Demoine courier., 1856-03-06
bY this Adminis,ration, and al ,hs pow.

er oil the government appears to be con
centra,ed to sustain the doctrine Of
'Squatter Soue,eignty,' which simply
means that Congress, the law making
power under the Constitution oil the Uni.
ted States, shall be robbed of the right
to make laws for her own territories;
that this right TO legislate on all ques-
tons affecting not only the right, Of per.
son aRd Of property of all her citizens in
the territories, bu: also affecting the mar
RELIABLE uaiue other publ domain. shall
DO surrendered to persons over whose
legislative acts Congress shall no, exer-
else ever a supervisory control.
Had England, France or Spain, de-
nied the full, and complete. and conclu.
siue sovereignty Of the United States in
any OF her " territories. by any na-
Iional act. this government would have
regarded j, as a Just cause for war
But the friends Of the present admins
,ra.ion make the broad denial with i'm
punity. Its northern friehds locate this
sovereignty with the Governor, Council,
and House Of Representatives. Of each
territory, who are all the stipediaries of
the General Government, and derive all
their powers from Congress; and hence
could no, possibly derive power which
Congress never possessed. Its Southern
friends locate complete sovereignty over
the territories nowhere, and both classes
seem resolved 10 cut of dispassionate
argument by assailine all who agree ON
this subject with Jefferson aud the Falh-
ers Of the Republic, as enemies OF the
Constitution and ofthe Union.'
And now allow me to, conclude this
hasty letter. by saying. that | would not
willingly permit tAe President Of the
United States, by an u%hrestrained exer.
else Of The veto power, to overshadow
Congress-. ncr would | 80 leeisla,e as to
compel nearly thirty millions of Ameri-
can freemen, TO carry on the. mechanic
arts and the manufactures necessary to
supply their wants. three thousand miles
from home, beyond an intervening ocean:
| would not thus keep abroad the more
intelligent, useful, and virluous portion
Of the population Of Europe. who are
virtually in our employ. while We re.
ceive hundreds of thousands of those SO
much less desirable; nor would | viii.
iingly de,hrone,C Congressional supreme
power in the United States which may
command what is right and prohibi. what
is wrong in any part Of her territories.
| would not deprive the only law makiEg
power known 10 the constitution of the
rover to make all needful rules and reg
u~lalions for the territories. would not
by any act of mine, expose free territory
TO the wilhering, blish.ing influence Of
slavery.
But I am, not. one Of those who, must
have aN.of these, and kindred measures,
or none. No sir, | am prepared to sur
render. for the time being. one after an
other Of cherished measures, until, if need
be, but M shall remain, on which a ma
joriiy of the people eau agree. This
seems to me to be dictated bv
wisdom and a sound discretion. Should
the friends of the administration Liumph,
zoe shaH loose all. II, by forbearance
and mutual concession, we can aecure
the establishment of but M great ma
tional principIe,-never denied previous
to the passage Of the Kansas Nebraska
Act, .lhe complete, fell and exclusive
sovereignty Of the United States
throughout all. her oun Territories" nn
Ill they shall have been received into the
Union as Sovereign States, Patriotism.
and Justice, aud Humanity, and self.re-
spec. in he presence ofcivhized na,ion1.
all impera.ively require i, a. our. hands.
Yours Truly,
JAMES HARLAN.
HENRY w. LATHRoP, Esq
Iowa Guy. Iowa.,