The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-07-27
July II. 1850.
My Principle.

Republicans do not believe in the new fan
gled doctrine insisted upon by Mr.. Douglas
and his friends, that Congress has no consti-
tutional power to esi>late on the subject of
slavery in the territories.
Mr.. Douglas few years ago did not be-
lieve in it himself. On the contrary he pro-
fessed to be firm adherent of the opposite
doctrine, the doctrine undoubtedly received
and acted upon by all our public men,
istence.
Does he now believe it, or is he riding it
merely as plausible hobby, without caring
whether it is voted up or voted down, save
as it is subsidiary to his long cherished aspi
ratons for the Presidency? Circumstances
certainly favor this idea
During the late Baltimore convention, as
matters were approaching a crisis, and ano-
ther split seemed imminent, he is represent
ed as having telegraphed to his friends there
to modify the platform established at Charles
ton. or withdraw his name, if they thought
proper.
They, seeing in the hay distance visions
of official glory in thousand dazzling forms,
refused to do the latter. They preferred the
former part of the alternative.
What precise modification he intended to
recommend does not appear. But from the
fact that he telegraphed to his supporters at
Charleston, that he was willing to accept, not
only the bred Scott doctrine as it had been
laid down by the slave judges, but was will
ling to pledge himself in advance, to accept
any other exposition Of the same subject,
which that tribunal might hereafter adopt, in
connection with the fact that the Baltimore
convention did adopt new and additional
resolution, which was Struggled through that
body under the previous question without
the slightest discussion, which resolution dis
tinctly recognizes the principle thus indica-
ted, We can have no doubt that this is the
modification he counselled his friends to
make
AS the sentiments of the resolution are not
supposed to be very palatable to Northern
stomachs, and as several Democratic papers
omit to publish it in their accounts of the
proceedings, and as it was hurried through
to cOnciliate Southern support, We think it
important enough to give it place in our
columns, that our Democratic friends who
look to us for information, may see to what
vile uses the party would put them.
1t is as follows:
ReSolred, That it is in accordance with the
Cincinnati platform that during the existence
af territorial governments, tie measure Of
restriction, whatever it NAV be. imposed by
the federal constitution On the power OF the
territorial Legislature over the subject of the
domestic relations, as the same has been or
shall be hereafter finally determined by the
supreme court of the United States, should
be respected by all good citizens and otorc-
ed with promptness and fidelity by every
branch of the general government.
Squatter sovereignty then, or the right of
territory, as well as state, to regulate its
own internal affairs in its own way, is sub
jet to this constitutional restriction that the
Judiciary has Or may with or without a case
before it involving such an issue, pronounce
the whole doctrine perfect nuliity.
What wonderful mutations has my princi-
pie" undergone since it was first preached
in the Kansas and Nebraska bill At first it
meant absolute freedom to regulate this sub.
ject at all times as the territory should please
then it meant merely the right to regulate
it in the formation of their constitution, not
before then right by territorial legislation
of an indirect, not direct kind to defeat the
Shareholders rights-now It means, that that
branch Of the government least accessible to
any popular impulses may decree this cher
ished principle to be the merest shadow of
shade at any moment.
The authors Of the resolution seem to doubt
whether that tribunal has already so constru-
ed the constitution as to make the restric-
ton available to nullify the principle, if it
has not it may do so in another exigency,
and with that the Douglas Democracy are
satisfied.