the people Of these
Territories price ~ free to regulate their u
local affairs 10 their own way. Is there auy
msn Who can object to that idea? Is there
any American citizen who can oppose that
principle!
Gentlemer, desire to say to you that the
principle Incorporated into the Kansas Ne.
bIaska till is the very principle in defense Of
which YOU furefathers entered into tn. service
Of their country in the Revolutionary war for
the American colonies. two years previous Ia
the Declaration OF Independence, asserted this
same principle we now lind incorporated 10 III e
Kansas ebra-ka bill.
Upon examination, you will find that the
declaration Of right.. made October l4th, l774
asserts that the people Of the several colonies
..ar. entitled TO n free and exclusive rover o,
Legislation ia their several provincial legisa
lures II all cases OF internal pOlity." This
vas refu-ed by the crown, and reasserted by
our iorefA,hets. Upon this Issue the ia tie.
Of the Revolution we're fought by the blood Of
our forefatbers this principle OF seltgovern.
ment was established. his right, refused
! h. l.: A
established IN the best blood that ever flowed
in the veins Of man Would you now refuse
to the people Of the Territories the rights your
noble sires demanded of the Crown, aud won
hy their blood; thus placing yourselves in
opposition to the right Of self-government n
the Territories, thereby occupying the very
position toward the Territories that George
II did to the colonies
The simple question involved here lie: "Are
the people capable OF regulating their internal
affairs. or must Congress regulate those affairs
Tor themI" 1t Is strictly the doctrine OF
Congressional nOn-interuentiOn. Now. j. that
idea is the correct oue-lf it is true that the
American people are capable Of self-gosern
ment--then the principles OF the Kansas-Ne-
braska bin are right, and opposition to that
bill is wrong; consequently. dangerous 10 the
best interests Of the country.
GuW0tc SOIL, pTouuctSs cOmuoTce, BUSINESS
profit or investment-these are the things that
must aud will settle the question Of slavery.
Leave Kansas and Nebraska to look after the n
own affairs. and if there is a man among YOU
who would join an Emigrant Aid Society for
the purpose of interfering in the domestic con
Germs OF Kansas, SIT him down as an ubfortu-
70 man-as one who does Lot understand the
true policy Of his ccuntry-as one who does
not know the evil he is about to intlict upon
the Cor sti,uiion and the Union II these Emi-
grant Aid Societies. and the agitators Of this
question. would leave the people Of Kansas TO
settle this matter for themselves, there " ould
be no difficulty there.
The question Of slavery is a most perplex-
ing one. and ought not to be agitated. We
should leave it with the State where it Con.
stitutionAly exists. and the people Of the
Territories, to prohibit or estab lab, as to thu N
may seem right and proper.