Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-12-19
MONDAY, DEC. Is, 1854.
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
The pro-slavery men have made fine thing Q
the much talked of popular sovereignty in the lat
election for Delegate to Congress, from Kansas
A scheme has been agitated for some time in Mis-
souri, and pretty plainly set forth in late speed
of Senator Atchison, to carry the election in Kan
sas by introducing few hundred voters from tn
Missouri side of the line. This it was that KEEP
Atchison from Washington and caused him to re-
sign his seat as President of the Senate.
In accordance with this arrangement small ar
my of Missourians appeared at Leavenworth, ant
other points along the line, on the day specified
and taking the matter into their own hands, pro
ceeded to elect Maj. Whitfield as delegate to con-
gress. But as no election had been ordered fol-
members of the territorial legislature, and as they
did not like the idea of the trouble and expense
of another trip to Kansas to exercise the "popu'
lar sovereignty" they organized meeting and
passed resolutions asking Gov. Reeder to order
an election for members of the legislature on thai
day that they might settle the matter before re-
turning to their homes in Missouri.
The Governor, however, did not relish this fast
way of doing up the business of the territory by
the people of another State, and in manly and
straightforward speech informed the interlopers
that they acting out of their legitimate sphere
in intermcddling with the affairs of their neigh
bors.
These sentiments were not appreciated by the
Missourians, they had come to organize the terri
tory and elect all its officers and they could think
of nothing shorter. So the meeting re-organlzed,
protested against the action of the Governor in
refusing to order election instanter, and passed
another resolution ordering the Governor to leave
Leavenworth.
We have not vet heard the reply Of Gov. Reeder,
nor do we know whether he condescended to make
any answer to IA demand so villainous. Wejudgc
from the of his speech, however, that if they
want him to leave the Territory they will have to
manifest it IN some other way than by passing
resolutions.
This whole proceeding is in direct violation of
all principles of right and justice; and only adds
another link to the long chain of fraud and ras-
cality, by which it was sought to fasten slavery
upon soil once dedicated to freedom, for by the
law organizing Kansas and Nebraska we believe
this election is legal. BY that law every man in
the Territory on the day of election was declared
avoter, and if the had never been in Kansas be-
FORE and left the next day to RETURN their acts
while there, were under the letter Of that law val
id. Let our Southern brethren beware, for it is
madness in them to resort to, even to
such uniustifable means to secure temporary pre-
dominance in the new territory for is not now that
the great battle is to be fought, but years hence
when Kansas, by the course of events shall be
called upon to form her state constitution. All that
is gained in elections before that period will be
but barren victories. The slavery men have now
shown their hand and the north will be much to
blame if they do not profit by this new exposition
of the rights Of ''popular sovereignty"
BY the act repeating the Missouri Compromise,
Congress did all in its power to introduced slave
ry into Kansas and Nebraska-they legalizcd it
and if the first legislature of Kansas should pass
a law that slaves should not be held in the terri
tory and every subsequent one should re-afiirm
it, they would be of no effect in legal point of
view. Such laws passed by Territorial Legis-
lature probably would have practical effect, as
they would be considered by Shareholders an in
dex of popular sentiment, pointing with unerring
certainty to free constitution in the future, and
thereby would tend to prevent them from settling
in territory, where, in few years their slave
property would become valueless by the supreme
law Of the State. \ territorial legislature can
not lcgislate upon the subject, and Congress can
not give them the right so to do.
This subject is better understood at the South
than here, and thus it is that year after year they
have been able to pull the wool over the eyes Of
the often too willing doughfaccs in Congress-
Notwithstanding the noise and gas of Douglas &
Co., last winter about' popular sovereignty" and
letting the people of the territories establish their
own s. nstitutions.'' Southern statesmen knew
the thing impossible, they knew the talk of
Douglas was for buncombc. Had it been other
wise the Nebraska bill would never have passed.
If any one doubts this let him read the speeches
of Butler AMI other distinguished Southerners on
the bill, and we think he will discover fact that
we have always been cognizant of, viz: that all
such talk was got up merely to deceive the peo-
pie of the North and lull them to rest, while
Douglas and his Southern co-laborers secured the
prize for which they have. been contcnding, by
legalizing slavery on the soil of freedom.
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