The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-31

ted NY the authors and supporters Of that
bill when it was brought forward? Did we
not come bcfore the country and say that we
repealed the Missouri restriction for the
purpose Of substituting and carrying out a.
a general rule, the great principle Of elf
government, which left the people Of each
State and each Territory free 10 form and
regulate their domestic Institutions 10 their
own way, subject only to the Constitution
Of the United States In support Of that
proposition, II was argued here, and have
argued it wherever have spoken in the va.
riOts States Of the Union, at home and
abroad everywhere ! have endeayored TO
prove that there was no reason why an ex-
ccption should he made In regard 10 the
slavery question. have appealed 10 the PEG.
pie IL We did not all agree. men.of all parties,
that all other local and domestic questions
should be submitted to the people. said
to them, :" We agree that the people .hal
decide for Themselves what kind of a Judi
ciary system they shall have; We agree that
the people shall decide what kind ola school
system they will establish we agree that
the people shall decide for themselves what
kind Of banking system they will have, or
whether they will have any banks at all :,
we agree that the people may decide for
theme yes what sball be the elective fran
chi.e IN their respective States they shall
decide for themselves what shall be the rule
Of taxation and the principles upon which
their finance shall he regulated We agree
that they may decide for themselves the re-
lations between husband and wife, parent
and child, guardian and ward and why
should We not, then. allow them 10 decide
for themselves the relations between master
and ervantl Why make an exception OF
the slavery question by taking il out Of that
great rule OF selfgovernment which applies
TO all the other relations oflife," The very
first proposition In the Nebraska bill was 10
show that the Missouri restriction, prohibit
Ing the people from deciding the slavery
question for themselves, constituted an CT.
cepiion to the general rule, in violation of
the principle Of self government, and hence.
that that exception should DO repealed and
the slavery question, like all other questions,
Submitted 10 the people, he decided for
themselves
Sir, that was the principle on which
the Nebraska bill was deienlc,l by its friends.
Instead OF making the slavery question an
exception, Il removed an odous exception
which before existed. Its whole object was
W abolish That odIous exception and make
the RUE general, universal In It's application
10 all matters which we're local and domes.
TIC, ana not national or federal. For this
reason was the language employed which
the PRESIDENT has quoted, that the 9Th sec
t,on OF the Missouri act, common called
the Missouri Compromise, was repealed be-
cause IL was repugnant to the principles Of
hon-lh'er'cn'ion established by the compro-
mise measures OF 1890, III being the true in.
tent ana meaning OF this act not to legislate
slavery into any Territory or State nor to
eNc'"de II 'hercirom' but To leave the people
tn'reoi perfectly Tree to iorm and regulate
'htir uoii'ts'ic institutions IN their own way,
SUBJECT only 10 The Constitution ofthe uaitel
states we repealed the Missouri restric-
alot because that was confined to slavery.
NAT was The only exception there was 10
lhe general principle OF government
ihat exception was taken away for the
aowen and express purpose OF making the
RUE OF seltgovernncn' general and universal
so ,h"t The people should form and regulate
all Their domestic institutions in their own
way
Sir. what would this boas,ed principle Of
popular sovereignty have been worth if il ap-
piled only to the negro, and did not extend TO
the white man. Do you think we could have
aroused the sympatbies and the patriotism
OF this broad Republic, and have carried
the Presidential election last year in the
mee OF tre'n'ndoas opposition, on the pr'n-
c'p' OF extending the right OF sclfgo'ern-
men, 10 'he negro question pnt denying u as
70 AL ,ne ro'a''ons a''ee''ng wh'ts men No.
SIR afouSs' 'he patriotism oil The eoun.
"! ana earfsn ,he election IN defence OF
ua' great principle winch allowed all white
men '" 'oI'h ana regulate Their domestic IN
H'u,'ons 10 SUIT Observation-Disclosures ap-
Phe"o'e 70 ~n'e men as well AZ TO black
nNn-"ls''n''ons appncaoe To rcemen as
wen as 10 s'aves--'ns'l,u''ons concerning all