Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-05-23

"
apportionmen of representation and OF direct taxes
is provided BY the Constitution that 10 the whole mum
ber Of Free persons TO be added three fitis ol all
other "persons. In all its provisions which have re-
ference TO slaves they are described and regarded al
persons. The idea of their being property is careful
! y and Intentionally excluded. If they are property
ALL therefore, not by virtue Of the Constitution
bnt of local laws and only within their jurisdiction
| The local laws OF any State excluded from the
territories of the United States by the necessity oi The
case well as by the exclusive sovereignty conler-
| red upon Congress
| THE PLEA OF POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
Failing thus to establish the right OF the slave
holder to carry his slaves property by virtue oil the
Constitution. into territory belonging to the United
States, the slayehod;ng interest has been compelled
10 caim for the inhabitants of the Territories them
selves the right 10 provide for excluding or admitting
Slavery, right inherent their sovereignty over
their own affairs. This principle oil Popular SoseT-
egnty, II s styled, embodied III the bills Tor or
ganizing New Mexico and Utah. and is made tue sub
stltu'e for the prohibition Of Slavery IN the Missouri
COMPROMISE. which repealed; and the sla ehodlng
interest IS now sustained by the Federal Government
tins posiiion as has been in all the positions
ii has successlvely assumed The principle OF POpu-
lar Sovereignty is fundamental III our institutions.
No one doubts that the People sovereign over all
the Territories, well all the States Of the
Coniederacy. But this sovereignty Is subject TO Inn
atioll dnu LeinltOn, anu can only exist within The
limitations of the Constitution. The People are sove-
reign the House Of Representatives, but their soy-
ereignty may be overrued by the Senate, defeated
by the veto OF the President The States are sover-
elgn; but only within certain limits, and III subord-
nation 10 the sovereignty Of the nation. Two
eighties over the same country and ON the sub
Ject 1t Is manifest cannot coexst must of
sy exclude the other But the Constitution, in
express and unmstakable terms, makes Congress
ereign over the Territories, by comforting upon il
power to make "aH neediul rules and regulations
specting them" The doctrine Of Popular Sovereignty
IN the people Of the Territories finds no warrant or sup
port IN the Constitution. In the language Of Mr. Cal
houn, AT involves an absurdity; If the sovereignty
over the Territories be in their inhabitants instead of
the United States, they would TO be the Terrific
res OF the United States the moment we permit them
10 be inhabited" So long as they remain Territories
they the POSSESSION and under the exclusive donn
ION OF the United States; and II s for the General
Government 10 make Tor them such laws their vel
fare and that OF the nation may require.
We deny that Congress may abdcate portion Of
its authority, and the inhabitants Of terri
tory power conferred upon II by the Constitution
Such an abdcation is abandonment of duty and
cannot be justified on the pretended principle o pop
ular sovereignty. That principle, indeed discarded
the very act of Congress in which IL is claimed TO
be embodied. II SOY oyeregnty exists, 1t must be es-
creased through the organized department OF Govern
the act 10 organize the Territories OF Kansas and Ne
braska prescrbes the requisites of citizenship and the
qualifications OF voters coniers upon the President
and Senate the appointment of Governor who IS
clothed with the veto power, and OF Judges by whom
the law shall be interpreted. Each department OF the
Government thus rests virtually IN the power OF the
President of the United States. To style the small
remnant OF power which such Il law leaves To The
people. popular sovereignty" abuse OF Ian.
guage and an insult 10 common Yet even thus
has been eiiectually destroyed by the invasion Of
armed men, sustained by the General Government IN
their hIgh-mlned endeavor TO force Slavery INTO an.
against the will of the hardy settlers who have
made 1t their home.
The whole system OF doctrine BY which Slavery seeks
possession of the Territories Of the United States
either by asserting the sovereignty of their inhabit-
ants. or by denying the power OF Congress exclude
ANA prohibit Slavery from them, novel and alien 10
the prime pies and the administration of our Govern
ment Congress has alwavs asserted and exercised the
right OF prohibition. Ii was exercised by the vote OF
the first Congress- IN l7s' reaffrmng the ordinance.
OF the old Contederacy by which Sa very was prohibit
ed from the territory northwest Of the Ohio River 1t
was exercised in ls2O IN the prohibition of Slavery
from the LOUISIANA territory north OF 30 deg 30 nm
1t was exercised in ISIS when Slavery was prohibited
from the Territory Of Oregon.
Nor is II IN the least degree impaired by the argu-
nent that these Territories when they become States
hibi Slavery, III their discretion. Their nights as
States do not begin until their obligations as Terrific
ries end The Constitution knows nothing of nj
choate States Congress has power To make .all
neediu rules and regulations for them as Territories
until they are admitted INTO the non as members of
the common confederacy.
GENERAL TENDENCY OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION
on THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY
In all these successive acts III the admission of Ms
al IN the
the provision for admitting four new Siaes from her
territory, III the with Mexico and the CONQUEST OF
her pros inces the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mse and III the cruel war waged against the
people oi Kansas for The extension u Slavery INTO
that territory, trace the footsteps Of 4 DOW erlul
interest. aiming al absolute political power ana srid
ing onward 10 Il complete ascendancy over the Cen
eral Government IL finds powerful allies an. an
open field III the political Tor the prosecution OF
lis purposes. Always acting : Il compact unit il
finds its opponents divided by variety of Interests
Partisan alliances and personal ambitions have hrh
erto prevented any union against its aggressuns and
not feeling or tearing the dlspleasure OF their cunst
tucnts. representatives. from the Free States have
been induced TO AID IN the promotion Of It's designs
All other interests have been compelled 10 give way
before II, The representatives OF freedom ON the.
floors OF Congress have been treated with contunely
they resist or question the right ut supremacy of
the slaveho!dlng class. The labor and commerce of
sections where Slavery does not exist obtain tardy
and Inadequate recognition from the General Gov
ernment, which is swayed by its influence and for
the accomplishment Of Its ends The Executive of
the nation is the willing servant OF its behests and
sacrifices TO ITS favor the rights and the interests of
the other sections OF the country The purse and the
sword OF the nation At It's command A hundred
millions Of dollars expended i'll The annexation
OF Texas. and The war with Meycn Xhirh