Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-21

Ii the principle be right 70 allow the people 10
govern themselves in all that relates 10 their do
nestle and internal policy, then the Nebraska bill
is right, lfthat principle be wrong, the Nebraska
bill is wrong. Why should not the people of Kan
sas and Nebraska be allowed TO govern them
selvesf Are they not capable Of self government?
Who are they, and whence did thay come from,
that they cannot be trusted with this sacred right?
Did they not emigrate from Illinois and Kentucky,
from Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the other
States of the Union? Were they not capable Of
deciding this slavery question for themselves be-
fore they left their homes in the States? No one
doubts that Ifso, will il be contended that these
people have lost their capacity to govern them
selves simply because they have demonstrated
their spirit and enterprise by moving little far
Their West in the grand march of progress and civil
lizationf repeat the question, then, why should
they not be permitted 10 exercise this privilege
which has been declared TO be the birthright of
freemen by our representatives in the legislature
and which say they cannotbe deprived of with
OUT being reduced TO condition of political bond
age2 [Appause.l The abolitionists admit their
willingness TO allow the people TO exercise this
right in all other matters except that of African
slavery. Why make this Exception? Their an
swer is, because slavery is horrid crime. II it
of Territory and Of the new States are called
upon TO provide against Murder is supposed 10
be crime, and robbery and larceny. Yet would
be obliged to any man who will show me an act
Of Congress providing for the punishment of either
in any organized Territory Of the United States
Will it be said that Congress encourages and sup
ports murder and robbery and larceny in the Ter
ritories, because, instead Of establishing crim
nal code foFthe people, they have granted them
Legislature, and let the people free to make their
own laws, and to form their own criminal code,
through their own representatives elected for that
purpose They tell us that slavery is an evil, af
fecting injuriously the morals of both the white
and the black. If 1t be So is it the only moral evil
that the people of the Territory are called upon
TO protect themselves against? / know many
good and true men who believe that the use and
abuse, manufacture and sale, Of ardent spirits is
grievous evil, injurious to the morals Of the COM
muniiy, but I have never known any one of them
10 petition Congress for the passage of funda
mental and irrevocable law that brandy should
newer be used or introduced into any Territory of
the United States, or into any State hereafter to
be formed thsrefrom. Nor have ever known
them to petition Congress in favor of a
geographical line across the continent, toera-
ting liquor on one side, and forever pro-
hibiting II on the other. Our temperance friends
understand the Constitution and the principles of
our government too well TO call upon Congress to
legisate upon matters. so purely of local
and domestic character. When they desire 10
exert their energies for the suppression of the
evils of intemperance they in the habit of APP
plying 10 the legislatures Of the States and Terri
tories where they live forthe passage Of all need
full laws for the preservation Of the public morals
Why cannot the Abolitonists learn the true theory
of our government from the friends of tempe
rance, and trust to the people of each State and
Territory to make whatever laws are necessary
for the public morals and for the suppression of
crime? They tell us that the rights of the negro
are 100 sacred TO be-confded to the uncertain and
perilous protection of the people Of Territory.
Are they any more sacred than the rights of the
white men They do not object to giving the
legislatures of the Territories unlimited control
-. ~-Ils - - n n
subject 10 no other limitation than that which the
Constitution imposes. They are willing to allow
the legislature to prescribe and regulate The rela-
tons of husband and wife, parent and child, but
they are shocked at the idea of permitting them
10 establish the relations Of master and servant
Do they regard the rights Of the negro as any
more sacred than the rights OF their wives and
children, that they require higher degree Of civil
lizaiun to protect the latter than the former? Why
them shall we not trust the people of the Terrific
res to legslate for the negro well as the white
man? The Abolitionists tell MS that if we do this
the people are sure 10 establish slavery. How
is that? Slavery horrid crime, yet the people
are sure TO commit the crime. if you only give
them chance Slavery q monsfrous evil,
yet the people are sure TO infct il upon them
selves if you do not deprive them of the power |!
The objection TO allowing the people 10 make
their own laws is, that the people are sure 10 be
wrong if you do not restrain them Ask the En-
peror of all the Russias why he don't allow his
people 10 make their own laws, and he will tell
you that they would make bad laws if they had
chance. Ask any other despot on earth, and you
will get similar reply. The enemies of republi-
can institutions everywhere justify their tyranny
and despotism upon the plea that the people are
certain 10 make bad laws, and TO ruin themselves
if they are allowed TO exercise the right of self
government. The point Of difference between the
Abotionists and the supporters Of the Nebraska
bill is this They desire that The people Of the
Territories, in matters concerning their local and
domestic policy, should be governed by the laws
made by the Congress of the United States, with
out giving the people who are TO be affected by
those laws any vote or voice in the law-making
power. Where did they derive that principles
George Ill. and the tories ofthe revolution claimed
that the American colonies, in matters affecting
their domestic affairs and internal concerns
should be governed by laws made by the Brit
ish Parliament without giving the colonies any
voice or representation in Parliament. Our
revolutionary fathers, while they were willing
10 acknowledge their allegiance TO the impe-
rial government in all things which related 10
foreign affairs and imperial concern, denied the
right oflhe Parliament or Of any other power on
earth 10 make laws for them affecting their per-
sons or property without their consent freely given
by representatives elected by themselves The
denial Of this right by the British government to
the American colonies produced the revolution
which resulted in the establishment Of our indie
pendence. Every battle ofthat seven years bloody
sruggie was fought In defense OF the right of the
American colonies 10 make their own laws and
establish their own domestic institutions through
their own local legislatures. The Constitution or
the United States was adopted for the purpose of
preserving and maintaining the rights achieved
by the revolution. The question now arises, Shall
the Congress OF the United States enforce upon
the people Of the Territories principle so odious
that the signers Of the Declaration Of
pledged TO its resistance their lives their fortunes
and their sacred honorT We stand now where
the patriots Of the revolution then stood--claming
for the people Of distant Territories or colonesthe
right Of sefgovernment in all things pertaining TO
their local and internal concerns. Our opponents
stand where the tories of the revolution stood
denying that right and claiming all power over
them upon the pretence that they are incapable Of
protecting themselves against the injurious conse-
quences Of their own acts. The Abotonsts seek
to excuse themselves for this fragrant violation OF
the sacred right Of selEgovernment upon the
ground that the people Of the Territories and new
States viii certainly open the door to the intro
dnction of slavery. ~
Ifthis assertion should prove true, Il will not be
pretended that any free man would thereby be de-
privcd Of his liberty that the number OF slaves
I'm the United States would be increased by the
removal Of portion Of those on the east side of
the Mississippi 10 the country on the west of that
noble stream. The only question is, whether a
eiave sbnll he Ia oo into an