The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-01-22
The Pseneer aud d. moe rat a.al ~. Gov.
era0r's MsssAge.

70 he Eji'oss Of he Pioaeer and Democrat
In your notice Of the Governors Message
you have been pleased to speak Of il in very
kind and complimentary terms; but in con
clns,on you say:
In reference 10 the formation Of State Con.
stitation, however. we cannot concur in In.
opinion that the Governor expresses that con.
seht.on OF the people Of Territory, unauthor.
ned by Congressional or Legislative actio NAV
assemble and mould an organic law for the gov.
erhmenf u future State. To U.S. il seems that
Congressional or Legislative authority Is abso-
iateiy necessary 70 divest 1t Of a revolutionary
The squatter sovereignty doctrine /, a favor.
i~ pohteai theory with us, bat the docu.n.
oo'; Oorman breaches. is too revolutionary in
Us charactcr-is too suggestive of Topeka.to
allow Us TO give IL publicity without stating that
" diners from our own convictions as well IN.
on the grounds Of public policy "a of sound
political and constitutional prnciple."
by a careful reading Of the Message il
will be readily seen that the Governor doe,
na assume that it is the BEST POLICY TO have
the people form an organic law, withou,
either Congressional or legislative author-
~, but that sueh authority Is not "absoluteiv
necessary" 10 he first given, before the peo,
pie can proceed by primary meetings to or.
game a convention and form constitution,
and ask admission into the Union.
The people are sovereign for al! purposes
OF forming their own Government, laws, and
institutions in their own time and way,
within the limitations and restrictions Of the
Constitution Of the United States.
Authority from Congress 10 the people of
N f..rey l.
done In AID Of the inherent right of the pco-
-Y.A ~ - '---~issrsss-i.:~ n 'e..e. ,ss can
take the power out Of the pcople hands,
and force them 10 do as tina, body may
direct then II necessarily follows tina, the
sovereignty OF the people is merely q name,
without substance.
And now for precedent, practice and au.
thority from the different American states.
men
Tennessee was admitted into the Union
under constitution formed by the people
independent Of all authority. save their in
herent sovereignty, and this act of Congress
even at that early day, recognized the doc.
irine, express y. that neither Congressional,
nor Legislature authority was absolutely
necessary to divtst il Of revolutionary
character,
Again. Michigan proceeded in 1886 10
elect II constitutional convention, which met
and formed constitution. elected state oil
Gers. AMI actually put in operation full
and complete State Government. without
any aid or interference by the National or
Territorial Legislature Fhis was moi IT.
carried at that time, as at all revolutionary.
nor was the inherent right of sovereignty IN
the people thus expressed, either repudia,el
or questioned. except by Mr. Calhoun. and
few Others.
TN this Michigan question. where all forms
| OF Legislative and Congressional authority
were st aside, overlooked, disregar,l.i. and
| the substance alone considered Bu-
chanan. the chief magistrate elect. in .Japu.
airy, 1887. "a session, oath congress, said
IL 1t were necessary TO place the claims of
hichigah upon other grounds, II might be done
with yreal force. Suppose we we're to admit
That the'r proceedings had been irregular. ought
/ that Ia exclude her from the Cniong On tbi-
subject. We ought TO act Ike statesman &C.
qualn'cd with the history Of our own country.
We ought no, TO apply the rigid rules Of abstrac,
poIiteal science too vigorously to such eases.
1T has been our practice heretofore, to trea,
our infant territories. with parental care. to
nurse them with kindness, and when they had
attained the age Of manhood 10 admit them into
| the family without requiring from The IN rigid ad
! hsrsnce To forms.
! The great questions to be decided are: do the,
contain sufficient population, have they ADOPTED
| a Republican Constitution are they willing 10
enter the Union, II 80, all the preliminary pro.
ceedngs have been considered but r.srs Gvms
,rA,eh 'cs hare Tairsd N repeated insfanees -
| They are bat the scafolding II the build ips
which Is 81 no farther use after the editice Is
complete we have pursued this course In re
gard TO Tennessee, 10 Arkansas. and even to
Michigan
IL Is not necessary Ia give more OF this
able speech Of Mr. Buchanans rs the whole
ground set forth or intended to he broachel
by Gov. GoRaAy, is actually sustained.
iou intimate that by the Governor.
doctrine, the Topeka Kansas convention
and constitution might be- accepted by
Congress, and Kansas admitted as q fnr
state. In this You are certainly right, for
have no doubt that Gov German holds
n does Mr.. Buchanan. that II Kansas has
population sufficient. has formed Repub
lican Constitution, and wants To come into
the Union that Congress may waive"
all preliminary FORMS. ne being nerc scaffold-
ing, which is useless after the eiifce Is com.
plc'c. But the Governor dos not 10 nv
knowledge, hold tina, one political paytI"
may mect-form a constitution and wl,hou,
a tccesSary population come into the t'nion
az matter Of right hut even then. if
congress waivcs oil these prerequisites. anil
looks over the forms and admits Kansas
even under the Top~ka constitution. she
would then b. 10 all inten's and PURPOSES. n
sovereign state IA ihc tHlon. From the
above. /; Is clenr, that The frue doctrine of
popular sovereignty Is this -
The people arr sovereign To form their
own government al their own time and in
their own way, within The spiri, Of the Con.
Sti;uiion q the United States
And Congr,~s has the right 10 ADM, her
as state. waving sll forms
California formed hcr own Convention.
adopted her own constitution. Fixed ber
own boundaries. and asked and received d-
mission into the Union. more doubling nor
sovereign right 10 disregard al forms and
act upon heF own inherent sovereignty.
] trust that yoa will no, adhere 10 dit
icrrni doctrine than this. as it Is surely IN
tersiood 20 h. The dortrine Of the National
Democracy, without addition or aralifca-
hoa. IL Is evinsu,y the best policy 10
have either legislative or Congressional A..
sent AMI even authority Il sou viii. to car.
Y on the 'oFTns for being admitted INTO tho
non; huf the Governor only suggest.
that such authoritative form, arr no; ~ahso-
isteiy ne'SnSary To the end prupsssi
-PycT.ros