Year: 1859

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ty doctrine of the right Of the people of a
Territory, by their territorial legislature, 10
determine whether slavery shall not be ore
Of their local institutions, have great deal
10 say IN gitlering generalities about the
principle of popular sovereignty substituted
in 1850 for congressional rule, and reassert-
ed in 1854 hut they say nothing about the
Cincinnati platform, which all trne demo-
Gratis recognize as the Embodiment of their
political faith.


The reason for this is obvious. While
| these squatter-sovereignty men insist that i;
Is Gan innovation and unsound" TO abridge
andasmifThe right of the people Of Terri
tory TO act in reference TO the institution of
slavery to the one particular time when
they come 10 organize their State govern.
ments," they cannot stand on a platform
which distinctly and unequivocally y declares
that it is only when they organize their
State government the people of a Territory
have any right whatever TO act in reference
to the constitution Of slavery. The resolu.
tion oil the Cincinnati platform is as fol-
lows:


RESOLVED, That we recognize the right of
the people of all the Territories, including
Kansas and Nebraska, acting through the
legally and fairly expressed will OF ma
iority of actual residents, and whenever ma.
ioriiy of inhabitants justifies it, to form con-
stitulion with or without domestic slavery,
and be admitted into the Union upon terms
OF perfect equality with the other States"


There can be no doubt that this resolu-
ton most decidedly "limis" and "abridges"
the right of the people of the Territories land
draws the broad and clear distinction be-
tween The unjust doctrine of squatter sover.
eighty which practically excludes the in
habitants of all the slaveholding States from
the common domain, and that Just and
equitable doctrine of popular sovereignty
by which the people when they come into
the Union on terms Of equality with the
other States, and then alone, acquire the
right 10 regulate their own institutions as
best suits themselves.


Lest there might be any misconceptlon of
true intent, meaning, and application or this
resolution, President Buchanan, nominated
by the convention whidh framed it and
elected by the people as the representative
OF the principles of the platform, said in his
inaugural address.


"lt has ever been my individual opinion
that npIar 10 ~ Al.
propriate time (for the action of the people
OF the Territory on this subjecD would be
when the number Of actual residents in the
Territory shall justify the formation of a
constitution with view to its admission as
State into the Union"


Here, again, was the right of the people
OF a Territory 10 act in reference 10 the insti-
tuition of slavery distinctly abridged and
limited, and yet none Of those who now de.
clare the doctrine of the Cincinnati plat
form and the Presidents inaugural Gas an
innovation and unsound," said one word al
the time it was enuciated, except in the
loudest praise of lis entire soundness and
consistency


We can understand, therefore, why all
particular mention of the Cincirnatu plat
form is lodged by the apostles of squatter
sovereignty. The dilemma is undoubtedly
awkward. If the Cincinnati platform is
wrong and unsound, so is the democ ratio
party, of whose principles and faith that
platform is the only authoritative exponent.
Those who so judge the parry and its faith
cannot consistently claim 10 belong 10 it,
If the platform is so heterdox now, why did
its denouncers of TO. day laud and approve
it so highly two years ago? 1t certainly
has undergone no change. If it is unsound
and an innovation two years ago. In the
new resolutions oflh squatter sovereignty
enthusiasts, to be consistent, and 10 prove
that they have the courage 10 sustain their
views, they must not dodge the Cincinnati
platform. If it clashes with their newly
discovered faith, lei them avow it boldly, SO
that the country may know where they
stand. Let them declare the faith of the
democratic party "unsound" and Can limo.
vaton," if they really :hink so, or choose
10 think so, but let them not ride two hor-
ses. We reaffirm the Cincinnati platform.
Can the squatter-sovereignty men do the
same Constitution.


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