Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-05-19
Souat,er Sovereignty.

One of the questions on which the Dem
cratic Convention at Charleston disa-
freed, was the definition of this doctrine.
Our views have been heretofore freely ex-
pressed on the subject, and we have yet
seen no reasons to change them. We have
and now believe, that there
can be no soverignty,in hc'pccple of a
Territory until they become a, State-that
the people of Territory, by Legisla-
turc elected by themselves, or created by
any other means, can make no.laws except
such as Congress is authorized to-make for
thcm-and that Congress can make no
laws Oh the sabjcct of slavery either to
establish it or to prohibit it, to allow it or
to suppress it in any of the Territories of
the United States.
We also believe that, inasmuch as the
Territories belong to all the States, the
inhabitants of each State have right to
take into thon and must be protected by
the L. S. Government in the possession
thereof, all that is recognized as property
by the laws of the State from which they
moved, or all that is recognized as proper
ty by the laws OF any of the States OF the
Union.
This doctrine, we believer, has been
recognized as the true Democratic doctrine
oil the subject since the formation of the
Government. We can sec no, rcason why
Democrats should divide on it. We do not
believe that the masses Of our party art
divided upon it. There is not now, and
there never has been any section of our party
who wish to force slavery into Of the Tor
rtorics-bccausc the Constitution Of our
country does not permit it. There is nc
section of the party which wishes to. pro
hibt it from being introduced there for tl4
same reason All the charges agait,st III
in these particulars are false and unioun
dod, at least they are so to the cXtont OF
our own knowledge.
Why thou, we aek, can not our party b
united It.Ag doctrines above stated ar
correct thu. cm D. Lo e.... ,. division
cf sentiment oM.na lis. Il tIy are no
CORRECT, W. bog 10 bo informed wherein
Ii the Consultation docs nrt a!.y@ Oh
Go,erqmcut 10 .X,e.' ur a.t.H.sn slayer.
i in Il Territory u. ul.onr can conten
: that it allow, it to prohibit or cAclubo i
If il. cannot do the one thing it certainl
cannot do the othnE. On. the other fant
il .he inhabitants CT Territories can eXcr
else sovereignty beyond the powers dcl'
gated to the General Government by tt
States, they ca a,becomc irsls pendent of II
United States Government, and can pre-
cnt to the world the novel spccs,aie Of
government within our limits not su'jc
!. to our Government.
If squatter sovereignty mcaas that t
people Of Territory have sovereign 20,
) cr in themselves by virtue If their ina
) hood, OF any other attribute or .ourcc, i
: dependent OF, and scpara.c from, the Go
!, crnmcnt of the United. State, they &c
o tainl y can remain II Territory and II
$ come into the Union if they, choose 10
/: so. This, as We said above, mouldj Q
u hibit the move! spectacle of Il State,
Il independent people within our Union, IL
!; belonging to the Union.
> Surely no sane Democrat will contci
/, for doctrine like this. We appeal, the
Is to our Democratic brethren North Al
~ ~ South-to those who. have stood by o
); war worn banner on many Il glorious ba
tie field, to unite and be not diyiled, til
, our hitherto victorious banner laay l
trail in the dust next Fall