Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-24

the eighth section of the Missouri act, COM
monty called the Missouri compromise, was
repealed because it was repugnant to the
principle of non-intervention established by
the compromise measures of 1850, cit be-
ing the true intent and meaning of this act
not to legislste slavery into any Territory
or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but
to leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institu-
tions in their own way, subject only to the
constitution of the United States" We
repealed the Missouri restriction because
that was confined to slavery. That was the
only exception there was to the general
principle of self-government That excep-
ton was taken away for the avowed and
express purpose of making the rule of self
government general and universal, so that
the people should form and regulate all
their domestic institutions in Their own
way.
Sir. what would this boasted principle
of popular sovereignty have been worth. if
it applied only to the negro. and did not
extend 70 the white man? Do you think
we could have aroused the sympathies and
patriotism Of this broad republic, and have
carried the Presidential election last year in
the face of a tremendous opposition, on the
principle of extending the right Of self gov
erDment to the negro question, but deny
ing it as to all the relations affecting white
men? No, sir. We aroused the patriotism
of the country and carried the election in
defense of that great principle, which al
lowed all white men to form and regulate
their domestic institutions to suit them
selves-institutions applicable to white
men as well as to black--insttution appli-
cable to free men as well as to slaves--in-
stitutions concerning all the relations of life,
and not the mere paltry exception of the
slavery question. Sir, l have spent too
much strength and breath, and money too,
10 establish this great principle in the pop
ular heart, now to see it frittered away by
bringing it down to an exception that ap-
plies to the negro, and does not extend to
the benefit of the white man. AS | said
before. can well imagine how the distin-
guisfed and eminent patriot and statesman
now at the head of the government, fell into
the error--for error it is, radical, funda-
mental, AMI, ifpersevered in, subversive of
of that platform upon which he was raised
to the Presidency of the United States.
Then, if the President be right in say
ing that, by the Nebraska bill, the slavery
question must be submitted to the people,
it follows inevitably that every other clause
of the constitution must also be submitted
to the people, The Nebraska bill said that
the people should be left perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institu-
tions in their own way'--not the slavery
question, not the Maine liquor law question
not the banking question, not the school
question, not the railroad question, but
''their domestic institutions" meaning
each and all tho questions which are local.
no. national, State, not Federal l arrive
at the conclusion that the principles enuu-
ciated so boldly, and enforced with so much
ability, by the President of the Uuited
States, require us. out of respect to him
and the platform on which he was elected
to send this whole question back to the
people of Kansas, and enable them to say
whether or not the constitution which has
been framed, each and every clause of it,
meets their appreciation.
The President. in his message, has made
an unanswerable argument in favor of the
principle which requires this question to
be sent back. 1t is stated in the mes sage
with more clearness and force than any
language which can command; but can
draw your attention to it and refer You to
the argument in the message, hoping that
you will take it as part of my speech-as
expressing my idea more forcibly than
am able to express it. The President says
that question of greet interest, like the
slavery question. cannot be fairly decided
by convention of delegates, for the reason
that the delegates are elected in districts,
and in some districts delegate is elected
by small majority; in others by a large
majority; so that it often happens that a
majority of the delegates are one way,
while a majority of the people are the other
way; and therefore it would be unfair, and
inconsistent with the great principle of pop
ular sovereignty, to allow body of dele
gates, not representing the popular voice.
to establish domestic institutions for the
mass of the people. This is the Presi-
dents argument to show that you cannot
have fair and honest decision without sub.
hitting it to the popular vote. The same
argument is conclusive with regard to ev-
cry other question as we'll as with regard
to slavery.
But Mr.. President. it ia intimated in the
message that although it was unfortunate
circumstances, mucn to be regretted, that
the Lecompton convention did not submit
the constitution to the people. yet perhaps
it may be treated as regular, because the
convention was called by Territorial Leg
islature. which had been repeatedly recog-
nized by the Congress of the United States
as legal body. | beg Senator'S not TO fall
into an error as to the Presidents meaning
on this point. He does not say. he does
not mean, that this convention had ever
been recognized by the Congress of the