Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-05-19


Federal Goysrnment II was an oh
iecl not to be avowed, nor to be donein
any direct or palpable manner. Para
phrases, circamlocution, ambidexteri-
terry. and ambiguity. were necessary to
cover Che design: and il was piled on
until it was unintelligible. The Pres
ident read it, and could make nothing
of il; be sent TO his Attorney General,
who was equally puzzled. He then
returned il, with message 10 the
SENATE, refusing to sign the bill for am
ph;balogy. We should reject this
biI 0rthe same cause, il for nothing
|el<e lard isithe fate ofparty fealty.
u has 70 kcep up with tne evsr-chan-
ging measure. Often have these bills
changed; and under every phrase they
had TO DC received as test OF ortho-
doxy; and have more changes 10 under
do yet; and to continue 10 be a testun-
der all mutations.
And. now' what is the object oil this
movement wnicn SO u,s'urDs congress
ana tne country. "nal aoes IL pro-
pose to accomplish 10 settle a Prin,
'cipie, Is 'ne answef-7sne PrinO'P.c Oh
non intervention ana the rlgn. OF the
people oil the territory 70 decide 70 the
question oi slavery ior 'nemseivss' We
Or, there Is no sucn princlple' Inc
Territories are the children oi the
states. tney are minors unuer age
and u IS the business Oh tne states,
through their delegations IN Congress:
70 take care OF 'hem un'li 'ney arc OF
age--until they are npe Tor State Gov
ernment; then 70 give them tn"t gov
ernment, ana aumlt tnem 70 an equal
ity with their fathers. That is law,
and has been so admitted since the first
Ordinance, in 1894. The States in
Congress are the guardians of the
Territories, and are bound to exercise
that guardianship. and cannot abdicate
it without a breach oftrust and dere-
LECTION of dutv WHY. sir. the terrific
rv itself is the property of the States.
and they do with It what they please
cut II nm nv linss nc they nlease cell
or Give il awav. as thev please; chase
white people from il. as they please
This has been alwavs the ease There
i q nrocIamation now extant of the old
CONGRESS of the Confederation, descri.
h;rg tho grst eattlars in tho Northwest
Ter1isorv as "disorderlv persons, ;, and
ordering them to be driven off by the
military yememhoy manv sucb
military exnulsions in the early settle
mentof ths Western country often
eyecuted with severity: burning
houses. cutting up corn, destroyin9
fences, ana driving on the people az
the point of the bayonct. and under
the edge of the sabre. As late as 1885
-'S6, and after the extinction Of the
Indian title to the Platte country, in
Missouri, similar orders were given TO
the then colonel Of dragons commau-
ding on that frontier, the now Senator
in Congress, Henry Dodge. to expel
the people from that purchase. orders
which he executed in going alone,
explaining his business, and requiring
them to go away; which they did, like
good and ordely people; and when he
y was zone. came back like sensible and
industrious people; and secured their
prescriptions. Not only settled but
organized territory has been so treated
by the Federal Government, and worse
the people driven off, and their
homes oiyen away. This happened in
Arlonsss IN 1908. when twelve thou
sand sa square miles of her organized
territory was given to the Cherokees,
and the people driven away. Why
sir. this yery line ofs6. deg. 80 min.
with all the terr tory on one side of it
.nd ,wo dsoyees On the other side.
were ] @iyen away to the King of Spain.
This has been the seventy years prec-
,;ce of ,he Government to treat the
Ts,,.;,or;es Ter as propertv. and the people
a. .n;nv;ted guests. 10 be entertained.
-. snrned ont ne the owner Of the
Sansa :, go" chooscs Fine sovereirns.
tbcsel chased off by the military, and
~ homos g;ven 10 Indians or Span.
;rdI ;"rds. ''O
THO whole ;dea Of lhissoyereipnty is
. na"a,,r ~ scouted from Congress when
! r fret a3neared in the Senate. contra.
d;c1ed by the Constitution, and the
whole action Of the Government, in all
times, and contradictea by the bill
;,ssIf which i 10 secure it The pro.
visions of the bill are "a burlesque upon
sovereignty, IL gives ts the people,
instead Of receiving from them, an
organic act. And what an organic
acl! One in which they are denied
every attribute Of sovereignty. Denied
freedom OF elections; denied freedom
OF yotine: denied choice OF their own
~ H~innr fba