The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-02


Sovereignty and Local Self Government, on
which our entire political system rests
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS. j .s.5aas5 = 1859
The Buchanan Administration Pre-
pairing to Re.enact~ the Illinois
Treason In the Presidential CAM
paign. .----.-.', - " ''-''-- -
The introduction of the DAVIS resolutions
into the federal Senate, embodying the ultra
Southern view Of the slavery question the
subsequent convocation of Senatorial eau
Gus to consider the same subject---the ap-
pointment by the chairman of that caucus
of committee to frame and report slave
ry platform, every member Of which had
repudiated the Democratic doctrine Of Pop
ular Sovereignty, as ehunciated. at Cinein-
nati-the certainty that an attempt will be
made to force the DAYS. resolutions, or 9TH
ers Of similar import through such caucus =
this movement, of which these have been
the successive steps; has been initiated for
one of two purposes-frst, to coerce the
Charleston Convention to an endorsement
of the Southern view of the slavery question,
committing the National Democracy to
slavery propogandism and thus rendering an
acceptance OF the nomination by DOUGLAS
an impossibility or, failing in that, second,
boc A n spic
traton bolt can be organized, the Democra-
cy be dsmembered, and the Illinois treason
be re-enacted in the Presidential campaign.
The first of these objects is as good as
defeated already. A majority of the Ma
tional Convention constructs the National
Platform; and this majority is already
secured among the delegates now elected,
which, under all circumstances, and against
persuasion or intimidation, will rebuke the
infamous attempt to slavocratize the Democ.
racy, and which will insist upon the REIN
dorsement of Popular Sovereignty, in its
letter and spirit, and without amendment or
qualification. r-'. 60 ~ -sl q sG..-
The second of these objects, then, is the
end and aim of the DAVIS BUCHANAN move
ment. And the known position of the one,
and the antecedents of the other, conspire to
give a coloring of certainty to this view.
The Democracy Of Mississippi, under the
lead of Senator DAVIS, instructed its dele
gates to Charleston to insist upon the adop-
ton of a Congressional Slave Code as a
plank in the Democratic platform, and, in
the case of refusal, to withdraw from the
Convention, and repudiate its nominee.
So, this move of the Senator at Washington,
is directly in the line of the policy which he
procured to be adopted in his own State.
So far as the President is concerned, such
project would harmonic entirely with his
political operations during the past two
years. In that greatest of all canvasses
ever made in any American State, upon the
issue of which the very existence of the
Democratic party was everywhere felt to be
at stake, and in which DOUGLAS added new
lustre to a name already immortal in history
and song, BUCHANAN threw the whole weight
of his personal and official influence against
the party of which he was the official head,
and in favor of fanatical faction whose very
doctrines are prophecy of disunion.' We
know not why the President should not
carry into National canvass the same spirit
and policy which governed him in the CAM
vass OF Illinois. 1t would involve him in
no new treason against the Democratic
party. 1t would simply be re.enactment
OF former treason upon a broader field.
And this,-if the result of his Illinois ex-
pertinent did not damage his vanity-would
render the present scheme all the more al
tractive in his eyes.
While this fresh treason against the
integrity of the Democratic party is in pro-
gress at Washington, our attention is natur-
ally attracted towards the Hon. HENRY M.
RICE, the Democratic Senator from this
State 1t is a matter of some curiosity,
if not of much consequence. what his