The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-04-27

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who represents hat district had no part Of
parcel in anything Of this kind, I should
have referred TO the resolutions II they had
been presented from my own district, and in
the same language. have done it OILY 10
show to what extremes the Free.Soll party in
Pennsylvania have gone in their opposition
10 this bill.
Now contend that was the quarter from
which agitation comes. The agitation was
certainly not commenced upon tho part Of
members of Congress, who pressn, the bill
here in The same language precisely as the
bill o rgani'zing the Territories Of Utah and
New Mexico, and against which not a
murmur was heard The agitation brought,
10 bear asains, this bill is created by lis
enemies and in opposition TO popular pow
er. have heard il said thousand times
that the two great political parties met al
Baltimore in convention aud resolved not
to agitate. ask this committee, ask the
nation, if the two parties that met in Bal
timore previous TO the last presidential can
vass, did Doi pass resolves, that no more
territory should be organized or no more
States should be admitted into the Union !?
But these conventions regard slavery agita-
ion as finaliiy. They so treated 1t. The
nom ent that there is an effort made hsre
10 establish what comes within the proper
aud legitimate definition OF popular right !,
agitation mnst necessarily follow, and il
cannot be avoided. II is the best and VII
sest legislation that ever meets with the Sc.
verest opposition. IL has ever been and
will continue TO be so.
will now refer TO another section of
this bill to show upon what terms this Ter
ritory shall come in as State II is con.
famed in the first section in these words.
When admitted as a State or States" re-
ferring TO the territory of Nebraska and
Kansas "lhs said Territory or any portion Of
the same shall be received Unto the Union
with or without slavery as their constitution
may prescribe at ths Tins II their admis-
sion." n
These States may come 10 the Union
with or wiihou, slavery jusi the people
may have determined, who formed the
constitution that is necessary order TO The
admission of the State. Has Congress the
power 10 say that that State shall come into
tthe yniun with or wishou, elaveryf II Con
gress can decide tina. question. than con-
tend that Congress can decide any other
question with regard TO local laws or legis-
laiion. But the bill provides that the ques-
tion of slavery, or No slavery shall be vested
where i, only belongs, III the popular SOW.
ereign,y. There it is safe. While | do not
stop TO argue the constitutionaliy of what is
called the Missouri compromised call IT
the Missouri law of 1901 cay that so far
as that is concerned, wherever il usurps the
principle Of popular sovereignty il is not
binding and has no validity. Congress has
no, The power to egisla,e in regard TO the
establishment of line. This bill provides
that power with regard 10 these local ques-
lions shall be vested in the people oil the
Territory. There are gentlemen upon this
floor who say, that thai privilege shall be
taken from The people and vested some-
where else. ask them to pause aud ex-
anime the patent Of their authority before
they acl. When las such theory been
regarded as orlhordox IN the history of the
country The very question that gave rise
10 the Revolution was because the English
Government would not permit the colonies
10 regulate their own local affairs. Congress
has no more power TO establish or TO re-
strict slavery in a Territory or in State
than TO exercise il within the territory of
the Canadss. The very principle which is
conceded TO the people of the Territory IN
this bill is the very principle which caused
the revolt of the colonies prior 10 i776. 1t
was commended by the colonists that they
had right of representation it was con-
tended tina, The imposition OF onerous bur.
dens was placed upon them by the mother
country il was csn.ended that they had
sights which the mother country aud the
Government disregarded. In other words,
they were totally dependent They had no
feature of sovereignty. Agitation, howev-
er, changed The state Of affairs. And this
was not the iirs, instance wherein agitation
was attended wllb good results. 1t was moi
either the last.
Now, sir, | said, with reference 10 another
pari of this bill, that there is clause which
should undoubtedly come out OF it. am
not prepared, however, TO say il is sine qua
non with ne that il shonld. A large poTlioa
oil the emigrsnls who 90 10 all Of our new
Territories are aliens AMI und. .rslanG thai
they have always been permitted. in all the
Territories, whenever they have fled their
declaration OF intention 10 become citizens
of the Uuiied States, 10 participate in The
elecions, aud to lake part in the affairs oi
the Government. II 10 right aud proper tina,
il should be SO. | understand that this sys-
tenn has been pursued partly from usage and
partly from the very necessities of the case
Now, Mr. Chairman, there 10 no reason why
the Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska
should be restricted to different rule from
that Of The other Territories that have been
hitherto admitted into the Union aud mas
much as aliens who had filed their declara-
ton OF intention TO become citizens were
permitted 10 participate in the formation of
territorial laws and in territorial elect ions,
the same rules should be applied 10 the pres
eni organization and it is extended by the
teru,s and proysions of ihe orioinal bill -