Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-09-17

lty OF the people declare, by Iaw, that this or
any other species Of propert shqil be recogui-
zed and protected, can it be maintained that
a minority eau at once annui the viii of the
majority and destroy the right Of property by
limiting according to their views the appica-
ton Of the term
These principles were settled long a 90, when
the blood Of the Revolution baptized every a
neriean into the family Of treemen The words
lof our soldiers crowned the people with supreme
sovereignty. The chief argument for the Rev
elution was the omnpotence of the public
voice and by consequence the ri2ht OF the
people to make the laws under which they
live Can those who say that Congress may
make laws for Kansas, deny the power of the
Eagl;sh Parliament Of Il rs to alake laws fer
ihe Colohiesl Where would those who seek
to force laws on the Territories against their
viii have been found iftbey had lived in the
days of the Revolution aud been called on to
resist laws forced on the Colonies against their
will Would they have refused or obeyed
this British tyrants call? Would they have
been patriot wings or tory traitors?
This sovereignty, in which each citizen
shares is p rsonal right older than ths Con
sitution aud higher than the law, which
/ he carries about him wherever he goes Within
the broad bounds of our glorious Republic: !:
which is not lost by passing from one State TO
another, nor limited by territorial lines 1t
is our most precious tArthright-wili be the
richest heritage of our chiidrel-Shall VIC a
bandon it at the bidding Of desperate baud
OF disorganizers, or swear never 10 surrender
it but with life itself?
Either popular sovereignty IS true and safe
or it is false and dangerous. The whole struc-
ture Of our government assumes the former,
and be who denies i is no Republican-hc
who asserts It by force IS q traitor. Why is
i rot to be applied IS we'll il Territories as Ia
Statcs?
To say that the Missouri Compromise has
DESTROYED this rights tn assume that Congress
MAY alter the radical relations which connect
the citizen with the State. aud chat one Con
gress may diyest az their pleasure the c0nstI
tutional powers Of all surrounding representa-
tives of the people There Is no such grant
of power in the Constitution, and what is rot
found there IS not necessary, docs not exist IN
cause by the terms OF that instrument. the
powers not delegated are reserved. To assume
that an Act cxunot be repealed IS TO Limit each
succeeding Congress at the pleasure Of all pre-
ceding Congresses. ana thus gradually to di--
minish the legislative power until finally pre-
sent popular will would be wholly controlled
by the sentiments of former generations. All
laws are compromises. but the great compro-
mise is the agreement to submit to the will of
the majority. This Is the only irreprievable
law. for It Is the human recognition Of Gods
truth of man's equality-in organized Gov
ernment equality before the law.
II Congress may interfere to exclude sla-
very they may with equal warrant interfere 10
Introduce it. Ana thus in either way, des
troy political liberty by destroying popular
sovereignty. # so, We have new species of
slavery introduced political slavery OF
the white man, and neT master crcated-thc
Congress of the Union.
TO assume that unlimited control over in
habitants of Territories is conferred by the
clause, Congress shall have the power 10 dis
pose of and make al necdfal rules and resu-
iations respecting the Territory Of other pro
perty belonging to the United States. Is to
confound the distinction between persons and
things, and convert citizens iuto chattics to be
disposed OF" at the pleasure ot the Federal
Government Horrible distortion Language
-nliserabIe necessity OF subtcrfuge- which
seeks by subjectinc those of cur own flesh anu
blood TO worse than Egy ptian bondage, 20 as
sert for the degraded creatures of u serHile
race an equality. inlpraeticable, because for
ry power Of legislation is granted only in re-
card TO the seat Of 20 eminent. it is virtually
withheld elsewhere. The Constitution is re-
concilable in lis several parts. and each Of
these with the great rlotite and chief object
of It's formation
1t is true that Congress may interfere to Sc
cure this right whore an attempt is made TO
violate it, for Republican form of govern
mept Is guaranteed by tLs. Constitution 10 all
the people OF the Union. This Is not in dero-
CATION but in support Of popular soyclsignty,
which is the principle which brings republics
into being. And as Congress must judge on
application for recognition as . State, Of the
freedom aud fairness of the exercise of the
popular will, they may legitimately use the
necessary means TO secure this independence
of action 1t is in both aspects tue power 60
preserve, nos the right 10 destroy this prlnci-
pie Of Freedom.
,. To. your secoad question | have also
answered NO Ia the fair sense lnteadea By
Mr.. Jefferson, | agree that all men are born
equal" That is to say, each citizen OF the
State may Justly claim to be, in tis political
character, equal to ali his fellow citizens. 1t
cannot be pretended but that both nature ana
fortune unite In creating beings as various,
in all the accidents of humanity, as their own
numbers. If of that race of man which for
med the State, they must be recognized 10y
the State Of which they are citizens, without
regard to those inequalities. But such recog-
ntion depends on, and IS to be controlled by,
the object for which the State exists by
common consent add general necessity large
classes are excluaed from direct political ac-
ton Ii is with consistency, therefore. that