The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-03-26

in territorial state, have the power to
exclude Slavery
"MR. BIGLER-I cannot answer the
Senator as to Mr.. Buchanan's views of
the constitutional question / can give
my own, if the Senator is willing to hear
them.
"MR. WADE-Well. let us have your
opinions, if you please"
Mr.. BIGLER-There can be no differ
ence of opinion as to what the Kansas
Nebraska bill means. Its terms are ex
plcit. It confers upon the people OF the
Territory all the law making power which
Congress possesses under the Constitu-
tion. 1.-THE authority delegated be sufi-
cient, the people have a law making pow
er equal to any question. This is point,
as to the meaning of the Constitution of
the United States. NY construction of
that instrument certainly is of very
little importance. but still I am viii
ling to express it. / am of opinion that
the people through their local Legisla-
ture, have that power. arrive at this
conclusion, because l can see but two
sources of law making power for Ter
ritory- the one, Congress and the 9TH
er, tie People, l hold that when Con-
gress has conferred upon the people of
Territory all the law making power which
it possesses under the Constitution, the
power is complete, in the people, equal
to the question of domestic Slavery, or
any other subject
An honorable gentleman from Indiana,
(Mr. English. who is leading member
of the Democratic party, in late speech
in this House, when referring to the right
of the people of Territory. through
their Legislature, to legislate upon the
question of Slavery, says:
'I hold my position to be the correct
one, that the people have the right to de-
termine the question, for the time being,
when they are organized into Terrific
rial Government" This
question is within their control from the
time the organic act is passed and put in
to operation"
Democracy South denies that Congress
under the Constitution, has any power to
legislate upon the subject of Slavery in
the Territories, and consequently cannot
delegate a power it does not itself possess
to the people of Territory.
Democracy North admits that Con
gress has this power, that it can confel
it upon the people Of Territory, anc
that they, through their local Legisla
ture, can exercise it.
In the controversy now going on be
tween the Democratic and Republican
parties upon this question, the Democra
cy North admit away their whole case
They admit the poacer contended for b,
the Republicans; and the only remaining
question between them is one of expedi
ency, whether it shall be exercised b
Congress or transferred to the people c
the Territories.
But Democracy South lays down tn
doctrine that the Constitution, proprio,
vigore, carries Slavery into the Terrific
rics. Their position is simply this: tina
the Constitution operates 70 protect an
legalize Slavery in all the Territories du
ring their aohole Territorial eristence, an
that the people are not only without pow
er, but are absolutely prevented by tn
Constitution from legislating or other
wise protecting themselves against its ir
PRODUCTION or existence. Every intell
gent man knows the domestic institu
tions of Territory are formed" long B.
fore the time when they form constitu
ton preparatory to admission as STATE
Hence the people of Territory, instea
of being left perfectly free," have tn
institution of Slavery forced upon then
with no power, on their part to resist, ur
til it is too late to make resistance of an
practical benefit.
! Northern Democrats preach "Squat
ter Sovereignty" with no apparent sho'
of fairness: Southern Democrats hold u
: the shadow, but scout at the substance
There is one thing certain, this miserabl
humbug has had its day. The delusio
has been practiced upon the people of til
, Free States for the last time. No. ther
Democrats will hereafter be compelle
by the South totally and unqualified
to abandon the doctrine of popular sovel
eignty-their only practical weapon
defense in the Free States. They ao'
yield, as they alacoys haze done; and th
surrender will be an end to the old Demc
cratic party in every Free State in tt
: Union.
8. 1 shall have time only to notice vel
briefly one other charge made by IL
President against the North and the r
!, publican party. In speaking of tt
r troubles in Kansas, he says:
..But the difficulties in that Territor
! have been extravagantly exaggerated +
E purposes of political agitation elsewher
The number and gravity of the acts
violence have been magni6ed partly
J. statements entirely untrue, and partly
reiterated accounts Of the same rumors
= facts