Year: 1859

The late address Of the Democratic State
| Committee of Pennsylvania, embodies the
| Constitutional doctrine of equal protection in
the following terms. What a rebuke, aptly
| adds the Richmond Enquirer, this staunch
| loyalty of the Keystone Democracy admins
tiers to our weakened brethren at the South
| The following is an extract from the address ::
ave cannot, therefore, subscribe to the ille-
gitimate assumptions of Squatter Sovereignty
We are clearly of opinion that Territory of
the United States can in no respect whatever,
be regarded as either foreign or sovereign
State Nor can it enjoy, by possibility, any
political capacity independent OF, or inconslst-
ent with, the Government of the Union estab-
lished by the States, by whose agency they,
the States, through an expenditure of their
treasure, and it may be their blood, have ac-
quired the very territory in question, as 80
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 Fed
eral Government Where shall we look for
the right and power to ascertain and fix all
Territorial boundaries Is it not to the Fed
eral Government Where shall we seek the
right and power and duty to dispose of all
lands embraced in the Territory The an
swer is, in the Federal Government. Where
in the Government of Territory is lodged
the Executive authority? 1t is lodged in the
hands of Federal Governor. Where is the
Judicial power of Territorial Government L?
In the keeping of Federal Judiciary.


Where is the Legislative power? Every
one knows it did not exist, and that it could
not legally exist until called into being by the
Federal Congress- in the organic act of Terri
tOrial Government In all these demonstra-
tons Of power, and there can be none others
outside of them in Territorial Government
we behold the direct, positive, and tangible
evidences of the presence of the sovereignty of
the Government of the United States, exclud-
ing the pretensions of Squatter or Territorial
Legislative Sovereignty, or Popular Sovereign
ty, when used as a convertible term with
these, as being alike untenable in fact and pre-
posterous in logic


The Address goes on to say


ave are opposed, however, to the introduce
ton of any provision particularly protecting
slave or any other kind of property, into an
act organizing Territorial Government. But
if Territory attempt notification, or rebel
lion, in the shape Of resistance to acts of Con-
gress, or to judicial decisions Ip their proper
logical and legal consequences, or to any other
legitimate acts done in and by virtue of the
constitutional authority of the United States
over the same, then the Federal Government
should at once interpose and put it down"





"This resolution distinctly represents the
marked difference between the revolutionary
efforts of the first squatters in new Territory
to abolish negro slavery, or to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of slave property into the Territory
by the incompetent agency~0f a Territorial
Legislature, and the Constitutional and quiet
exercise of the rights of sovereignty by the
people of a Territory, in the formation of a
State Constitution with or without domestic
slavery, as they may determine. In the mean
time, the citizens of each and every State, be-
ing in all respects equal with each other under
the Constitution, take their various kinds Of
property into the Territory with them; and
while in Territorial condition they and their
property are all equally protected by the Con-
stitution of the United States and the Dred
Scott decision. We thus stand on the sure
foundation of the Constitution and the law,
which sternly and justly deny the arbitrary
po'oe,, Of one set Of settlers to confscdte the
property Of a'lother set.''