The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-18

Ngw YoRK Dec. Is, 1857.
hsve the honor acknowledge the recep, Of your in
vaton 20 attend the meeting at Tammany Hall on the
18th inst, "o consider and respond 70 the policy OF the
national administration, expressed in the hrs Message
meeting and have no doubt viii be appreciated BY all
who have heart the best interests Of government
The present chief magistrate Of the United states s emf
nently worthy Of the high position 20 which he has been
elevated BY the sovereign will Of the people and Is the
obvious duty il the distinguished privilege, OF all who
participated hts election 70 acgucscc and cooperate IN
every Just ard mendaton Of his annstra
ton distinct exprcssson ~ your confidence IN the wis
dom Of his policy and the integrity Of HIS purposes and
the principle. which he elected and BY which he
governed ~ abundan,iy proved BY his past political
career and his message Congress, peculiarly
appropriate this time when the slightest occasion IL
giving needless complications In tho peaceful set
tlerneut ~ vexcd question Of public policy. For the
peace and prosperity q our common country we had a
hoped that the national Legislature 10 be relieved
from further agitation on the subject Of domestic slavery
there really b. be good why this hope
should net be realized. The discussions Of Con.
gross and the Investigations Of the judiciary have thrown
much light upon this subject. and produced important
changes many minds leaving the control aud the exist
~ political Institutions 10 be determined, not
heretofore by arbitrary geographical lines but by funda
mental principles OF cvA government-prncples
which are cmincnily adapted, they ali.
solutely essential, 70 the permanent peace Of
our Union. The doctrine Of popular sovereignty, as
embodied in the Nebraska Kansas act Of 1854 and laid
down in the Cincinnati platform. which the President
has said "s founded upon principles as ancient as free
government tclf very properly refers the question ~
slavery slavery to the people OF each state and Ter
rory of the Unon BY whose sovereignty alone that in
stuiion lcgtmsteiy sustained abroSaed and upon
whom alone the responsibility ~ determining its
isterce In accordance with this elementary principle Of
self government, and in pursuance of prece
dents the Territorial legislature Of Kansas provided for
convention ~ the people Of that Territory TO be raised
by popular election for the purpose of framing state
constitution The members Of that Convention nc.
cordingy chosen a. seniaves Of the people. And
the organic act Of that Territory, Tar from
prohibiting the people from acting finally upon the
constitution through their chosen representatives,
and requiring is submission TO a direct popular
vote not only left them ree 10 form and regulate their
domestic institutions their way THAT j., must
be understood either by direct popular vote or through
representatives Of their choice) but positively estab
lshed the doctrine u intervention and denied the
power 90 prcrogaiye a. any and every officer whether OF
state. of a Territory, Of the federal goyernmeDt-
either IN or Of Kansasto interfere with the legally
constituted authorities and organizations on the people,
when proceeding either directly or through their repre-
septaves chosen for the purpose to form AMI regulate
Their domestic institutions IN their own way" So long,
Their fore ma the democratic doctrines OF popular
regny and Intervention are observer, neither the
President nor the Congress Of the United states has any
power 10 compel constitutional convention ~ the people
any state OF Territory submit their work 10 popu
lar vote, when the people creating that convention have
not required such submission The question 70 whether