Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-05-02

Anltcu states, lnCluulng tne WnOlc powers I
of Government, executive, legislative, and c
judicial. | mean that this organized Govern t
iucnt, created by the Constitution, has s
sovereignty over the Territories. I
Mr.. Gcyer. Do understand the honor [
able Senator as saying that all the sovereign |
ty Of the United States has been delegated to Z
some one Of the departments Of the Govern |
mcnt
MIR. Colamcr. No, Sir, do not say that
it Is delegated to any one department; but |
say that the Government of the United States
like any other Government where its func-
tons are divided into two or three different
departments, makes unit which may be re-
garded as a whole. 1t is a whole government
taken together, with the combined powers
which its different iunctionarics possess. t.
ken in the aggregate they make the United
States Government, and that is the Govern
ment which say has sovereignty over the
Territory beyond the limits of ny particular
state; and say further, that thissoycreignty
is to be exercised by the Congress of the Uni
ted States as the legislative department OF the
Government. | contend that, in lcgiSlating
for the Territories, the Government Of the
United States never parts with this sovereign
ty. The territorial governments are mere
municipal corporations entirely within the
control OF Congress. do not wish here to
rltN authorities which have cited in the |
the opinion of Attorney General Butler, in .
the case Of Arkansas, where he stated that |
Congress had power to repeal or alter, or |
modify the laws which territorial govern |
lncnt might make This was said by him in |
relation to Il territory in regard to which |
there had been no reservation in the organic
act Of power to Congress to revi.r its laws
The power arises from the existence of sove-
reisnty over the Territories
Why, sir, what is that which gentlemen
call the organic ldw Of the Territories 1t is
their Constitution, and SO is every charter
which is granted TO any corporation its Con
atltuton. Has not the power which makes
the Constitution the right to alter, change or
abolish it, if it rleaSes' Congress made
Constitution for this Territory. and that same
notwithstanding power has the right to
limit. alter, control or modify it. Congress
takes care of the Territory, aud it is the duty
OF Congress to LOOK after its interests. ! view
,h- Territory OF Kansas in the same light as
II. other Territories, and say that the power
OF this Government over it is unlimited
1t was before the organic act was passed. We
may control, limit or amend that act as we
please. All the arguments which ingenious
gentlemen may present rs to the doctrine of
cstopprl have nothing to 10 with the question
O." tn" power of Congress, in my estimation.
W g are told that, because the Legislature of
the Territory has done certain things, we arc
cstnpp,d from touching its proceedings. We
are told that, because the Governor has done
particular acts, we are cstopped from inquir
ins into them. We are told that we are es-
topped from inquring into the fraud violence
an uSurpatiun committed in the Territory OF
Nonsas. deny it. say that doctrine has
nothing to do with our power. But, sir, the
more gentlemen talk about the doctrine of
"stoppel, and the more proof they bring for
ward to show that the people Of the Territory