Year: 1859




compatible with sound political morals,
and in the unwise relaxation of which
debt, extravaganza, tyranny and corrup-
ton would soon find their way into the
very citadel of the Constitution, to be-
tray and destroy It.. Under this head the
labors of tho Democracy have been nvau-
able. We have opposed National Banks,
destroyed them and established the Inde-
pendent Treasury. We have steadily and
successfully resisted the imposition on The
people of heavy federal taxes by excessive
duties on imports, and have obtained the
concurrence Of a large majority of the
country in the rule that taxes shall be
limited to the demands Of revenue alone,
with incidental protection, by iudcous
Determinations, 10 Home Industry. We
have defeated all propositions for the dis
triburion Of the proceeds of the public
lands among the States. We have sedu-
lously and e1ectuaily guarded the Public
Treasury from heavy charges for internal
Improvements in cases admitted 10 be not
general, or National, but special and local
IN Il cir character. And we have steadily
refused our assent TO, and resisted many
cupningly devised schemes for souapder-
mg millions Of the public money, and
tens OF millions of the public domain. on
Objects whose usefulness and legality have
been alike questionable.


We might extend the enunciation of
our principles, concerning which there
has been no change of sentiment whate-
verin the Democratic party since its ear
hest records were made, but we think we
nave already said enough to convince
every intelligent citizen desirous to know
the impartial truth, that we now speak
as one oi the constituted organs of great
and glorious party, not OF an ephemeral
iactlOn, or combination Of iactions-that
we represent on this occasion a party as
venerable for its age as it is useful and
honorable, IN view OF the extraordinary
services II has 50 long, SO honestly and so
ably performed. Con it not be asserted
as an unquestionable fact, that no party
ever yet existed III any country on. the
face of the earth, that can justly claim to
have rendered the same amount of valua-
bic services to that country, which the
Democratic party mas rendered to ours
On any issue, Therefore, Involving honor
able historical antecedents, or a consider.
alton OF general merits in the past or
present, we shall appeal With confidence
10 the Soters'of Pennsylvania.


As regards the personal character and
quallhcatons OF our nominees for Auditor
General and Surveyor General of the
Commonwealth, Messrs. r. l.. Wright
and John Rowe, we earnestly desire to
call the attention of our fellow-citizens to
their unbiemished private reputation, to
the ample experience tley have acquired
in the service of the State in various res
ponsible offices, and to the admitted in
tegrity and efficiency, marking their en-
tire official lives, as Offering the strongest
guarantee of their fitness, in all respects,
for the positions to which they now as
pire.


But there is one question comparative
ly new to the country, in the form in
which it is presented that has occasioned
some diversity Of sentiment among Ls,
and which has not been settled authori-
tatiyely, as some Democrats contend, by
the highest councils of the party. We
refer to what is commonly known as the
Territorial question. The most ingenious
and labored efforts have been made to
confuse the public mind on this subject,
but when rescued from the incompre-
hensiblo .jargon of the demagogues, it
merely raises an inquiry which should be
calmly and candidly met, as to the ma
ture and extent OF the Legislative power
possessed by the inhabitants of Terri
tory Of the United States, in the political
relations of such Territory to the Govorn-
ment and States of the Union. We do
not now propose to discuss this question
at any considerable length, or to say much
more than briefly to express our views re-
garding it. We presume that every true
Democrat will yield his ready adhesion to
the principle of Popular Sovereignty,
when rightly interpreted and applied
But real Popular Sovereignty is not a
spurious political idea, indefinite, vagrant
and accidental. 1t is, when properly de-
fined nothing more nor less than the
right of self-goyernment peryading our
entire system, but expressly limited in its
action by the Constitution and the laws.
1t cannot exist legtimately outside OF
these. Otherwise, instead of being as 1t
is under our Government, the tombstone
of order, justice and peace, it would be
come the source Of multiplied disorders
and constant anarchy. Thus defined and
limited, Popular Sovereignty is equally in
compalibla with the rash proceedings Of
a mob as with the edicts of a tyrant. We
cannot, therefore, subscribe to the illegiti.
mate assumptions Of "Sqlaaer Soyeeigaty.' y
We are clearly of opinion that a Territory
of the United States can, in no respect
whatever, be regarded as either a Foreign
or Sovereign State. Nor can it enjoy, by
possibility, any political capacity inde-
pendent Of, or inconsistent with, the gov
ernment of the Union established by the
Ststes, by whose agency they, tho States,
through an expenditure Of their treasure,
and it may be, heir blood, have acquired
the very Territory in question, as so much
public domain or common property. =
Where, let US ask, resides the right OF
eminent domain over Territory of the
United States? Is it not admitted by all
to be with the Federal Government p
Where shall we look for the right and
power TO ascertain and fix all Territorial
bounslaries is it not to the Federal Cow
Where shall we seek the right