The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-08-04
.yvEsHE POLLOCK AND TEEE
WHEEesA.

Es AEE HAS,
~ The letter of Judge PoLLock to certain gen
tlemen in Sullivan County has been aptly termed ''a
legal and political curiosity. Its legal doctrines
and its political bearing certainly present difficult
problem. 1t contains variety of distinct and dog
natcal assertions, which, unlortun tely for the au-
thor, are not consistent with each other
For instance, he assumes that an act of Congress,
passed in 1920 fixing the Missouri line, should and
has the power determine the local policy OF the
territories so far relates to slavery, regardless OF
the will of the people the power Of the local gov
eminent. In this he clearly recognizes the right OF
Congress to legisate the subjects and we wish the
reader to bear this important tact in mind.
In another part of his letter he says, Congress has
no mower to establish directly Indirectly, by posi-
tive act or by permission, under the plea of non-in-
tervention, slavery in any free territory in the Uni
ted States'' This is simply denying 10 Congress
any power to egislate on the subject, and Is direct
conflict with the preceding position. We agree,
that Congress has no power 10 ''estabish by positive
act slavery in a free territory But do not
gree that Congress has not got the power TO do any
thing Oh the subect-to adopt the principle OF non
intervention We do not agree that Congress can
not permit the people OF territory 10 10 as they
please on the question. The only way, therefore,
that Congress could carry out Mr. P,s doctrine would
be to preserve the territories wilderness 10 keep
re people out them But what is still singu-
lar, Mr.. r., III the paragraph, alleges that
other OF Congress, similar TO that OF lee or the
same act re-instated would unnecessarily exclude sa
very from those territories, and the unconditional
mauumssion OF all slaves then there could not be
regarded 5 legal moral wrong to any party =
Here he claims for Congress the highest degree OF
legislative authority and avows doctrine antagon-
istc TO the teachings of the preceding paragraph
We possible way of reconcilng these po-
sitions with each other. Surely Judge PoLLock will
contend that the power TO create and 10 destroy
the institution not identical-that the power to
create may proceed from and that TO deS
troy from another. That Congress could establish
aud not abolish the institution, or, rise uerse.
But he says that Congress cannot permit slavery
.sunder the plea of non-interventon." Henry Clay
and Daniel Webster thought otherwise, for they both
voted for the laws organizing the territories OF Utah
and VIEW Mexico, containing precisely principle
, of non-nterventlon in reference TO slavery.
Again he says, ''slavery can have no legal exis-
in those territories either by act of Congress
under the false preIence of popular soYerai~-'s -
The ,nonirv suggested TO the mind, then
why all the clamor against The Nebraska ball If
slavery have legal existence IN those terltor
les, ,snder the laws as they stand OF it
will not go there. But the Wings and Aboltionists
say 1t and will go there. The Wing Press sag
that Congress has legisated slavery into those
tories. Mr.. Pollock says Congress has such
power. Who is right, the Wings or Pollock? He
says that if slavery enters those territories will
be there without authority OF Constitutional law and
in violation of all law'' The Wings and Abolition
lists generally that the law of Congress has
authorized 60 these territories. Ii is clear
that some body is befogged. But, in all eandor we
would enquire, what does DIR. Pollock mean by as
Stunning that popular sovereignty mag Be false pre-
fe,4ee. Surely he does not mean 10 say that the VIII
of the people OF territory State expressed III
reference 10 the institutions under which they live,
is a false pretension--that 1t assumption OF
power which they do not possess. We are unwil-
ling to attribute 10 him such sentiment, and
yet his language wall bear other construction. If
The power TO establish slavery, abolish it, is not
the people and the local government, 1t can have
existence the face OF the earth, and all canor
on the subject should cease. Mr.. ?. denies the pow
Congress and the pretensions OF the people, and
thus settles the whole question that slavery cannot
extend into the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
Hereafter, therefore, when the Wings give vent to
their vrtuous indignation This subject, shall
promptly intelpose the doctrine of their own cand-
date against their rawlings. They Will not thank Mr..
Pollock for thus spiking their only gun.
But we think Mr.. +. peculiarly unfortunate
IN assuming that popular sovereignty might be ''a
false pretence." Ii that power which abolished
slavery IL Pennsylvania, and yet the authority has
once been disputed. il it should decide in 0c-
tober that some other than himself should be
Governor he would not contend that the pretence
was not real. II it should demand prohbitory IL
quor Law, will he say il is false pretence. Popu-
lar sovereignty can never be false pretence 1t is
just that absolute sovereignty which can make
unmake local insttutions--can accept one pubic
man and reject another. 1t is the legitimate source
OF all governmental power, simply the principle of
self-government, the basis OF all republican in
st,ations. There was time when British States
men and American Tories regarded this doctrine as
ga false pretence,' but we. had hardly supposed,
that at this time in history, any could be
found hardy enough TO declare such sentiment
But have done with this rich letter for the pre-
sent. 1t is one OF two three we have seen from
The same source, and we think they Indicate too
clearly that Mr.. P. is willing to ''soop to conquer"
and contain some evidence that be is "KN0W
NOTHING on some subjects.
Co Gov. BleLKR visited Schellsbrng on Tuesday
last, and spent few hours very pleasantly in con-
VeEslng with the citizens of that place. He was
courteodsly called upon by gentlemen OF both par
ties. Mr. FRAZER served up dinner on the occa-
sion that would have done honor 10 any Hotel in the
County.