The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-08-23

NAOuSouuS8 llOiu AlS lAdSN uhA viz 'NSs
from the North and the South-from all the
States of the Union, old and new, free and
slaveholding? Were they not as well quail
fled to decide the question correctly before
they started as you are who were their
neighbors and kindred? Do you think that
they lost any considerable portion of their
intelligence by the way-side, so that they
were less competent to Judge for themselves
when they arrived in the new Territories
with their wives and children? Suppose
you, who are listening to me with such
kind attention, should conclude to emigrate
to those fairy lands; do you think that when
you should have arrived at your new homes
and have become familiar with the country,
its resources, condition, and wants, you
would be less capable OF deciding for your
selves what kind of laws and institutions
would promote your happiness and welfare
than you are befole you start, and when you
know very little of the country? Doubt.
less you all think yourselves perfectly quail
fed to decide the question now-would you
be less competent to decide it then? APP
plause.
AS an excuse for violating this great
principle of self-government in the organ
Izllion of the Territories and in the admis-
sion Of new States. the abolitionists tell us
that slavery is moustrous evil. 1t is no
part Of my purpose to discuss the merits of
slavery as domestic or political institution.
If it be an evil, your State and mine have
acted wisely, and performed their duty no.
bly,, in removing it from their limits. Stand
ing by and Vindicating the decision which
the people of Illinois have made upon this
subject, claim for Kansas and Nebraska
yea, | demand for every new Stale which
shall be admitted in all time to come-the
right to determine for themselves and to ex-
crcise power which the constitution has se-
cured to, and has been exercised by, the
people Of every State of this Union. I'm
mense applause.
II it be an evil, it is not the only evil for
which the people of the several States and
Territories are called upon to provide ade-
quale legislation. There are many good
and true men among us, who conscientious
| ly believe that the manufacture, sale, and
use of ardent spirits and intoxicating drinks
| 10 % SIlGfOuo evil NillCu Edllo dlOuu lOI
application Of the appropriate remedies; vel
while temperance societies have been or.
ganized everywhere, and lectures delivered,
and the pledge circulated, and strenuous ef.
forts made to induce the legislatures of the
! different States and Territories to provide
remedies by legislation for this wide spread
evil, have never heard that any party, SO
ciety, or individual has presented petition
to Congress, praying that the Maine liquor
law shall be imposed upon the Territories
and new States as fundamental condition
OF their admission Into the Union. regard
less of the wishes and in defiance OF the
rights of the people who may reside therein
and be affected thereby. (Cheers
Crime, in any OF its forms and shapes, is
a very great evil in any State or Terr tory
yet Congress has never presumed to enacI
criminal codes FIR the Territories and new
| States-to declare what shall not be deemed
criminal--to prescribe the penalty and point
ont the mode Of punishment. These things
have always been left. and trust always
will be left, to the people of the different
States and Territories, to be determined by
them through their local legisl ,tures in ac-
cordance with their sense Of right and du-
ty. Why should we make an exception oI
the slavery question, and apply to it u rule
which is adrui,ted 30 be unsound and sub
versive of consti' utdnal right when applied
to any other matter OF local and domestic
concern? Are not the people of tbe Terri
tories capable Of sef-government?' ' If not,
why give them Legislature at all-why al.
low them to make laws upon sny sublecL?--
if they are capable OF selt-government, does
it require any higher degree of intelligence
to legislate tor the negro than for the white
man, or to prescribe The relations OF master
and servant than those of husband and wife
and parent and child?
But, in order to excuse themselves for sc
palpable a reputation of the great princi
! ple of self-goyernment, the abolitionists tel
us that slavery is violation of the law o
God, and therefore the people of the terri
tories and new States should not be imtrusted
with the decision of the question as provi
ded in the Nebraska bill. Without stop
ping to inquire into the slnfulness of olavery
AS religious question, do maintain tha
the mode provided in the Nebraska bill fo
determining the controversy OF its existence
or exclusion, by referring it to the decision
of the people who are immediately inter
ested and alone responsible, is strictly in &C
cordance with the divine law. When Goo
created man, lie placed before him good ant
evil, and endowed him the capacity to de
eide for himself, and held him responsible
for the consequences OF the choice he nigh
make! Tremendous applause and cheers,
This is the divine origin of the grea
principle of seif-government. (Applause.
The Almighty breathed the principle int,
the nostrils OF the first man in the garden o
Eden, and empowered him and his descend
ants In all time to choose their own form o
government, and to bear the evils and en-
Joy the blessings Of their own deeds. Th'
principle applies to communities, and Ter
ritories and States, as well as to indiyidua
men. The principle applies to Kansas a.
well as to PenhsylVanla--to Nebraska a,
well as Virginia. The constitution of til,
United States is in perfect accord with thi
divine principle, leaving each State. and the
people thereof, at liberty to govern themstl
YES and to reap the harvest Of the seed they
may sow. immense applause. Cre
"That is right, that is right. " aa
repeat, therefore, that the constitution
of the United States does not establish sa
very, nor abolish it anywhere--nor does i
neither enlarge nor diminish its area. l
recognizes and protects all the institutions
| AL /, ~.