Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-02-09
soUArTER SOVEREIGNTY,

Nv Phftl thffont w Pfohoscs n"l
not be amiss to refer to the much
abused doctrine Of Squatter Sovereign
~. Our readers will remember that
we contended last summer that the
plea for squatter sovereignty was
merelys ruse to divert public atten-
ton from the enormous wrong perpe-
trated against freedom. by opening
the door TO slavery, that Il might over.
run the free territory Of the NORTH
We doubt not. many an honest man
was dsluded by the specious plea. that
popular rights required the people of
the territories 10 do a. they pleased
They were opposed to slavery and its
spread; but they loved democracy
and the rights Of squstters more. and
hence they voted to sustain the great
iniquity.
But scarcely had the results Of the
election been known, before the settlers
in Kansas. we're driven from the polls
by mobs from Missouri, who voted rs
they chose. and mostly contrary to the
wish Of the settlers. Though this
fact was established beyond question,
we find but few Of the journals that
favored the interests Of The South. on
the plea that II was that squatters
might do as they please, rctrscting
the oft.repeated falsehood. that the
South did notwant to. or expect to in
trodues slavery there, But few Of
them even condemned the course Of
the Missourians. Some did say that
II was all done without the sanction Of
the squat.er Sovereignty party. and
that hencsforth the. new doctrine Of
popular rights should extend over all
territories. We knew this was false.
Every man. Of senss ought 10 have
known Il was. II is contrary to the
fundamental doctries Of our govern
ment Taxation and representation
ought 10 be inseparable. and while the
general government! Is responsible for
the expenses Of territorial governments
II should. and II will. have . supervis-
lon over its affairs
But who would have thought that
the present Congress. composed Of the
very men who. less than six months
ago, were haranguelng popular assem-
blies everywhere in behalf Of "popu.
lar sovereignty" would So soon prac'
tically repudiate this doctrine? Yet
the tslsgrsphic report Of congression'
al proceedings. Of last Monday week
contains the following:
"Mr. Cutting. from the Judiciary
committee, introduced . resolution
annulling the action Of the Minnesota
Legislature. in chartering the Mime
sofa and Northwestern Railway an,
Transit Railway companies. The res
olution passed"
There II isl That Is the practice o
; the demagogues who tried 10 bin,
Northern men by the false plea o
} squatter rightsl Congress--a Demo
cratic Congress--ihs Democratic Con
D gress that repealed the Missouri Com
promise. q thousand miles from Min
I. nesota, and without aiiowing as dele
gate from Minnesota 10 vote on The gues
I ton al al. ANNUL!S A RAIL VA,
I CHARTERiU The squatters q
1 Minnesota may not even charter
. railroadl Gould any thing expose theI
Q hypocrisy more clearly
Q Now We believe Congress- did RICH
In this annulllng vote. But where al
4 tho sovosignsf Ali had the MINI,
Il sofa Territory resolved 10 Introduc
slavery thore. the squatters woul
u have been right. and we venture
= predict that q resolution to ann,
'tI would have been debated long an
o hard. and popular rights invoked.
u This act Of Congress should ops
n the eyes Of all thinking men. Col
" gress has not, and never will. ar
. never should. surrender tho right
d leglslate for territories.