Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-01-29
N. O. WALLACE. Editor.
0FFIcE--At the same old Stand: Sign Of tht
''05serUer Printing Office
FAYETTEVILLE. TENN
Thursday Morning, January 20, 1857
HON. G. w. JONES.

allow US to copy the entire speech
of the Hon. GEO. w. JONES, on the
question Of referring the Presi-
dents Message to the Committee of
of the Whole on the state OF the
Union, delivered Dec. 16, 1856.
Withoub comment We make some
extracts which speak for him in
terms more forcible than any notice
any one can give of the speech. AT.
ter noticing the difference in the
two great parties in the contest, he
says:
! hold, Mr.. Speaker, that in our
government, taken in all its ramifi-
cations Of State and federal relation,
power is originally in the people; that
the people of the State can do eve
rything through their legislature
which is not prohibited by its con-
stitution or the constitution Of the
United States. hold, further, that
this government, formed by the peO-
pie of sovereign States, can do moth
ing rightfully or legitimately except
what is expressly delegated or nee
essary to execute a delegated power;
and that the people Of the Territory
under heclearly expressed provisions
of the Kansas Nebraska act, can do
everything not violative Of the con-
stitus:on of the United States nor Of
i. that act. | call upon the republican
party-as they call themselyes-to
point out where they find the sOver-
eign power which they claim for
Congress over the Territories. What
kind Of doctrine is it? 1t is pure
and unauthorized despotism. 1t is
a power identical with that claimed
by the British government over
these colonies prior to the Declare
ton of Independence. The repub
lican party bold that Congress has
sovereign power for the government
of the Territories. The British gov
eminent claimed sovereign power
TO bind those colonies in all thing;
and respects whatsoever. That claim
of Great Britain called our fathers
to assert their rights in l776; and
when the struggle was over, they
framed this government, the bless
ings of which we now enjoy. Suct
is the claim of the republican party
think the position of the democrats
party is equally clear, and much more
consistent with the great principles
of freedom and republicanism thar
the despotic doctrines of the self
styled republican party. What is
republic? 1t is, as | understand it
that government which embodies thu
public sentiment, and executes tht
public will. Yetthe republican party
under the false cry of liberty .ant
freedom, claim the right for Congress
to govern the citizens of the Terri
tories in all respects whatever with
out their consent.
But the power to govern the PEG
pie residing 10 the Territory is vest
ed somewhere. The power to form
and regulate the domestic institutions
in Territory is not suspended no
in abeyance. To solve the question
let us appeal TO the constitution
where we will find that
1.-THE powers not delegated to thu
United States by the constitution
nor prohibited by 1t to the States, ar
reserved TO the States respectively
or to the people,
This provision of the constitution
disposes of all the powers necessary
20 be exercised under our forms o
government, including that 10 foln
and regulate the domestic institution
OF the territorial governments, slave
rys included. My friends of thu
South yill agree with me, without
an exception, that the power is not il
Congress, aud cannot he legitimately
exercised by the legislative branch
of the general government. All vii
agree that it is not in the States mol
any one of them. No State can
rightfully exercise power or authority
beyond its defined limits. If not
10 the general or State government,
it must either be in the people oil
the Territory or it is in allegiance
The clause of the constitution which
/ have read forbids the latter con-
clusion, and consequently conclude
&hat this power is in the people OF