The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-09-08
sSuasser sovcreignty-.an Mus.
trali0m.

:. ...........H. O'CONNON.
sSuasser sovereignty..an Illus.
traston.
Hon. J. c. Hall, one Of the big guns of
the BUCCANEERS in this state, made u speech
here on Friday evening last. A goodly mum
Der were present, and we wish every voter in
the city could have listened to it, that
they might appreciate the character, extent,
and power Of the argument, and the low degree
OF intelligence and understanding which was
presumed on part Of the audience, by the
leading elector on the ticket Of the Black
Democracy.
In the course Of his speech he dwelt upon
hetopic of squatter sovereignty, and an
apt Illustration in his own person suggested
itself to our mind that we cannot forbear al
luding to. The Border Ruiians Of Missouri
were great advocates Of squatter sovereign
ty. In manner to suit them il was adopt
ed in Kansas. Then they wen, over into the
territory, "squatted" there for two or three
days, took possession Of the polls, deposited
such ballots as they chose, and so established
Sovereignty" to suit themselves. Mr..
Hall Is very anxious about the feelings of
the people in the same regard, Also
And in his own conduct he has displayed
similar geauineness of esteem for the bona
hde voice Of the people, and proved his po-
litical sympathy and relations with the brig
ands who invaded Kansas, smothered the
real voice OF the people, and are now rally
ing their forces to sweep from the country
by IRE and sword, all the Free State men
who composed the conquered majority.
Once on time, and that not long ago, after
the people of this congressional district had
cast their ballots for representative in Con-
gress, hestole their poll-books, put them in his
saddle-bags, and ran away with them. Now
the only difference between him and the Mis-
sour Ruffians is in point of date. They
took possession Of the ballot boxes before
the polls were opened. He stole the pel-
books after the ballots had been cast. The
character of the act is precisely the same
IN either case. They are equally culpabe
and Infamous. They display an equal n.y.
pocrisy, and an equal intent 10 defeat the
true desire Of the people. The respect for
the popular voice was equally genuine on
either hand. And this is the man sent here
to lecture the freemen Of Lee county upon
"popular sovereignty Shame
But about this popular sovereignty hum
bug. Il is eficctually exploded 1t has been
slain by its own parents. But il may not be
useless even yet to occupy few paragraphs
upon 1t. We will no, take up the subject a,
large, but make u few remarks, aud confne
them entirely to the trick which they PLAYED
OH under that pretence in the Kansas case.
Allowing '.squatter sovereignty" in itself
to be ali right and proper, still the Kansas
Nebraska bill was a cheat, delusion. The
impression made upon the public mind was
that it gave the people Of the Territory OF
Kansas, from the date Of its organization
power to settle the question OF Slavery, ETC.
II il did not really do that, then an attemp,
was made to humbug tue people. That is
clear Now the fact is, it did not give them
that power. 1t did not pretend to do it. Ii
only pretended to give them the privilege o!
setting the question in the constitution
which they might adopt for state orrani
eaton, when they got far enough along Il
that organization proper Can Their,
be any dispute, then, bat that the Tourist
about "squatter sovereignty" in that con
nectlon, was an arrant cheat
Bat IL WAS cnaat ,p ay., - $500.
DE and real pretence, viz: that it gave then
Inc privilege ct settling the question in tn
state constitution. Did il do that? W
deny il. The Kansas. Nebraska bin conferre,
no ner power In that respect. Let us see
The logic is very short in its process, bu
very conclusive. Ii gave the people Ia
power OF asking for admission as a Slav
state or as Free state, as they preferred
II Is eontended. Very well. Did thew no
nave the power of asking anything tie,
chose, before? The right Of petition, IN on
government, is invioiable. They could IRE
sent any kind Of constitution they cho.e
ana they could ask 10 be admitted undcr I,
even though Slavery or Freedom was nro
hibtei ~ the territory so organized. vii
anybody deny tina, There was no la,
prohibiting their making such a request
There was constitutional. law gnarantec;n,
their privilege Of making It. But il gave t,
Congress the power Of admitting Kansas a,
Slave state, whereas before il VII. nroh;,.
tied, they Say. Is not that prepostsrons
Could Congress give itself any powers--
Whateyer power it could give, it alreaa
possessed. Ii not that unquestionable y.
Could any argument be more preposterou
than that 7 The whole thing is humbn.
from first TO last. Congress could admit
ssa Slave state or not, with or without tn
kansas-Nsbraska bill. just as well withou
itas with il the people could ask for ad mis-