The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-05-14
A SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC VIEW OF
sQUATTER SOVEREIGNTY,
Fam ,ha Riahmond ENQUIRER Of April "a

From the Richmond Enquirer Of April ~
r. Among the fair bui false and fatal theories 81
sbs day none attracts so much homage as the
a.. Souat,er Sovereignty" courezan. There are
note az radiant with rnere,ricons charms. none
On ready with deceiIful promise. and none So
epre 10 cover their victim with shame and re,
prosch. The sovereignty ii the people Is
noSle principle, and should command universal
homsge. .Squaner Sovereignty is IN impos.
inre, counterfeit, cory. an ugly mol wro,lgh,
by Tan's hands, and should be kicked ohsthe
PEDESTAL where i, sis in mock majesty and Courts
The alteration Of fouls and demagcgnes.
We cannot conceive how any donb, can arise
NJ Ia The fnIl, perfect. unlimited, and sovereign
power Of The Federal Government over The Ter
ri,arv Of Kansas as The agent or irnsiee Of The
existing States. By the purchase from Loulsl-
ana. and the subsequent, extinction OF The inaisn
titles, he Territory became ours 10 dispose Of
and govern as we pleased for The cnmmon be.
nef, Il all ihe Slater. The States can only ex-
erc,se their sovereign administrative and govern
mental richis through The fundamentally Of the
Federal l;overnneai. The writers on national
law, il IL true, alfix this limit 10 the exercise Of
sprh powers, /" that no nation has right 10 keep
nnseilled large and fertile Domain" Thsis,
hpweyer, mere speculative morality. which can
never become practical question between civil
iizeil nsion..
The practice Of the Government corresponds
with DOR doctrine. When Louisiana was &C.
quired The President alone was entrusted with
almost absniaie power over lie government, tll
Congress should make other regulations. I'd
vol. United Siaies Statutes al Large, page Els,
session 1907 Al tie next Session See vol.
81. p. 1853 Congress an,hofized the President
10 appoint Governor and I.egislsiive Coun-
Gil OF thirteen, al 10 he land owners, who might
enact laws, subject 10 The approval Of Con-
gress. Thus The Federal ieyernmen; een'inu,
Ell. through officers selected by iiself, to exer-
else sovereign power over numerous aud
wealthy people, without allowing 'hal people
any voice whaiever in their own government. 4
similar course was pursued IN the Northwestern
Territory, where Goyernnr and three judges.
appointed by The Federal Government, exercised
legislative. executive, anil Judicial powers, Their
laws also being subject 10 The apprnvaI Of Con-
gress. United Slales Statutes al Large, WI. L
page 81
The ordinance. however, Of 1889 gives 70 Ibis
Territory HE right 10 select a Legislature a.
rhSi ~ " rHeH uNO iftNursAN i0N '"atN
inhabitants above. The age Of iaeniy.oue, THAI
j.. when lis population should amount To about
twenty-five ihoasand.) None were 10 snie for
members af Assembly unless possessed Of a
freehold of fly serfs of lani. The Whole ten
Or Of these aeis shows hat Il was deemed clear
thai the people Of The Territories liad m r,gi,i
10 voce IN their own eoseinmfni TIL such
right was conferred on them hy Congress.
This absolute DOMINION over our Territories
!, essential TO our existence as nation. u might
happen that a newly conquered territory. or a
territory occupied by free negroes, Indians, Chi-
ness. hordes Of robbers, lswiess, ignnrani. and
immoral people 81 any kind. could not be trust
ed with sny wore 10 their own government ev-
en- ss reriiofy. much less would such people
be entitled 70 admission a. State simply he
cause ihey had population sufficient 10 elect
member 81 Congress. The frderll Govern
mrhi hnuad u govern Ill the 'ferr'c;ies. II
may sni shnnld exercise rs powers through a
Territorial Government elSriel by the people,
90 he governed when the people are sufficiently
moral and intelligent for risnsenment and srr
Wei sarcltd 10 rs and onr institutions. II should
admit ~ people A. State vino are mol in al
Tssperis 6ued fnr sslf.gpsernmsni, ami should
lsos closely 10 The PROVISIONS of the constitution
81 the people so spplyiag 10 see whether lie
RttaI Interests Of morsiiiy. religion, properly,
and liberty are adequately secured.