The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02
" INTERVENTION AND KoN.InTERvENTIoN

"The Abolitionists ask Congrers to interfere
in the Territories they demand that the agent
should usurp what belongs to the principal
that the representative should override the
people, and assume that power which belongs
to them alone. This il their arstocratic and
inconsistent attitude--thesc apostles of equal
ty-these oracles of human freedom Well
does the Hon. J. C. Allen, Of Illinois in his for
chile and fearless speech on this question, on
the 2lst instant, excaim: 1t is ln vain for
gentlemen to reconcile the two principles. They
are either for the one or the other-for Inter
ventiOn or Non-lnterventiOn.' The bill of SEN
ator Douglas is based upon the doctrine Of
INSTRUMENTATION"
The foregoing extract from one of the most
unscrupulous advocates Of the Nebraska Bill
before the Senate, is a fair specimen of the dis
honest tactics of the Pro Slavery men. We
assert that the question is not one involving
the principle Of Popular Sovereignty there is
no issue between the friends and enemies of the
right of self government: the Ant-Slsvery men
are not opponents of the principle of Popular
Sovereignty, nor are the PrO-Slavery men its
supporters. The question does not lie between
Intervention and Non Intervention. The Ad-
ministration, Mr. Douglas, and the Southern
Party, are no more in favor Of Non Interycn-
ton, than al the Abolitionsts," and it is false
to say that "his Bill is based upon the doctrine
of Non Intervention. On the contrary, the
Bill is founded upon the doctrine of Interven-
ton. 1t assumes that the people or inhabit-
ants of Territory have no original power Of
self government; it organizes them, and dele
gates this power to them, in limited degree
1t does not recognise their right to form their
own Government; it prescribes to them the
Constitution Of their Government 1t deter
mines who shall vote, how they shall vote
when they shall vote how many and what
Offices there shall be, what shall be the salaries
who shall be eligible, and how long shall be
the tenure of office. 1t denies to tn M the power
to choose their own Judges, their own Govern
OFFS, their own Secretaries of State, vesting the
appointment of these functionaries in the Pres
ident Of the United States, and securing to the
Governor the veto prerogative, and to the Con-
gress Of the United States the right to revise
the acts of the Territorial Legislature From
beginning to end, the Bill is wholesale denial
VI eho OVoshfhc Vi iNOu lnborttutlOII, duu
tual affirmation that the inhabitants of Ter
ritory have not the inherent original right of
elfgovernment, in their Territorial condition
And yet, the Boston Post, New Hampshire Pa
triot, Ohio Statesman, and other unprincipled
journals pretend that the Bill fully embodies
the principle Of Non-lntervention, recognises
and respects Popular Sovereignty, and that its
opponents are enemies of the People, enemies
of the glorious doctrine of self-government aris-
tocrats and monarchsts at heart
They shall not deceive the People, if We can
help it; they shall not draw off attention from
the real issue presented by the Bill. This issue
is, the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, for
the purpose of giving Slavery an opportunity
to appropriate to its own base uses whatever it
can of the free West and Northwest, and for