The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-07-15
The PflMeiplc.

The Nebraska bill Is founded upon the
principle, that the people are sovereign that
they have the power, and of right ought to
exercise il, to regulate ALL their domestic
affairs in such = name, as shall coincide |
with their views and interests. This is the |
principle which we call Democratic and JEFF. |
fersonian.
At the time Of the formation Of the Con-
stitution Of the United States, every one Of
the old thirteen states passed resolutions,
declaring that they would never enter into
the Union under the constitution, unless the
right of Regulating their own domestic affairs
was left to themselves, We say then that
this principle is the corner stone Of our gov.
ernment, and that it was supported and
maintained by Jefferson.
The Republican Of last week attacks this
position, and calls it impudence. The re.
marks, however, on the subject are 40 scat
tered through several articles and dissipated
through tao or three columns, that it would
be impossible to quote anything containing
his position if he has any.
The Republican moreover commits the en-
Ormous historic blunder Of attributing the
authorship Of the ordinance of 1877 to JEFF.
ferson. Mr.. Dana of Massachusetts, was the
author Of that instrument which declares
that slavery shall not exist in the North west
territory. This prohibition was al excep-
ton to the general principal of sovereignty
upon which this government was founded
and in the establishment Of territorial gov
ernmen,s the United States never came back
to the general principle until the organiza.
ton Of the territories Of Utah and New Mex.
leo. We do not pretend to deny that the
,rt &c ,Ts7 ~ort~n vor.d .h;n i-~. i,rv, VI
that Jefferson, though not the author, yet
supported the measure. Yet this in no way
overthrows the main principle, or proves that
It's not democratic, and whoever claims
that it does stultifcs himself And to at.
tempt to show that Jefferson was an enemy
to this general principle, and that it is not a
fundamental doctrine Of our government, and
democratic in its nature, is superlative i'm
pudencc and an insult to any intelligent un
derstanding.
Whether it was the best policy to repca
the Missouri restriction and apply this prin
ciple to the territory effected by that measure
is entirely another question. But this hal
all been done, and now what arc you going
to do aboutt. You can't repeal lheNebrask'
and Kansas bill, and it is inpracticable 4
attempt it. What then arc youMr. Republican
and all others that are 50 rampant on In
subject Of slavery, going to dor Are yo'
going in with Clay and that fanatic clique, u
repeal the fugitive slave law, that in 1885,
, you supported and defendcd2 will you dc
clare all Shareholders unfit to hold any ofiic
, under this government will you &c in 70
the prohibition Of the slave trade between tn
| different statesg What are you going TO d
o with your Baltimore Platformi We expec
the answer would be IRE expect to carr
Tie election this .JaA' Anything that is tho
n will win. There is the b ginning and tn
n end ofwhiggery. They will embrace tn
n fugitive slave law when they think pres
!, dent can be elected by it, and rspudate
:. when congressman might be chosen there
d by. Truly, consistency thou are a jewel.