Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-07-13
NOn-Interventton the True Doc
fHiEnn.

would necessarily impose upon the reader
an undue amount Of matter which II would
be tedious to peruge. This might be deem
ed necessary in order to properly and clear
ly indicate our present position, were we
not permitted to presume upon the intelli-
geuce and information of the Democratic
masses, ana assume for them partial ia.
miliarity with the prominent truths which
are connected with and bear upon the pres
ent condition of the Democratic party
Hence. we considerit only necessary to mark
the line Of argument we shall pursue in this
article by plain facts at such points and
intervals as may prove sufficient to lead the
reader to the end contemplated.
The whole range of the Territorial cues
ton was fully and almost extensively en-
braced in the discussion Of the compromise
measures Of 1850, when those three col
umns Of mind-which now have rolled
down their brilliant pathways to the tomb
stood as so many pillars to uphold and sup
port the Constitution and the Union-Clay,
Webster and Calhoun. The territory which
we had acquired from Mexico became an
apple of discord in our national councils. -
AS settlement Of the difficulties impend-
ing, Mr.. Douglas proposed to extend the
Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific O.
cean-ths western verge of our newly Or
ganized possessions. The proposition pass
ed the Senate, but was defeated by strict
party vote in the House. This was vir-
tual annulment Of the compact of 1920 land
the manifestation of a disposition to refuse
Justice to forbearing South, under the
sanction of binding contract. Conse-
quently in 1854,the Democratic party deter
mined to return to the condition in which
the country stood previous to the enactment
of this now violated compromise. The
South had patiently borne under the inter
vention legislation of the country for ever
80 years, which Disseminated against her
rights In common territory, and asserted
with all the force of law that she was not
the equal of the North, and hence certain
line of latitude must be designated. North Of
which her people with their property could
not 60. The South, indignant that the
abolitionists of the North were faithless to
the bargain Of 1920, demanded repeal Of
the conditions of the obligation, and the
substitution of the broad doctrine of the
equality of the States and the citizens of the
States of this Union-the rescission Of the
Intervention Legislation of 1920, and the
declaration and establishment of the doc
trine Of Congressional Nom Intervention,
reposing in the people Of the Territory, un-
der legally and constitutionally organized
government, the right and privilege to ad-
judge what legislation was best for them,
free from the intermeddling and Interior
ference Of ngress-opening the common
domain to the settlement of every one who
might desire to emigrate there from what
soever section, and when there, and organ
lied into political community under the
forms and sanction of law and the Consti-
tuition. to say what the character of the in
situations, in their condition Of an inchoate
State, should be. This was simply the pro-
mitigation Of the great doctrine of Popular
Sovcreignty-reposing in the people-who
are the source of all power-a generous
trust, con6ding in their intelligence, and
destroying the speculative idea that the
mere act of State organization could en-
large their comprehension, purify their mo-
tives, or in any way effect the channels Of
thought by which they could arrive at a
more logical conclusion to-day than they
could yesterday. The proposition embrac-
ing this great Democratic idea, known as
the Kansas Nebraska bill, was passed by
Congress, received the signature of the
President, and became law. The coun-
try was convulsed with agitation from one
extreme to the other. Sectional passion
was infamed, and vast party was gather
ing for the purpose Of testing the sense Of
the American people on the questions in
volved in the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise. The Democracy assembled in
National Convention at Cincinnati in 1856,
and in order to meet clearly and distinctly
the issue arising from the passage of the
Bill establishing intervention. resolved
that 'the American Democracy recognize
and adopt the principles contained in the
organic laws establishing the Territories of
Kansas and Nebraska, as embodying the
only sound and safe solution to the slavery
question upon which the great national
idea of the people of this country can repose
in its determined conservatism of the Union,
non-interference by Congress with slavery
in State and Territory, or in the District Of
Columbia. THAT this was the basis Of
the compromise of 1S50-confrmed by both
the Democratic and Wing parties in nation
al convention, ratified by the people in the
election of 1852, and rightly applied to the
organization of Territories in 1854"