Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-03-03

chooses to carry it.
The doctrine puts territory on pre-
cisely the same footing with State.
Now the Constitution strongly implies
difference where it prescribes that ter
ritory may become state, when a certain
number of people are resident within its
borders. Under this Cass doctrine this
feature of the Constitution is meaningless.
for the territory is already a state. We
might dwell on this point, but the intel
ligent reader will see at once that by pre-
scribing the number of inhabitants neces-
sary to enable a territory to become a
a state the Constitution implies condi-
ton of dependency on the part ola terri
tory, until there are people enough to as
sumo the duties and responsibilities of
sovereignty. But in addition to this, the
Constitution says directly, that Congress
shall have the power to make all needful
rules and regulations for the government
of territories, which we think is enough
on this point
As to the necessities Of the case. it is
manifest that this doctrine would permit
ten men to dictate the institutions of the
territory and state for all time to come
and to guard the rights and protect those
who may wish to make the territory their
home. it is necessary the general go
yernmcnt should exercise supervisory
power, until a sufficient number Of pco-
pie are assembled and sufficient di-
yersity Of territory represented to insure
fairness and justice in the formation Of a
permanent government. This is no doubt
what that clause of the Constitution first
alluded to means, and we need dwell no
longer on this point.
As to the practice of the Government.
there has never been a Territory formed
but that all its officers have been appoin-
ted and its legislature organized by the
General Government; nor has there cv-
er been an act passed organizing terri
tory in which Congress has not reserved
to itself the authority to exercise SUI
pervision over and veto the laws passed
by the territorial legislature. Any per-
son who is curious on this subject can
turn to the volume of Wisconsin statutes
and in the Acts of Congress there printed
see how complete was the dependence of
the territory of Wisconsin upon the &c
neral Government and such has been the
history and condition of every territory.
Really, in virtue Of this fact, what does
this Cass doctrine mean?
The practice Of Cass and Douglass has
always been to recognise this power on
the part of the General Government and
this dependency on the part of the Ter
ritories. While they have been deman-
ding this soyreignty for the people they
have sent Governors from Washington
to rule over the people of the Territories
and with authority to veto every act the
Territorial Legislatures might pass; and
not only this, but helped to pass acts sta
ting that beside this veto power of the
imported Governor, Congress should have
the power to veto any law enacted by the
Territories, Really, what does this ter
ritorial sovereignty doctrine mean in the
light Of the practice Of these men?
But to crown the whole'of it, this very
Nebraska bill, which was got up especial
" we are told to yindicate the complete
s5vreignty Of the People of the Terrific
ries, contains clause that Congress shall
have and exercise supreme and complete
supervision over all laws enacted by the
People of Nebraska. What shall we
think Of this doctrine in the light Of this
very bill originated to vindicate it
Look at it. Douglass says the Missou-
ri Compromise must be repealed so the
People of the Territories may make their
own laws; and in the same bill proposes.
first, to import Governor to veto their
laws Independent of and in spite of them
and second, to submit every law TO the
veto power Of Congress.
Suppose the Missouri Compromise to
be repealed, and the People enact Slave
~ as one of their institutions, and then
suppose IN virtue Of the power Douglass
himself proposes to confer on Congress,
the bill is vetoed, what becomes of this
sovereignty Heaven and Earth are now
moved to establish
Need we pursue the subject?
The Missouri Compromise is a solemn
act of Congress in advance against the in
PRODUCTION of Slavery into Nebraska. To
repeal this solemn act is simply to open
to il a chance to get in, and escape the
future action of Congress, which is the
sole purpose and object Of the repeal.
Never was a more transparent fallacy
originated than this Of territorial soye
reignty. The fact is, the Cass doctrine
means nothing-was never believed by
himself or any person else-was designed
as bid for the Presidency-is persevered
in to keep up show Of consistency, and
is now used by these men who profess ii
as the best device to conceal purposes
which, if boldly revealed, would secure
condemn alton at once.