Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-03
Wafllgs 6Pen lPiopu,ar sovere,gnty.

Tle opposition to the Nebraska bill is nothing
moe nor less than warfare upon popular sover.
eifp.y-an attempt TO withhold from the people'the
rigbt 70 =fxthe character oftheir own government
ebd make iheir own laws. II Is not question OF
ekteibon Of slavery becanse no sensible person in
the whole country supposes that Il Is possible for
slavery 60 20 toNebraska. The opposition Is found
ed in The old instincts Of federalism which forev-
er doubted. and always will doubt, the capacity
Of the people for selfgovernment. The old leav-
en- ia working. and once in while there is fed
erslist honest and frank enough to ayow his real
sentimeuts, and objects, and purposes. Such an
one b tbs,Rey. Dr.. WHylund, Of Brown UniVer-
city, Rhode island, the author Of federal work
on political economy, and himself limb Of the
New England federal stock. He Is o politician
rs we'll os doctor Of Divinity. ard lately addressed
IN ont-Nebrasks, public meeting. In the course
o. his speech he said
= ~We have met to protest against the bill now
before Congress for establishing the territory OF
Nebraska and Kansas. The feature IN this bill
0eoiast scAich zoe protest s that in all that vast terri
tory non unhGLted By white men, either free or sIdue
States may besrgani:sd at The iciA Of the settlers"
Here we have the gist of the matter. DR..
Wayland and those who acted with him met to
protest against allowing the settlers in Nebraska
and Kansas to make such constitutions for their
State Governments as they may think fit. They
would have Congress prescribe the institutions of
the new States.
% Now, is not this All abomnabe doctrinei Can
ANY democrat, ut least, look at the proposition
without sbhorrence, Would any cititizen of
Michigan submit to the dictation of Congress as
to whether We should have slavery, If we desired
to have it! Most assuredly not. Then why should
a citizen of Nebraska submit to such dictation!
State rights and popular sovereignty are synon-
ymous term. Destroy State sovereignty, and
The Union would be destroyed The safety of
our system is in the exercise BY the States of the
most complete sovereignty. Their right to con-
troll their own affairs is entire only so far as pow
or has been delegated 10 the Federal Government
IN the constitution OF the United States. The
territories are embry" States. Their inhab
itants have original power to make such u
constitution as plsases them as the State possess
to modify their constitution, at any time. The
power is perfect, and the highest known to our in
stitutions. The people OF Michigan may estab-
lish slavery at any time, If they so desire; and so
may the people OF Nebraska.
We should regret the introduction OF slavery
Into Michigan, or into Nebraska, and there is as
much danger Of its being introduced into one as
the other But they both have the right, and ten
thousand acts Of Congsess cannot take it away.
1t is entirely immaterial whether the Missouri
compromise act shall be repealed by clause in
the Nebraska bill or not. The act is powerless.
1t haa no force A piece Of blauk paper is just
as effective. Whenever Nebraska forms a State
constitution, that instrument will determine
whether slavery shull be tolerated or forbidden.
All that Congress has to do-al that it can do
is to set the wheels of the territorial government
in motion. After that the people who go there
will be their own rulers, in spite Of Missouri COM
promises, Winot Provsos, or any other attempt
cd restrictions
And what dcmocrat is opposed to this! What
democrat IL not willing that the people should
every where rule e!-Dtroit Free Press.