The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-31
POLITICAL TRUTHS - RIGHT OF SELF-GoV
ERHMENT-P0PULAR SOVEREIGNTY.

Truths of Political Science with mathematical
exactness. Theorists who attempt this, and
then undertake to reason accordingly, fall into
inextricable difficulties.
The axiom Of the Declaration of Independ-
pendence, that Governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed"
needs careful Interpretation to give it any prac-
teal value. Let us attempt to apply the Prin-
ciple which seems so intelligibly. enunciated to
State-for example, South Carolina. Who are
the "governed?" Men, women, and children
white, black, and mulattc-free people and slaves.
Does the Government of the State derive its
classes7 Literally, all are governed but,
as a matter of fact, we know that slaves, and
colored people, and women, and children, are
not included in that term their consent is not
asked 10 the endowment of the Government
with any power; all that is necessary is, the con-
sent of the free white males. But, here again
we must resort to Interpretation. Only free
white males ouer tsOenty-one are meant Why.2
By what law of nature is it, on what selfevideht
principle is it, tina. free white males of eighteen,
nineteen, twenty, are excluded? And is the
consent of all free white males over twenty one
necessary to secure a just power to the Govern
ment? No-otherwise there never could be
any Just Government. The consent of only a
majority of them is required. Must the con.
sent be formal or implied, preliminary or sub,
sequent? The Declaration sayeth not.
Here then is great Truth, as it is called, Of
the Declaration of Independence, stated in
terms so inexact as to require series of con-
structons to make it Ineligible and fit for ap-
plication. The proposition that call Govern
ments derive their just powers from the consent
of the governed" means, generally, that they de-
rive their power from the consent of majority
ofmales over twenty one, or exceptionally, as in
the case of South Carolina and other slave
States, from the consent of a majority of the
free white males over twenty-one-the consent
in both cases being either formal or implied.
This may answer as a convenient definition
of a Principle, acted upon in this country, but
it will not bear the test of rigid scrutiny. Sup
pose, for instance, the majority of free white
males should endow the Government with pow
err to prohibit religious worship except in ore
way, and to exact certain religious belief as
test Of eligibility to office, would it be Just
power?
Every one sees that something more is neees
sary to constitute a just power in Government
thar the consent of the governed-of the ma
jority of males over twenty one. II must be an
accordance NTH justice-with the natural right
to life, liberty, and the pursuit. of happiness, as
inherent in every human being. Right and
wrong do not depend upon majorities or minor
tiles. Neither minority nor the whole of
community can invest Government with Just
power to do injustice.
Another example of the inexactness with
which Political Truths are stated, is 10 be found
in the discussion of what is called "Sovereign-
ty." Sovereignty means, supreme power. In
its highest sense, it belongs to God alone. AS
defining powers existing In human conditions,
it admits of various meanings. 1t is the high
eat power in State-but there may be inferior
Sovereignties. There is an absolute Sover
eighty and a limited Sovereignty. That of the
Gar is absolute, that of the Queen of England,
eign, and yet, officially, during his term of of
flee, he yields more power than Queen Victo-
ria. We do not style Congress, Sovereign: vet II
is less amena5le to public opinion than the
British Parliament, which is often styled Sover-
eign. American politicians speak of the Sow
ereign People, although the People are the
governed" not the Government; and of the
Sovereign States, although the Federal Consti
tuition, and the Laws passed in pursuance
thereof, are the supreme law of the land, "any-
thing in the laws of the States to the contrary
Notwithstanding"
1t ID vain to attempt to confne the word
Sovereignty to one thing, as Governor Walker
does in his Letter to the President. Usage for
bids it. So restricted definition would lead to
continual Misunderstanding. Sovereignty re-
sides alone in the People, says Mr.. Walker r
that is, In the People Of each State there ia no
other Sovereignty. And yet, it is only on rare
occasions that this Sovereignty makes itself
manifest, as, for example, in the creation. the
ratification, or the amendment of Constitu
tion-never in the ordinary functions of Gov.
eminent, never in the administration.
Sovereignty resides in the People of each
State, as the source of all political power. That
is true; but the term is greatly expanded in
popular acceptation. Each State-that is, the
Government of each-beiug the State oroaa.
'zed, is sovereign and Independent in relation to
other State Governments. The United States
that Is, the Government, being the States or
canned Tor certain purposes, as one body, ia
free, sovereign, independent, in relation to all
other Governments. The State Government.
being supreme within its limits, is SOVEREIGN
The Federal Government, being supreme
within its limits, is Sovereign.
The People of each State being the source of
all power in either, are Sovereign. although
they cannot act upon the humblest individual
except through the limited Soyereipnties de-
rived from Themselves. The citizen owes ale
glance to the Government of his State and 70
the Government of the United States; to them
he looks fer protection-their laws he obevs :.
he does net acknowledge allegiance to "the
People," or look to them for protection and
they do not enact the laws regulating his
interests. Strange that the only American
sovereign should be so completely ignored by
everybody, except the political theorist and the
demagogue
Southern dogmatists of certain school claim
that Sovereignty over the Territories resides
alone in the People of the States-or, more pre-.
cisely, IN the People of each State. According
to this, there are thirty-one distinct Sovereign
ties over our Territories, each possessing an
equal right to govern them. When they &C.
quired their Sovereiontv hon ,Lo, - A..