The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-17

men But while the right and power Of the peopIe Ia
govern themselves whenever and wherever their social
condition requires political Organization upheld a.
chief among the organic laws of democracy, / also
maintain the admission Of citizens to conditional fes
In principle useful in practice and united by ndssolu
bic kindred ties of normal tic truth to the p
NAL doctrine of selfgoyernment While the Nebraska
and Kansas bill is recommended to favor by its proposal
to establish the practice OF the first OF these cardinal
w 10 81 nc
for the people believe that the application to the
Territories Of those two principles by legislative actcn
wremoye from party and safely commit to the people,
the charge OF their own policy; close Congress eectuay
against the discussion Of slavery and BY removing i
apFrobatior q The american people. 10
irere that the Senate bill denies to aliens the posses
sion Of vote An amendment by House in this par
ticular would, think strengthen the BILL and hope,
be eoncurred in by the Senate.
Having entertained and expressed these opinions whom
canvassing my district in 1850 seat in Congress-
see no just reason for reversing them In isa8 the
radical democracy Of New York struggled for the s1e
OF the proposed measure VIII be- in my judgment not
Dnly 20 as free err for free bor but to re-
one cannot consent to retreat upon position Of lsS
from this one far in its front Nor do suppose thst
sober reflection will permit others to do
The Territories for the people and the people them
selves are principles rreyersbe by every of por
future empire enlarge and confirm the of freedom
without IT, pers may encompass and divisions oppross
u.s. "m gentlemen your S 6S an ssrysas
To Eli;ah r. Purdy, and Others, committee.
LITTER FROM nESAN j. REDFIELD, COLLECTOR
NEW YORK March Is, 1854.
GryrJ RNES--Your note Of the 18th instant, inviting
70 attend meeting Of the democracy of the city
q New York NJ Old Tammany the 10th instant has
been received While IL viii not be my power to atten
nd address the meeting yet desire to Join with you
responding to the great truths of the rights of the people
Of Territory control their own domestic affair II APP
prov entirely OF the principle Of Tho Bill now pcnding In
Congress for the organization OF the Territories Of Ne
brasa and Kansas 1t is by no means new principle ON
liz 81 a. hn liant
The Legislature of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay,
at early day declared that by the law of nature and
Of nations by the voice of universal and OF Cod
by the the statute law and the common law, they pos
sesscd the power OF local legislation" They maintained
that he authority Of parliament is circumscrbed by
bounds which, II exceeded, their acts become mere
power without right, and consequently void"
The people OF the Territories of the United States whO
like the early coonsts of this country have left their
homes for the Wilderness have the right to stand
upon these principles
am pleased to that tho advocates of the right a
Congress to cgisate upon the subject of slavery In the
Territories have changed their of reasoning @
defamation upon this subject Their first position was,
that the prior legislation Of Congress upon the subject
invioabe and binding upon the country through all
time to The absurdty OF this proposition and its
inconsistency with democratic principles and progrosa
was soon discovered The ground taken Is that the
bill of Senator douglas does go far enough-hst Il
does not allow the people Of Territory extensive
privileges OF self-governnent sa
of this State in 1921 used often to relate anecdots
which think not inappropriate to the present OCCASION
that during the discussions and the efforts Of the
ent TO extend the elective franchise and to abolish tho
council of appointments distinguished federal mcmbsr
said in whisper-"Sr when you have rode the p0pu-
lar hobby Ms far you think proper to get
and ride further" The proceedings Of the conventoo
show that the who ut first opposed to tho
amendments proposed by the democratic party after
wards submitted the most ultra propositions and espss
ally to extend the elective franchise to blacks we'll
whites. The original opponents OF Mr. Douglas' blu
whether sincere not it not for propose
to ride further" They propose to amend the bill
to throw of all congressional restraint. st
do not mean to that the support OF this bin.
in it's present shape should be considered democrats
test-iar from it. There are of its provisions
hope changed in the OF Representa- ves and
especially that which limits the suffrage under the tor
ritoral government TO native born naturalized ci
can see objection to aliens, who may have
declared their intentions Of becoming citizens the pr
ege Of voting But do to say that the principas
Of the bill which claims for the people Of Territory tho
right to egisstc for themselves in everything that sp
pertains to their local and domestic affairs including the
subject Of slavery should be made test Of democratic
faith because the constitution confcrs power upon
Congress to egsatc for the people Of Territory upoa
power not expressly granted by the constitution
served to the people Tho is a Platform upon which
from the South the North-from the East the
West, stand. 1t is the old platform erected byouR
fathers at the birth of the nation and upon which the
great battles of the democracy against the advocates Of
power and tho prccnsions Of aristocracy have been
since fought and 1t is the platform upon which
the constitution has been hitherto saved and the unioa
Of the States preserved.
We passing third crisis In the history Of
ton. The first passed under the administration a
Mr. Jefferson who first put the government the repub
csn tack tho Of Pres-
dent Jackson who again put the government on the Re-
publican tack, and freed IL from . national bank and
system Of internal among the States which
If continued projected by the preceding administration,
would have imposed debt the country large In
proportion to population the debt Of Great Britain.
The democracy Is engaged in third struggle to
cye the national government from Of legsatou
upon the subject Of slavery entirely unwarrantad by the
constitution The lines Of party will be again drawn,
they in the times of Jefferson and Jackson between
the advocates of assumed powers by the federal
the hand and the advocates Of strict
structon on the other.
1t ia remarkable that the system Of violence and
denunciaton is resored to this occasion,
perenced during the Administrations Of Jefferson and Of
Jackson Senator Douglas has been hung in efigy in
Massachusetts, and Senator Toucey in Connecticut How
far these arguments will to the right of the
pie of Massachusetts of Connecticut through thsir
representatives in Congress- to govern the people Of the
The quotations have made at tho commencement
of this letter win remind the people Of Boston that tho
position taken by their foreahcrs upon the subject Of
sclfgovcrnmen precisely the that taken
by Senator Douglas for the Of the Territories
of Nebraska and Kansas.
Respectfully your obedcnt servant,
HEMAN J. REDFIEID.
LETTER FROM T. n. wEsTBROOK, MEMBER OF CON-
GREss FROM NEW YORK.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1854.
GENTLEMEN Your invitation to attend the meeting -
Tammnny Hail. to evening called to advance The
s Of ars hrs y % Ss
for me to be with you. cannot however, permit tho
occasion to pass BY without saying that approve Of Tie
That every locality is the best Judge of its wants
and domestic institutions and should be allowed to rcgu-
late them has with always been favorte doctrine.
1t is in entire conformity with the tenets Of the demo-
cratic party which has reoganised the capacity q
man-whether in Nebraska in New York-for self
government.
do not however, mean TO say that am in favor IL
every provision Of the present BILL The exclusion Of the
citizen from participation in the organf
zaton Of the Territorial government entirely dsap
prove o. act Of gross injustice towards that useful
part OF community and, In this respect, the BALI
should be altered.
simply desire in this communication to say that en-
trcy approve OF the principle which the bill was de-
signed TO establish, TO wit Congressional non-inter
ference with slavery in the Territories and the entire
control of tie institution with all others, by the pcople
thereof deem this principle not only expcdent but
c,nnsny right and Jus. towards those pioneers Of civ
xson who seek home in the wilderness and lay there
the foundations Of future states For one, l not
afraid to trust Of that description with self govern
men'. In my Judgment they emncn,ly capable or