True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-03
Popular Sovereignty-.-The Army Bill


Mr.. Weller, of California without in
tending to do so of course, on the 26th
in the Senate pressed the bitter chalice of
popular sovereignty to the lips Of our
Southern rulers and drew out from their
very hearts confessions and assertions
which exhibit in glaring. light the utter
loahing with which the secession de,
mocracy view this whole pre- ence of leav-
ing the people Of the territories to settle
their own affairs in their own way. Les!
we may be thought to misrepresent, we
give The words Of the truthful correspon,
dent of the North .HmericMu:
Mr.. Butler of South Carolina said he
never went for the doctrine Of popular
sovereignty. When he sanctioned the
act organizing the territorial government,
he meant to confer all the power posses
sed by Congress. Therefore, though
cundemning outrageous laws, he did not
think redress belonged here, because
power had been surrendered, Still he
was willing TO vote for Mr.. Weller's bill,
as a rebuke to The Kansas Legislature, if
il WAS thought to be panacea.
Yet Mr.. Butler supports Mr.. Buchanan
in whose platform we aretold squatter SOW
ereign,y is the main plauk!
Perhapsno more violeat anti Kansas
partisan can be found in the Senate then
Mr.. Mason of Virginia. Listen to what
he said:
Mr.. Mason confessed he hal 1acrer
read these la,Cs, 6u: the legislature Of
Kansas kne,c best Ohat the people requi-
red, and If they were offensive they
could be repealed.
Mr.. Mason said he voted for and ap-
proved the bill passed in May, 1854, to
organize the territories of Nebraska and
Kansas, because it gives the people the
right to regulate their domestic institu-
tions their own way. This bill proposed
to undo that work, and to prescribe how
far they should be free 10 make their own
institutions, and in what respect they
should not be thus free. This proposition
did not meet bis appreciation. ltseemed
TO be introduced now as concession TO
the House, which had cngrafted meas.
ure they knew 10 be obnoxious 10 the
Senate, upon almost every one of the ap-
preparation bills, and insisted upon it, to
The defeat OF that making provision for
the support of the army. He would
move 10 lay upon the table every propo-
siiion Of that kind, until those who were
endeavoring 10 carry into effect their rev.
Olutionary purpose should be reduced to
submission, and be forced to desist from
their efforts 10 overturn the government
Mr.. Mason has never read the Black
Code, but yetis in favor of enforcing it
The remarks Of Mr.. Weller were to thi;
effect: ... .
He regarded some Of the laws of Kan
sas as the most airociOus that ever dis
graced any Legislature, in any age; a;
Infamous in the extreme, cOntravening the
Consti ulion and the organic act, and de
grading humanity, They prohibited the
discussion Of our very domestic inslitu
lions, which the people were called upon
TO determine for themselves. Therefore
it was the duty Of Congress to blot them
out
Mr.. Weller stated, in the course of hit
remarks, that his proposition had been
offered without consultation among biz
political friends. Tie Democracy in the
Senate became restive under the threaten
ed Internal divisions from discussion, ant
10 the silent amusement Of he Republi
can side; and, af,er a has conference
round the Chamber, Mr.. Hunter abruptly
moved ali Adjournment, and refused L
receds, though urged for business, by Mr.
Criltenden and others. ,
We wish our readers would consider
carefully the constitutional bearings O.
the proposisionof Mr.. Masop, He de