Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-28

81 happened TO beu Congress- said Mr.. Breckenridge,
"when the Nebraska bill passed and gave it my voice
and vote and because il did what it did, viz Il ac-
klOvledged ne right Of he people Of The Territory 70
settle ts question for themselves, and not because
supposed. what do not now believe that it legsated
slavery into the Territory The Democratic party is not
pro-slavery party"
This h he voted for the Nebraska bill because it con-
ued pure uuadulteraed squatter sovereignty and not
because 90 supposed, for moment that it tended N
ae slightest degree encourage the Introduction OF
slavery into the Territory And what did John Bell say,
again and again. abou, the abolition doctrine Of squatter
sovereiguty' In his speech the sSh Of May 1884,
no made the following explicit avOwal Of his sentiments
o. this subject:
As to the principles Of squatter sovereignty, wish
further 70 say that in the late contest between General
Taylor and the honorable and distinguished Senator
GOm Michigan (Gen. Cass) i; was distinctly brought
sruard as an issue before the people Of Tennessee
In that contest in common with the South
generally they, (the people OF Tennessee) repadRted
the idea that handful or any number Of inhabitants
ain Territory Of the United States, sbsad have the
power granted 70 hem By Congress Of regulating their
domestic Institutions, and their discretion, deny
TO the ctzeus Of one section Of the Union the power
to epjoy the right Of property in slaves. We no,
prepared TO reverse aud aside the previously estab
"shei practice and doctrines Of the Government from
"l7Ss to that time We thought that, if a Territorial
legislature should, in one or years establish
abolish slavery the agitation Of the question Of slavery
would sill 90 on. We in Tennessee, at that time, be-
leved we we're adyocatng principles and doctrines
Ibis subject, approved in al the Southern States. The
principle then contended for was that the people of
Territory, ,,ks tsy came form nsr State Csnsti.
,tion. and then only, qualified to establish their
domestic institutions"
S5t seems that Breckenridge voted for the Nebraska
5a expressly because h embraced squater sovereignty
aud not because it did eg.a;e slavery into the Ter
,ory. whilst John Bell voted against it becaus. it did
raugurae squA,,er sovereignty and because leghed
slavery ou, Of the Terrory-indrecty, it ia true, but
most electualy And the seceders, who repudiaed
Douglas for his squater sovereignty supporting
Breckenridge with the same political sn upon his shout
Iers and deuouncing John Bell unfai.hfal to the
south. Such a specimen OF duplicy-of downright
slavery. car hardly find It's parallel in tha history of
,orrup: party If the Yanceyi,es are honest in their
opposition TO Douglas, they are g,ossly dishonest in
hair s1ppor: Of Breckenridge. II they homes. in
repldatns squaer sovereignty uimcil 20 the rights
l the Soutb they v'auoGsy dishonest in denounc-
ing john Ben because he opposed il. Douglas is trsi-
tor because he contends J-a. handful of territorial
ter, en- exclude slavery from Territory; Bel is
..a.,or be.,use be believes they can't, and Br,ckin-
ridge Is political slia, because he agrees with Douglas
and differs With John Bell
We ass the pe0pl, look at the question through the
me jun Of common sense and common honesty, and
no. suTr themselves be dsluied by pack of pol;i
cal camll-rs, who will swear tina: black white if their
1wn self interest suggests the PRONUNCIATION Of such
asehood Il Douglas is a traitor to the South because
h. advoca e. a certain doctrine, Breckenridge be
traitor for ne advocates the same yet the laAeeyies
constantly denouuce John Bell vino consistently oppos-
ed the reasonable dostrue and the only STAKEHOLDER
among the candidates for the Presidency Look the
slt-c honestly ia the face and deal with it like patti
Os aud American frosmca! Spun the dcation of the
ar o,tsr, against III, Urion aad saad by your whole
country, Be 10 logger slave, OF party-ite tools OF
denagogues bur yiudcae your claims to the character
of free aud enlightened people knowing your rights
asd daring TO maintain them.