Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-02-05

CoihetTdlfu lIN Eltil up'llll' III N'h--'''aN
ment, and restored to the people their full CON
troll over every question of interest to them
selves, both north and south Of that line.
Justice 10 the country and the dictates of
sound policy, require that the Legislature
should confne itself 10 such subjects as viii
preserve the basis Of entire equality. and when
a sufficient population is here, aud they choose
TO adopt a state government, that they shall
be perfectly Free without let or hiudcrance,
TO form all their domestic Institutions in their
own wav,' and to dictate that form OF govern
ment which, in their deliberate judgment, may
be deemed proper.
ANY attempt TO incitc seryile insurrection,
and to interfere with the domestic institutions
of sovereign States, is extremely reprehcnsiblc
and shall receive no countenance from me.
Such Intervention can result in no good, but ~
pregnant with untold disasters. Murder, arson,
rapinc and death follow in its wake, while not
one link i'm the letters of the slave is weakened
or broken, or any amelioration in his condition
secured. Such interference is a direct inya-
sion Of State rights, only calculated to produce
irritation and enlargement.
Every dictate of self-respect-evcry consid-
Grafton of State equality-the glorics OF the
past and the hopes OF the future-all, with
soul stirring eloqncnce, c~onstrain MS to cult
vatc a revcrential awe for the Constitution as
the sheet-anchor of our safety, and bid us, In
good faith, TO carry out all its provisions.
Many of the statutes are excellent, and well
suited TO our wants and condition but in or
der that they may receive that respect and
sanction which Is the vital principle Of all law
let such he abolished as are not eminently
Just, and will not receive the fullest approba-
ton of the people. | trust you will test them
all by the light of the general and f%undamen-
tai principles of our governments, and that all
that will not bear this ordeal, be revised,
amended, or repealed. To some OF them
which strike my mind "a Objectionable, your
candid and special attention is respectfully in
vited.
BY carefully comparing the Organic Act. as
printed in the statutes with a certified copy of
the same from the Department of state, i'm
portant discrepancies, omissions and additions
will be discovered. | therefore recommend
the appointment Of a committee to compare
the printed statutes with the original rolls on
file in the Secretary's office, to ascertain
whether the same liberty has been taken with
them as appears to have been taken with the
act under which they were made.
OF the numerous errors discovered by me in
the copy of the Organic Act, as printed in the
F; statutes, | will refer to one in illustration of
my meaning. In the 29th section, defining the
| Executive authority, will be found the follow
ing striking OMISSION against the laws of
said Territory, and r%eprieves for Offences
: This omission impairs the Executive authority
e and deprives the Governor of the pardoning
e power for offences committed against the
l laws of the Territory which Congress, for
{ the wisest and most humane reasons, has con-
a ferred upon him..
The Organic Act requires every bill to be
presented to the Governor, and demands his
o signature, as the evidence of his approval, be-
fore it can become a law. The statutes are
defective in this respect as they do not con-
h tain the date of approval, nor the proper evil
: dence Of that fact, by having the Governors
| signature. r
Your attention is invited to chapter 30, in
- = - Il - -. Tha a,,Ia -
of Douglas county is imperfect, and in con
IS ~nection with Shawnee county, is an absurdity
Le for both counties. The boundary lines of al
the counties should be absolutely established
:e Chapter Al, establishing the Probate Court
also requires attention. The Act is gooC
I'd generally, so far as it relates to the organiza
j. ton and duties of the Court. But all provi
I'd sions in this and other acts vesting the appoint.
ly ment of Probate Judges, County Commissioner
c. and other public officers in the Legislative
nd Assembly, should at once be repealed, and tn
a. unqualified right of election conferred upon tn
n people, whose interests are Immediately affec
ed ted by the acts of those officials. The FIRE
to and unrestricted right of the people to selec
Ill all their own agents, is a maxim so well set
e. tied in political ethics, and springs so legiti
y mately from the doctrines of self-governmen'
a that | need only allude to the question I
he satisfy every one of its justice. The 'pcopl
cy must be perfectly free to regulate their ow
zee business in their own way; and when the vote
of Of the majority is fairly expressed, all wi
err bow to it as the voice of God. Let the PEI
to pie then, rule in everything. Ihave ever
he confidence in the virtue, intelligence, and 'sob'
es, thought OF the toiiing millions. The delib'
M rate popular Judgment is never wrong. Wht
of in times of excitement the popular mind ma
Eli be temporarily obscured from the dearth
md correct information, or the mists of passio
uss the day of retribution and justice speedily 70
les lows, and a summary reversal is the certa
IA result. Just and patriotic sentiment is a su
sis- reliance for every honest public servant. III
ties sovereignty of the people must be maintaine
lis Section 18th of this Act allows writs
ure habeas corpus to be issued by the Proba
Judge, but leaves him no authority to hear q
the case.and grant Justice, but refers the matter
the the next term of the District Court II
try several terms Of the District Court are
of stated periods, and the provision alluded
ich amounts to a denial of Justice and virtually
suspension OF the great writ of liberty co
trary to the letter and spirit of the Constit
ton of the United States.'
,em Many provisions OF chapter sc, entitl
'Elections,' are Objectionable. Section lit
me. requiring certain 'test oaths,' as pre-requisit
we'd to the right of suffrage, is wrong, unfair, a
-es- unequal upon citizens of different sections
I the Union. 1t is exceedingly invidious to I
an quire obedience to any special enactment.
and The peculiar features of these test oat
should be abolished and all citizens presum
ries to be law-abiding and patriotic until the co
,rty trary clearly appears. Sworn obedience
particular statutes has seldom secured Tn
ate. object. Justice will ever commend itself
the support of all honest men, and the sure
all means OF lnsurlng The ready execution OF Ia
| do Is to make 1t so pre-eminently Just, equal, a
:, or impartial, as to command the respect of tho
by whom it is intended to affect.
the Section Both deprives electors Of the gre
sole safeguard of the purity and independence
the the elective franchise. mean the right
,sed vote by ballot, and after toe first day of n
t of vember, 1886, requires all voting to be VI
vocE.-This provision, taken in connect,
Y of with section nth, which provides that if
the the votes offered cannot be taken before [
A. 4 49, 4