Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-05-05

did, Ike good and orderly people: and
when he was gone, came back like sem
sibls and industrious people, and secur-
ed their prescriptions. Not only set
tied but organized territory has been so
treated by the Federal Government and
worse-the people driven of, and their
homes given away. This happened in
Arkansas, in 1928, when twelve thous
and square miles of her organized terri
tory was given to the Cherokees, and
the people driven away. Why, sir, this
very line of SO deg. 80 min, with all
the territory on one side of it and two
degrees on the other side, were given
away 10 the King of Spain. This has
been the seventy years practice of the
GoSeinm ent-to treat the Territories as
property. and the people as unlimited
guests, to be entertained, or turned out,
as the owner of the house chooses. Fine
sovereigns, these chased off by the mil
ltary, and their homes given to Indians
or Spaniards.
The whole idea of this sovereignty is
novelty, secuted from Congress when
it first appeared in the Senate, contra
dicted by theConstitution, and the whole
action of the Government, in all times;
and contradicted BY the bill itself. which
is to secure it. The provisions of the
bill are burlesque upon sovereignty.
1t gives 30 the people, instead of receiy-
ing from them, an organic act. And
what an organic act. One in which
they are denied every attribute of sove
reignty. Denied freedom of elections;
denied freedom of voting; denied choice
of their own laws; denied the right of
fixing the qualifications of voters; sub
jected to foreign supervision; and con-
trolab!e by the Federal Government,
which they have no hand in electing;
and onl allowed to admit, not to reject,
slavery. Their sovereignty only extends
to the subject Of slavery, and only to one
sida of that-the admitting side; the
other half of The power being held to be
denied 10y the Constitution which is ex-
tended over them, and which, according
to the reading Of the supporters of this
bill, forbids any law to be made which
will prevent any citizen from going there
with his slaves. This is squattcr sover-
eighty, non-intervention, and no power
to legislate in Territories upon slavery.
And this is called principle-the prin-
ciple Of non-intervention-letting the
pee PIE alone to settle the question of sla-
very for themselves. How settle it ?
That can only be done in an org mic act
and they have no such act, nor can have
one till they make a Constitution for a
State Government. All the rest is leg
islation, which settles nothing and pro-
duces contention at every election. Sir,
this principle of non-intervention is but
the principle of CONVENTIONAL bone Civ
en- to the people to quarrel and fight ov-
er at every election, and at every meet
ing Of their Legislature, until they be-
come a State Government. Then, and
hen only, can they settle the question. /
For seventy years-since the year Il
81, when the organizing mind of JeIfer-
son drew the first territorial Ordinance !
we had uniform method of provid-
ing for the government of Territories, all ,
upon the clause in the Consti-
tuition which authorizes Congress to dis
pose of, and make rules and regulations .
the territory and other prop
arty of the United States. This mode
Of government has consisted Of three
grades, all founded in the right of Con /
gress to govern them. FRS. grade: a
Governor and judges, appointed by the
United States, to apopt laws from other
States, to be in force until disapproyed .
by Congress. Second grade: a Terri
.orial Legislature, when the inhabitants
shall amountto five thousand men above
The age of twenty-one, composed of
a Council partly appointed by the Uni
ted Stales, and House of Representa-
lives elected by the People, at the rate
Of one Representative for every FIVE hun
lred voters, its legislation subject to the
approval of Congress. Third grade: en-
trance on the State Government, in full
equality with the other States. This is
the way these Territories have been gov
erncd for seventy wears; and | am for
idhering to it.
And now, what is the excuse for all
his disturbance of the country; this
breaking up of ancient compromises; ar
aging one half of the Union against the
other, and DESTROYING the temper and
business of Congress What is the ex-
,use for all this turmoil and mischief!
We are told it is to keep the question
If slavery out of Congress. Great God
1t was out Of Congress. completely, en-
irely, and forever out of Congress unless
Congress dragged it in bybreaking down
sacred laws which settled it. The question
was settled, and done with. There was not
m inch square of territory in the Union
IN which it could be raised without a
breach of compromise. The Ordinance
IF 1889 settled it in all the remaining
part of the Northwest Territory beyond
Wisconsin: the Compromise line of SO
leg. 30 min. settled in all tho country
north and west of Missouri to the Brit
sh line, and up to the Rocky Mountains,
he organic act Of Oregon, made by the
people, and sanctioned by Congress, set
led it in all that region the acts for the
government of Utah and New Mexico
settled in those two Territories: the
compact with Texas, determining the
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