Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-05-01
A Southern Democratic view Of
Suuatter Sovereignty.

From the Richmond Enquirer of April 2i.
Among the fair but false and fatal theories
of the day hone attracts so much homage as
the "Squatter Sovereignty" courtezan.
There are none so radiant with meretricious
charms, none SO ready with deccitful Prom
Use, and none so sure TO cover their victim
with shame and reproach. The sovereignty
of the people is noble principle, and should
command universal homage. "Squa,ter
Sovereignty is an imposture, counterfeit
copy, an ugly idol wrought by mans hands
and should be kicked off the pedestal, where
it sits in mock majesty and courts the ado
ration of fools and demagogues.
We cannot conceive how any doubt can a.
rise as to full, perfect, unlimited, and SOW.
ereign power of the Federal Government
of the Terr t,ry of Kansas as the agent OF
trustee of the existing States. By the pur.
chase from louisiana, and the subsequent
extinction of the indian titles the Territory
became ours to dispose of and govern as We
pleased, COR the common benefit of all the
States. The States can only exercise their
sovereign administrative and governmental
rights through the instrumentality of the
Federal Cover nment. The writer's on ma
tional law, it is true. affix this limit to the
exercise of such powers, "that no nation ha:
a right to keep unse tiled large and fertile
domain." This is, however, mere specula.
tive morality, which can never become +;
practical question between civilized ma
tions.
The..practice of the Government correspond:
with our doctrine. When Louisiana wa.
acquired the President alone was entrusted
with almost absolute power over its govern
ment till Congress should make other regu
lations ed vol. United States Statutes al
Large, page 245, session lSO9) At the next
session (see vol. I'd, p 2s3 } Congress au.
thorized the President to appoint Governor
and Legislative Council of thirteen, all ,t
be land owners, who might enact laws sub
ject to the approval of Congress. Thu
the Federal Government continued, through
officers selected by Itself, to exercise sover
eign power over a numerous ard wealthy
people, without allowing them any voice
whatever in their own government. A sim
liar course was pursued in the Northwestern
Territory, where Governor g. three Judge:
appointed BY the Federal Government, exer
cised legislative, executive, and judicia
powers, their laws also being subject to the
approval of Congress. Omitted State Stat
utes at Large, vol. 1, page 5l.)
The ordinance, however, of 1889 gives t.
this Territory the right to elect Legislature
so soon as it shall contain five thousand free
male inhabitants above the age of twenty one
Chat is, when its population should amount
to about twenty-five thousand.) none were
to vote for members of Assembly unles;
! possessed of freehold of fifty acres o
land. The whole tenor of these acts show:
that it was deemed clear that the people o
the Territories had no right to a voice il
their own government till such right wa:
conferred on them by Congress.
This absolute dominion over our Terrific
ries is essential to our existence as nation
1t might happen that newly conquered
territory, or territory occupied by free ne
groes, Indians, Chinese, hordes of robber.
or lawless, ignorant, and immoral people o
any kind. could not be trusted with any voic.
in their own government even as Terrific
ry, much less would such people be entitled
to admission as State simply because they
had population sufficient to eject member
OF Congress. The Federal Government i.
bound to govern all the Territories. 1t ma,
and should exercise its powers through ;
Territorial Government elected by the
people, to be governed when the peo
pie are sufficient moral and intelligent fol
self-government and are we'll affected to u.
and our institutions. 1t should admit ne
people as State who are not in all respect.
fitted for self-government and should looE
closely to the provisions of the constitution
of the people so applying to see whe ther
the great interest OF morality, religion, prop.
erty and liberty are adequately secured.