Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-12-02
An Important Principle.

lleS at the very DasIS VI Fcpuoican govern
ment. 1t asserts the right, and acknowledges
the capacity of the people to rule themselves
It is indispensable to the existence of our in
stitutions, and cannot be controverted without
encouraging la awlcssncss usurpaton ard tyr-
amy It is the principle, upon the protec-
ton and preservation of which the rights of
the States, the safety of the South and the
security of the Union depend. It is pIacti-
cally presented to the Amercsn people, and
under circumstances that threaten to impair
It's efficacy, by peryerting its action, il deter
mining the mode Of adopting tue organic Law
of Kansas.
1t is held by certain set Of Southern poll
iticians. that with the Convention chosen for
the purpose of framing the Constitution, rests
the right to submit it TO the people or not. for
ratification rejection. They contend that
the Convention is sovereign, that those who
elected its members, delegated to them the
authority not only TO frame the organic laws,
but also to say that those laws shall be bind
ing, whether the people approve them or not.
Ia other words. that they are invested With
indjsputablc power 70 determine upon the
character Of the institutions ofthe new State.
to proclaim that to be law, which cannot pro-
perly become law until the people have :.c-
cepted it as sucb: Is such CONSTRUCTION Of
the Nebraska Kansas bill. in accordance with
the intent and Of that act! Is it in conform
ity with republicans principles? Is il not in
favor Of usuTpatiOn Of the power, and an
eucroachuent upon the s0Vereigutv Of the
people, Let US see. Tha soul and substance
of the Nebraska bin, as it was intended h
operate, is the right Of the people cf the ter
ritories to adopt their own institutions without
tie Interference of the Federal Government
1t IS true tLat the refusal Of the Convcu-
ton to submit The Constitution to the popular
voice, would not be alnen4ble 10 the objection
Of Federal Intervention But would it be
allowing to TIE Jcopie-the J0nu 7ide iuLabi-
tants Of the te:ritory-tha; liberty Of thought
and action TO which they are entitled, not
less by virtue of the spirit of our government
than by the express declaration aud mmedi-
ate object OF the very act, IL obedience to the
provisions of which this convention has been
called into exercise? Suppose that from
some cause, The convention should adjourn for
six months, or, continuing ia session, that If
should be unable to present q complete Con-
stitution in less thaa SIX months, would it be
proper that those who III the interval, might
come into the territory with tLe intention Of
remaining. and who had been there long
enough 20 vote for territorial laws and oil
ing upon the oyqqsic law-;he Constitution
Of the new State? The great ol ject il n.uss
be remembered. is 10 demonstrate the car,lina!
principles Of our government, by securing to
the pco{ole, the right TO adopt their own ins3i-
tutions; thus Illustrating at once J2YDuIqr
sorele;ya'y the great fundamental doctrine
Of Democracy, and .StGte righ.s an essential
element in the policy Of a conicdegatcd re-
public.
The legitimate sense cf the people must be
asccrtaiued, and allowed supreme sway in The
conversion Of a Territory iato State Such
IS the true Republican spirit, and such the
/ essence OF our own good Government The
people of Kansas have tho right % say yr!rt!.-
t; slavery shall or shall not exist in The new,
State. fer which they are sbcut 70 seek ad-
/ mission into the Union BY the people o.
/ Kansas gre, of course, meant those. snI
/ those alone, Who have gene into the Tcrritorg
! wiki the purpose Of making it their home
! They are the soTereIgn power. 10 rstjfv OF
reject that which their representatives may
! deem best for the organic law Of the State
! which !s not yet, bat is to be Aud nov Y
! submit the question 70 every unprci iudicol
. mind, would the will of TIE people be NOR,
! fully expressed BY the memhcIs Of the Con.
yentlon. or by ilc votes Of the people thcm
solves II tEa Convention j. satisfied tGs
what il does VII be sccoptaDle to the people
Why refuse the fcrmslity Of putting i 10 th.
test?
There can he but oue objection. AMI tha
may be 20 readily removed, that il csnro
amount 10 a difficulty. We mean the l;z5i!
ty Of being imposed upon by the votes C.
others than those who are entitled TO the cx
ercis Of the elective franchise. But let IL,
Couy cntion in It's wisdom and discretion. with
out prejGGice, . fear, favor ar affection . rre
scribe such qualifications for voters as shall
as closely as is practicable, embrace all IN,
d0Aa Gtfe Inhabitants, and exclude advcniu
rcrs and aoiou;ners aud the will of the peo
pie may be arrived at with sufficient accurac,
/ to render the lecitiniacy of the decision salts
factory and certain IF Tie Convention Is
favorable 70 the adoption of slavery as an in.
stitution of the new State, and HE people art
opposed to It; let us ask which should control
the delegates OF the people, or the pcopl,
/ tbemselyes-the agent or the principal-th;
creature or the creator? The answer is 50
/ parent to every schooiboy's mind. And i
tho people are in favor Of it, as well as th,
| Convention, Why not submit the Constitute,
Tor their ratification? The Nebraska X arsa.
act enboties what were intended to be terms
Of adjustment between the North and South
an agreement between the free States and
the slave States, that they aud we would ad
here to the spirit of the government and thl
/ principles Of the Constitution and allow thc
! people Of the territories in all latitudes and
in every section to reject or accept slavery al
their own option. So it then follows as wei
from the intent of the act under which the
Constitution of Kansas is to be framed. a:
well as from the principle of popular sover
eighty itself which is the chief element O
our political system, that the Convention
should submit the Constitution to the people
Such mode of proceeding is not only denied