The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-16
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR WoRSHIPPERs.

THE PEOPLE AND THEIR W0RSHIPPERS.
| We have more than once alluded to the
gross inconsistency between the professions
and practices of the 80 called Democrats, who
are seeking to overthrow the Missouri Com
promise. They affect profound regard for the
principle of self government; they reverence
{" the People," the voice of the People to them
is the voice of God. To arraign their wisdon
is blasphemy to question their will is treason
OIL heur thev are shocked that Congress
should dream of imposing any kind of restrc-
tions upon the few thousand inhabitants of
Territory What a fragrant violation of the
doctrine of popular sovereignty! The People
Why they are the only Sovereigns in this Re-
public! Government is but the expression of
their views. We, President, Senators, Repre-
sentatives, are only the humble ministers Of
their will. They have but to say ego" and
we GO come" and we come; =" do this" and
nostrils; we speak and act only as we are
moved by them.
What a mockcry Under this mask of rev.
erence for the People, these so-called Demo-
Gratis hide the most unmitigated contempt for
the subject of their adulation. They under
rate Popular Intelligence, and are forever
seeking to battle the Popular Will. When did
the People, or any portion of them, ever init
mate to Mr. Douglas and his associates, that
they desired the Missouri Compromise repealed?
When did they or any portion Of them ever
complain of it, or hint that it was dssasteful
RI HON, oo,,h,
matter for consideration, in a Convention,
or Primary Meeting, of their own Party?
But they are the men who never run without
being sent, who think it presumptuous to act
without the word being given by their august
Sovereign, the People
And now, that they have brought forward
proposition which the Sovereign" never
dreamed of, of course they will await with ex-
emplary patience some expression of his will
Act without consulting hime Never. See
how slowly and cautiously they move What
pains they take to get the proposition fairly
and fully before the People How Indignantly
they reject every motion that looks like fore
stallng public opinion How studious they
are of the convenience of those Representatives
of the People who desire time to mature their
views on the question
Seriously, never was a more fragrant outrage
attempted by any set of Legislators upon a
People, than is attempted by these pretended
devotees to the doctrine of Popular Sovereign
ty They propose measure which the People
never conceived-which, if they could vote
upon it, they would reject by an overwhelming
majority they ask for no indications of the
opinions Of the People let their voice should
be heard against it, they are determined to use
every Parliamentary device to restrict debate,
to cut short ,deliberation, and force the bill in
hot haste through Congress.
That the People will be displeased, they are
aware; but their calculation is, that the deed
once done, will be acquiesced in, and excite
ment die away under the general conviction
that the deed is irrevocable. They say that the
agitation in 1850 was more general than it is
now, and yet, the moment the Compromise
Acts were passed it began to lull, and in the
course of a few months the great deep of the
that had convulsed it.
The Northern People, they say are shop
keepers, and merchants, and farmers, and
manufacturers - intent on the acquisition of
wealth. They may be ruffled for q time, by
Questions concerning Slavery, but as these do
not necessarily involve their personal interests.
any disposition that may be made of them by
the Legislative authority will soon be acqui.
esced in. They are more practical than spec
ulative-or, if speculative, their speculations
rua not on ABSTRACT rights, but On stocks and
RAILROADS Nammon Is the god they worship;
and so long as you do not interfere with their
devotions in that line you need not apprehend
any deep or dangerous excitement among
them. Once, indeed, they did attach much
importance to abstract right, and went to the
battlefield and to death. rather than nav a
paltry tax imposed upon them without their