The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-02-24
a. Tho Sqpattsr, Sovereignty theory
We mean no disrespect. when 70 call it so.-x<
ST. sno fkc ten6 &c hfesity > sakt, snd 10

L
same name. 1t was JOHN G. CALHOUN,
believe, who presided at the baptismal cere
monies, and who gave to the bantling at tn
time of its christening, tho appropriate ant
significant name which IL has borne ever since
| Cur distinguished Senator who sustain to j
the paternal relation, commonly speaks Of i
under the same sppellation, and we may b
excused for following his example. In refe
renee TO this theory, several things may b
said.
II. The theory is equally good against al
Congr essional legislation, whatsoever. /
the people of tho territories can claim, in al
its extent, (as the theory maintains) the
right of lfgovcrnment, then they have the
right of electing their own executive and ju
dicial officers, and of establishing in all re,
spects their own form Of government, without
the aid of tho National Congress and any
such aid is only an unjustifablo interference
with thoir independence and their sovereign
ty. Selfconsistency, therefore, on the part
Of those who advocate this theory, would
compel them to repudate any and all legisla.
tive action on the part Of Congress.
r.. This theory is an abstraction which its
own professed adherants have never even at
tempted to embody in any act Of legislation.
This is a significant fact. The avowed advo-
Gates Of this theory have been in power du-
ring the eight years since il was first promul-
gated; and yet with the manifold opportuni-
ties of applying it, (f it were capable Of ap-
plication) which have occurred in the revo-
luton Of these years. such an application
has never been attempted! There has never
been so much as resolution introduced into
either branch of the National Congress,
which claimed to embody this abstraction.-
Why have they not left the people Of Utah
and New Mexico, and Kansas and Nebraska,
to manage their own affairs without assistance,
and without interference! Why have they
not allowed them, ono and ALL TO enjoy the
full benefits Of this boasted theory Of "self-
government" Sir, it is such an abstraction
i had almost said, but will not-such an
absurdity, that its embodiment has neve.
| cen so much as attempted by the very men
that have extolled it 70 the Heavens.
T3.l But more than this. Not only have
they themselves failed TO carry out their tho
ory, but when others have proposed to apply
it to the prohibition Of slavery, they have re-
fused their assent. 1t is in the memory of
US all, that. when the revision Of the organ
ic law of Kansas and Nebraska was under
consideration in the United States Senate,
during the last session Of the present Congress,
an honorable Senator sought to amend by
adding a specific clause, which should dis
tinctly and unequivocally affirm the right Of
the actual residents Of those Territories, by
majority Of votes, to exclude slavery there
from. And We remember, too, that the prop
osition was promptly roted dorm, and that
the name of Gen. Cass was found with the
majority! This is the boasted right Of self
government, Of which we have heard SO
much in all the platform discussions Of the
last six months. Such is Squatter Sorreign-
TO get sldvery IN, but power-
les, TO keep it out! Arc the intelligent peo-
pie of the land to be deluded by so transpa-
rent an impositioni
Not long. sir. Our charity would cover a
multitude of sins; but with such facts, which
are matters Of record, staring us in the face,
truth and candor compel us to believe that all
this eloquent talk about the GLORIOUS right of
coming from men who thus
vote, is but the golden tinsel with which ty-
ranny may deck itself, to hide its deformity,
while II practices none the less Its iendish arts.
[4.1 The practical difficulties in carrying
out this theory, utterly condemn it. At the
first sound of the words they fall pleasantly
upon the car, as wo are told that the citizens
Of the territories should have the same abso-
Iute and unqualified right rs the citizens Of
the States to establish such a government
los, tha,,
But let us see how it would work. Who
then are to be understood by the citizcns'-
If a man goes there with fifty Others, are all
Of them to be regarded as citizens, or is he
only, and tho rest to be considered his slaves,
with no voice in the lcgslationf Who shall
settle this question? Do you say that it is
settled by the laws of The State from which
The slave holder comesl Then that State is
The law making power for the new territory.
But another man goes thcro and fifty others
him. Arc they all to be deemed
with voice in the making of tho
avs? They were so considered in the State
rom which they came, although their COM
,lexion is the same as that of the Carolnian's
ifty slaves. If they too carry with them the
avs Of the State from which they came,
hen there are already two sets of laws, and
here may as we'll be twenty.
1t is absolutely necessary, therefore, in the
,utset, that some authority should settle the
question rs to who are tho citizens having |
,ower TO legislatc. If it says all males over |
Il years, that settles the question and legis
ates slavery out. II it says "all free white
nalc citizens" and shuts out tho rest, then
nc class are excluded from any part in the
oting or legislation; and the beautiful boast
d theory, that the people shall be allowed to
make laws for themselves, has 'evanshed in
o thin air." So far then as to define who |
hall or who shall not, be deemed inhabitants,
With power 20 make laws for themselves, some
egislation from without the territory must
,recede the legislation within il. And even
his is utterly fatal to tho glorious Squatter
,overeignty 30 much boastcd Of.
But again: ,chsn shall these Squattcr Sow
reigns have power to make all needful
avs for themselves and for oil who arc to
ONE afterl Shall il be the first twenty that