Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-11
PRINCIPLES, AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES.

The admission of Mr.. HARRIS, one of the Demo
cratic candidates in Illinois, that under the "popu-
lar sovereignty" principle, the Mormons Of Utah
domestic institution of polygamy, has created some
inquiry in regard to the consequences of the doc
trine if exercised in its widest latitude Upon this
point the st. Louis Inteligencer remarks:
Squattsr sovereignty may look very well in the alb
stract but when you begin to apply the principle is
found involve absurdties and contradictions which
must force who respect themselves and the insttu
tons of their country either to abandon the principle
altogether content themselves with the stupid ira
ona course too often pursued in the world OF carrying
the principle out only just SO far as seems convenient
and applying it only to those in which it will work
to their advantage The principle however, admit
ted hardy theorists win always be found ready to apply
it in way from which those by whom it was once laid
down for particular purpose would shrink with horror
"Grant that men have right to assemble the ter
rtory Of the United States form their institutions with
any reference those already existing here, and
ignore utterly those great fundamental principles Of chris
tian morality upon which all our Institutions based
and which they support, and what ground shall
refuse admission to the Chinese when they form idol
atrous community the Pacific coast enough
to come into the Union, bringing their ugly idols along
with hemf On what principle you then reject the
Mormon Of whose Institutions plurality Of wives and
the disgusting and degrading theories and practices
are leading feature? On what principle, should herd
OF cannbal Indians take advantage OF
paddle out of the way Of victorious enemies and
make settlement coast and there increase and
multiply until their numbers sufficiently great to
give them right to admisson-on what principle should
their strong minded views and superiority preju-
dice against eating human flesh operate against their ad
mission into the Union 7"
The Inteligencer carries outthe illustration in all
its phases, and adds:
"Twenty years ago it would hardly have been sup
posed that in short time polygamy would be openly
pracsed and permitted in territory. We have now
arrived OF point where the most shameless community
Of poygamist the world has does hesitate
to its intention of applying for admission to the
Federal Union, bringing its impurities with it. At this
point it seems to that self-respect regard for
national character abroad for the preservation Of
social institutions they are demand that make
stand We cannot do it upon the principle Of squatter
eighty To do it must give up this and admit that
there certain great principles which all insti
utons are based and that body of men be permit
ted shores to make to themselves laws in which
these principles not recognised and obeyed Neither
poygamy idoatry, cannibalism be practsed
with mpunity territory under the jurisdiction of the
Federal Government because these practices forbid
den by christianity, and because christianity is the
mon law Of the land
From the rapidity with which Utah is increasing
in population it cannot be very long before prac-
ticaI test will arise. It is almost pity that the
question does not up during the existence Of
the Congress which maintains the popular doctrine
with so much resoluteness.