The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-09-16
Americans Governing Themselves.

Americans Governing Themselves.
The man that votes for Hall votes that
Americans cannot govern themselves.
Enquirer.
Thus our remarkable neighbor closes an ar
!icle on the Miller and Hall discussion-in
which there are more absurdities than gene
rally abound 10 articles from the same source,
which is saying a great deal. Judge Hall
never has questioned the right of the people
to govern themselves. and nobody knows this
better than the person who edits the Enqui-'
rer. He opposes this Nebraska Bill, and
what privilege does ii give Americans Of
governing themselves? Instead of arguing
this question as we have done before, we
may just as well give an extract from let
ter written by DR.. Nofsinger, good Demo.
Graf, and elected by Democrats to the Legis-
luture, Constitutional Convention, and to the
Trusteeship of the Wabash and Erie Canal
He says:
| 1t is urged that it is necessary to abrogate
the Missouri Compromise line, gin order TO
carry out the great principle Of self-govern.
ment;" and that those who are not in favor
of this abrogation, are not in favor of this
great principle of self-gosernment. This
assertion has been the most successful Of all
others in deceiving and PROSECUTING the peo.
pie. do not desire to conceal the fact that
many honest Democrats have been deceived
by this wretched humbug, which will pres
! emily show it to be. Hence you will find
every "NeUraskaite" whom you meet, urging
this assertion as bis first and last argument,
to convince you that the Missouri Compro-
mise should be repealed. He will say to you,
"are you not in favor Of the principle OF self
government" "don't you believe the people
are capable of lf-government!""ca the
same men govern themselves as well in ter
ritory as in STATED" Now 1 answer a6frma-
tirely to each one of the propositions. be.
leve ia the doctrine of self.government,j just
as much or more, than those "Nebraskaiies,"
who propose this document in defense Of
the Kansas and Nebraska bill. Yet deny EN-.
phatically, and can prove positively, that this
Kansas and Nebraska bill does not contain
or carry out the principle of self-government;
and MOI cover, that it was not The design OF
Congress that this bill should carry out OF
esta blish this doctrine. But on the contrary,
that this doctrine is preached to delude the
people into the support of a fraudulent, out.
rageous and dangerous act-an act, which ]
fear may ultimate in the destruction of our
glorious Union. But why do ] say that the
bill does not carry out the doctrine of self
government! First, because instead of al
lowing the people Of Kansas and Nebraska
to form their own governments, Congress in.
sttutes governments for them; and secondly,
in the institution these territorial govern
ments, Congress retains in the hands Of the
General Government two-thirds or more of
the power Of these territorial governments;
that is she retains in the hands vi the Gene
raj Gcvernment, not only the judicial and
executive departments, but also gives the
Governor the power to vote the acts OF the
territorial legislature; and besides all this,
The bill extends all the iaps of the United
States, which are applicable, over the peo-
pie of these territories. Yet the people will
have no voice or participation whatever, in
enacting these laws or repeating, if they
don't suit them! What perfect burlesque
upon sels-government. The people are no,
allowed 10 elect their Judges, their State Of
ficers, or their Governor, nor allowed to pass
law dpprOVeu ny OOVeT-
nor, who is appointed away off at Washing.
ton city by the President of the United
States, for whom they are not allowed even
to vote!! N Nv in the name Of candor and
truth, what was this little stump speech
about selfgovernment stuck into this Kansas
and Nebraska bill for, unless it was to gull
and deceive! And did Congress think she
could thus successfully delude the A merican
people with the beautiful name OF self gov
eminent, and with this name, hide from de.
lection her outrageous violation of the
plighted faith OF the nation! This sacred
and beautiful doctrine of self.government,
placed so pompousIy in the Kansas and Me-
braska bill, and which is violated by every
principle of the bill, is placed in this bill as
mere Grecian horse, to cheat and delude the
people and which fear will prove as de.
structive to the Americans, as the ancient
Grecian horse did to the Trojaus! IT Con-
gress was in earnest about establishing the
doctrine of seIf-government, why did she not
do it! Why did she not pass joint resolu.
ton, author zing and recommending the peo-
pie Of these territories to form such govern
ments as she pleased and to elect their own
officers. This would have proved the SINGER
iy Of Congress. No! Congress never in
tended to establish any such doctrine. She
never intended TO let the people of Kansas
and Nebraska territories, do as they please
on any other subject than that Of slavery.
HoRRID.-One Of the most fiendish acts we