Nevada national., 1860-01-14
THE NEVADA NATIONAL
Pepular ssvrcisnsy.


sion | will make few remarks through the |
medium Of your paper, as regards The prin-
ciplss Of "a Popular Sovreiuty."
Considerable has been said sinee the re-
cent State election, upon this topic, aud the |
probable course that Seastor Dougla. will |
ultimately pursue iu the Democratic Nation.
al Convention.
Upon the merits or demeri.s of Senator
Douglas, or his Democracy, I have nothing
to say. leave him VITA the Charleston
Convention, which will be composed Of good
and true men from ell parts Of the Union 10
determine his claims npon the Democratic
party. and to tina: decision shall give nv
hearty endorsement.
Much has already been written upon tbi,
subject, so much indeed, that il has become
almost barren Of interest; yet am tempted
TO give my views, or rather what ] believe
to be the views Of the Administration De-
mocracy upon this all important question /;
and as the big guns have made considerable
noise in firing of their heavy artillery, IL
may not be amiss for the small fry-ths pop.
gun politicians-to discharge their feeble
loads of political wisdom, and thereby add
their mites to the aggregate of hcts that
have been brought out in the discussion OF
this question, as to the application Of the
principle Of Popular Sovrsiuty to the Tesri-
tories.
read with much interest your able and
truly democratic article upon tho letter OF
keverdy johnson on "Tbe Constitutional
Requirement Of Congress to protect Slave,
ry In the Territories, In your issue Of Dec.
18th, and | must say that the principles
therein set forth and advocated with such a.
bility meets my most hearty concurrence.
and, as democrat, hope shall ever stand
ready to maintain them with my voice and
vote.
Notwithstanding the nationality Of the
Democratic party. and that its doctrines and
measures have become the fixed principles
and policy Of our government from the ear
lest period Of Its existence, yet large and
powerful minority still bitterly oppose dem
ocratic men and measures.
One would suppose from the earnest desire
OF the Black Republicans aud the Half
Breeds-the Douglas Democrats-that the
position Of the National Democracy is still
unlefned or unknown to their dark and OBJ
tuss minds. The National Administration
party of this state have set forth 10 the plat
forms Of '5S and '5s, in clear rnd unequivo-
cal language, the position they hold. which
was endorsed b. unparalleled unsuimity, in
the election Of its candidates last fall, by
upwards Of 10000 majority.
The Democracy has expressed its views
freely, and 10 a manner not to be ri.under-
stood. But contrary to expectation the Op-
position have not attempted to answer or
refute single fact or position taken, but
deal In false charges and generalities and
endeavor to prejudice the public mind by
misstating the facts aud the doctrines of the
party This has always been the mode Of
warfare adopted BY the Opposition since the
first organization OF parties under our pres.
ent government, and now we find the negro.
worshiping party following suit.
The Black Republicans say that the Dem
ocratic party is In favor Of Slave Code,
for the protection Of slave property. This
We deny except under certain contingencies.
The Congress or the United States is a
creation of the Constitution. and, being
brought into existence by the provisions Of
that instrument, must necessarily derive
its sole power from that source. Now as
there 10 not to be found In that instrument
any power. delegating to the Legislative de-
psrtment of the General Government the
authority to prohibit or establish Slavery in
the States on Territories. 1t necessarily fol-
lows that that power does not exist.
This has ever been held as the policy of
the Democratic party, and advocated by her
statesmen from the days of Thomas Jeffer-
son down to those OF our present venerable
Chief Magistrate. 10 word, We must &C.
knowledge and stand by the constitutional
compromises and obligations made and en-
tered into by our fathers Of the Revolution.
But the Black Republicans acknowl-
edge no such solemn and binding obligations
but have asserted, most enphatieally. thro'
their political platforms and leading states.
men, that Congress can legislats slavery in
to Territory or prohibit it from entering |
the came.
1.-THE non-andmission Of any more Slave
States" and "A Reconstruction Of the U.
S. Supreme Court" are two Of the leading
plsnks in the Republican Platform. To
both Of these propositions the Democratic
party are. of course, opposed. They hold
that the existing laws. honestly administer
ed, are amply sufficient to protect property
of any kind. whether Il be negroes, or hor-,
sea. or cows. But should they prove, after
. fair trsal, TO be inadequate 10 such pur-