Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-24


the abrogation Of the Missouri compromise is the
incident and not tho principle Of the BILL They
we'll understand that the report Of the committee
and the bill propose to establish the principle in
all territorial organizations, that the question Of
slavery shall be referred to the people to regu-
! late for themselves, and that such legislation
should be had as was necessary to remove all le-
gal distractions 10 the free exercise Of this right
Iby the people.
The eighth section ofthe Missouri act standing
in the way of this great principle must be render
ed imperative and void, whether expressly repeal
ed or not, in order to give the people the power
of regulating their own domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Constitution.
/ Now, sir, If these gentlemen have entire con-
fdence in the correctness of their own position
why do they not meet the issue boldly and fairly
and controvert the soundness Of this great prin-
Iciple of popular sovereignty in obedience to the
Constitutions They know full well that this was
| the principle upon which the colonies separate
from the crown of Great Britain; the principle
upon which the battles of the Revolution were
fought, and the principle upon which our republi-
can system was founded. They cannot be ignor-
ant Of the fact, that the Revolution grew out of
the assertion ofthe right on the part of the impe
rial Government to interfere with the internal af-
fairs and domestic concerns of the colonies. In
this connection l will invite attention to few
extracts from the instructions of the different col
onies to their delegates in the Continental Con-
gress, with view of forming such union as
would enable them to make successful resistance
to the efforts of the crown to destroy the funda-
mental principle of all free government by inter-
fering with the domestic affairs of colonies.
/ will begin with Pennsylvania whose devo-
ton to the principles of human liberty, and the
obligations o: the Constitution, has acquired for
her the proud title of the Key Stone in the arch
OF Republican States In her instructions is con-
taided the following reservations:
"Reserving to the people of this colony the sole
and exclusive right Of regulating the internal gov
ernment and police of the same"
And, in a subsequent instruction, in reference
to suppressing the British authority in the colo
nies, Pennsylvania uses the following emphatic
! language
Unanimously declare our willingness to con-
cur in vote of the Congress declaring the uni
ted colonies free and independent States, provided
the forming the government, and the regulation
of the internal police of this colony be always re-
served to the people ofthe said colony"
Connecticut, in authorizing her delegates to
vote for the Declaration of Independence attach
ed to it the following condition:
"Saving the administration of government, and
the power of forming governments for, and the
regulation Of the internal concerns and police of
each colony, ought to be left and remain to the
respective colonial Legislatures"
New Hampshire annexed this proviso to her
instructions to her Delegates to vote for indepen.
dence:
provided the regulation of our internal police
be under the direction of our own assembly,
| New Jersey imposed the following condition:
"Always observing, that whatever plan of con-
federacy you enter into, the regulating the inter-
nal police of this province is to be reserved to the
colonial Legislature.
Maryland gave her consent % the Declaration
of independence upon the condition contained in
this proviso:
"And that said colony will hold itself bound
by the resolutions of majority of the united col
onies in the premises, provided the sole and ex-
elusive right of regulating the internal govern
ment and police of that colony be reserved to the
people thereof
! Virginia annexed the following condition to
her instructions to vote for the declaration of in
dependence:
provided that the power of forming govern
ment for, and the regulation of internal concerns
OF the colony, be left to respective colonial Leg
islatures.
| will not weary the Senate in multiplying evil
dence upon this point 1t is apparent that the
| Declaration of independence had its origin i'm the
|
which secured to the people of the colonies the
right to regulate their own affairs in their own
way and that the Revolution resulted in the tri-
umph OF that principle, and the recognition of the
right asserted by it. Abolitonism proposes to
destroy the right and extinguish the principle for
which our forefathers waged seven years. bloody
war, and upon which our whole system of free
government is founded. They do not only deny
the application of this principle to the Territories,
but insist upon fastening the prohibition upon all
the States to be formed out of those Territories
Therefore, the doctrine of the Abolitionists-the
doctrine Of the opponents of the Nebraska and
Kansas bill, and ofthe advocates eff the Missouri
restriction-demand congressional interference
with slavery, not only in the territories but in all
the new States to be formed therelrom. 1t is the
same doctrine, when applied to the Territories
and new States of this Union, which the British
Government attempted to enforce by the sword
upon the American colonies. 1t is this funda-
mental principle of sef-government which con-
stitutes the Distinguishing feature of Nebraska
bill. The opponents of the principle are consis-
tent ia opposing the bill. l do not blame them for
their opposition. | only ask them to meet the
issue fair and openly, by acknowledging that they
are opposed to the principle which it is the object
OF the bill to carry into operation 1t seems that
there is no power on earth no intellectual pow
er, no mechanical power, that can bring them to
fair discussion of the true issue. If they hope
to delude the people, and escape detection for
any considerable length of time under the catch
words missouri compromise" and "faith of COM
pacts, they will find that the people ofthis coun-
try have more penetration and intelligence than
they have given them credit for.
Mr.. President there is an important fact con-
nected with this slavery regulation which should
never be lost sight Of 1t has always arisen
from one and the same cause. Whenever that
cause has been removed, the agitation has ceased;
and whenever the cause has been renewed the
agitation has sprung into existence. That cause
is, and ever has been, the attempt on the part of
Congress to interfere with the question of slavery
in the Territories in the new States ol med there
from. Is it not wise then to confine our action
within the sphere of our legitimate duties, and
/ lnnE-, al IL. L.