Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-02-14
cPopular Sovereignty :"


Said the precocious youth to his father, on the
parent signifying his intention of business re-
lation with him" Well, Dad, think the firm
better read John Smith & Father,'" and al
though this was innocently expressed on the part
of Young America, vet it illustrates most beauti-
fully the "popular sovereignty" doctrine as
taught by the great lights of modern Democracy.
Now the Congress of the United States is the
Father of the Territories. 1t pays our expenses
sets up the land marks of government by
shich we are to be guided-annuls all acts pas
sed by our Legislature, wide the Railroad char
ter not in accordance with its ideas of right and
justice-has perfect control over our Judiciary
marks out our thoroughfares and pays for their
construction advises, admonishes, and even COM
Mandolin word, has just as much control over
US has the parent over the child. If we get into
difficulty, Congress is obliged to get us out and
foot the bills. So does the parent for the child.
Just SO long as the young man is under the age
of 2l years, (eyen should he lack but day of his
majority, just so long is the parent obligated in
the eyes of the law. to pay his necessary expen-
ses-to protect him from incarceration in prison,
from destitution, from hunger, and from violence.
When he passes the age of 2l years, then he as
sumes the power to govern himself and the pa
rent becomes no longer responsible. The rela-
tioDs existing between the Federal Government
and the Territories, we view in precisely the same
light. How ridiculous is it then for us to say to
Congress when that body intimates to us that a
business relation would be agreeable, Let the
firm be Sc Son Father!''
Having illustrated the Z" popular sovereignty"
doctrine, as We understand it, we propose to in
quire where we are and what should be our flu
ture course?
lst.-Where are wep We must confess as
party it is hard to tell! Some portion of the
Republicans who believe, and honestly be-
lieve that Congress has the right to legislate on
the subject of Slavery in the Territories now vir
tualy ignore this doctrine and are found follow
ing in the lead of one of the most ultra Pro-
Slavery men in or out Of this Territory gen.
tleman who has boasted Of his speech and vote
against the Wilmot Proviso,-who drew up the
resolutions endorsing the Nebraska Bill and all
its evils, the Administration of Franklin Pierce
and Willis A. Gorman-which resolutions were
to carry Hon. David Olnstead safely into the
White House at Washingtou-this same gentle
man, 1--WE refer to Mr.. Gorman,) having denounc-
ed in the most bitter terms the Free State men Of
Kansas, the Republican party and it's measures,
and boasted of his Pro Slavery career, is to-day
leading certain portion of that party on to the
rocks and quick sands Of utter ruin. Does Gov.
Gorm-n justify and approve the course of the
settlers of Kansas in the formation of their Con-
stitution, the Constitution framed at Topeka?-
Not bit. Does German admit that Congress
has the right to legslate on the subject of Slave
ry in the Territories? Not bit. Does German
denounce those Border Ruf6ans who violated the
sanc.ity of the ballot box in Kansas and murder
ed innocent men? Not bit. Does he disap-
prove Of the laws passed by the spurious Legis-
lature of Kansas? Not bit. Does he deny the
right of the President and the Senate to appoint
him to his present position? Not bit. Does
he deny the right of Congress to mark out the
boundaries Of its own land2 Not bit Of
what then does his " squatter sovereignty con-
sist Simply to deceive the Republicans and
procure their cooperation in the removal of the
Capital from st. Paul 10 the fourishing town Of
st. Peter! When his smooth and we'll worded
message made its appearance, we gave him the
full length of his rope, aud soon found that the
bait took. He received a nibble or two, but not
without our warning, for in our issue of Jan.
uary 10th, we stated
"Well the Governor says the People have a
right to make their own Constitution, as was the
case with the actual settlers Of Kansas wide the
Topeka movement while the Pioneer asserts that
such "movement is considered by nins-t tenths
of the Union rs a ridiculous farce" Now
let US ask if Gov German is really sincere in the
position he has laid down, or is it simply a rusa
to blind the eyes of the Republicans IL VIC
know the man Cand We profess to have some &C.
quaintance with him. be justifes the acts of the
Missourians, claims that every Free State man in
Kansas should be hung THAT the Topeka Con.
stitution is q farce and that the only doctrine
by which to be guided is that promulgated by
Pierce, Douglas, Stringfellow & Co. Is no, his
Exceliency playing game in order to secure the
corporation of the Republican members on some
local measure?-some hide land go-seek scheme
The highwayman is frequently driven to the ac
of murder by the spirit of desperation! May i,
not be SO with politicians % asae
Suppose now the Republican party follow the
lead Of Gov. German call Convention ap-
point Delegates form a Constitution and ther
ask for admission into the Union, and suppos,
Congress says she did to the Topeka men
" You can't come in--your action is revolution.
ary'"--what then9 German, having succeeded
in distracting the Republican ranks, wheels Of
into the line of the true blue puts his finger t.
nose, and laughs hugely over the game he ha.
played! The Democracy, acting under the di
rection Of Congress, call their Convention, ap.
point their Delegates, form their Constitution
knock at the door of Congress and are admitted
into the Union, and the NEW State sends to Con
gress two Democratic Senators and several Dem
ocratie Representatives. lass I t.
We do net imputs to the Republican member