The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-01-24
Tbe felitiana lemotrat.
SPEECH OF GEN. QUITMAN.


to our minds, soundcst addresses delivered on
the floor of Congress- on "thc powers of the
government with regard to the territories"
We extremely regret our inability to publish
it entire, but however, publish that part of il
which relates more particularly to the q,ies-
ton discussed. A calm, patient and dispas-
sionatc pcrusal Of his argument is what every
citizen southern men more particularly, should
extend to it.
And now Mr.. Speaker, | come TO the prn
cipal subject ] rose to discuss, 10 which my
mind has been led by Observing tie dtlcrcr
ces of opinion that exist not only between the
three political parties in this House but be-
tween members of the same party, on the con
stitutional powers of Congress over the Terri.
tories. 1t is the fashion Of the day to discuss
pending questions Father as technical lawyers
than as statesmen, and TO treat them rather
with reference TO their political bearing than
as parts Of the true theory Of government
The discorinnt opinions TO which ! have re-
icrrcd arise from different views Of our poiit
cal system They could not exist to any con
siderable extent, if climcutary principles were
well understood. Instead then, Of discussing
in detail the various opinions that have been
advanced on this floor, | propose TO go back
to the ionntain-hcad and examine some Of tie
cardinal principles of our system. II these he
correctly understood. the CONCLUSIONS, which
flow from them must either produce more uni
fornly OF opinion on these subjects, or at least
bring rs to the point Of divergence. There is
a poncncss IN the human mind at all times, TO-
wards strong government One proof OF this
pron"ne,s is the prevalence, III all ages, Of
monarchics over free representative govern
mcntS. In our system this feeling mnnir,is
itself IN the tendency to c"ntralism. II arises
i.nm the necessity Of continuous intellectual
efforts 10 maintain free gos.rnnrut. There
never was Il more truthful remark than that
uttered by Jefferson: Eternal vigilance Is tie
price Of liberty" A people caWnot sleep an!
remain free. The tM i"stii" must he counter
acted by frequent agItations Of elementary
principles
In treating Of the theory Of orr government.
The great source Of error lies IN not defining
aud locating the sorptrgn 1uaer. shall
therefore, cndeavor TO Show what i, il, and
where il rcposrs. .So~,eigntp Is nat biM pr
Wicoi polcer whirh can conir"f an o'n,r poI0tc8
potrcrs 1t can have no superior and 10 equal
If there be any other political power IN the
system higher or greater or more prIant tin,l
the former power i not sovereign. i admit,
IL 10 rival Ii cannot be limited: 'pr lunit,-
ton proves the existence % IL controlling pow
or. II may net through different agencies
but cannot itself h. divided or plrcrilru out
There cannot he in the same system, two Sor-
creiyn powers rh~ is, IL politics, great az
abgur,lity as size existence III mathematics .:
two longest lncS or two highest nurnierS III
lie moral world there is but one sovereign
God.
In every distinct political community tar
sovereign p0Wrr must exist somewhere. II !.
impossible 10 conceive the one existing W.iI
out the other. The moment the social coai.
pact Is formed, that instant the sovereign pow
cr rrposcS somewhere II il were po>siOI' to
imagine u people slringiug suddenly AMI a.
once, from Il state Of nature into political cXi,-
tencc the sovereignty would reside III the males
OF fall age. 1t might be interesting 10 trace
thu existence OF this high sovereign power
among tlc civilized nations of the earth. !
vii! allnac TO several merely for the purpose Of
Illustration In Russia the sovereign power i
in the Nutocrat There is no power IN that
political organism to control his will. From
his ukase there is no appeal. lie can reverse
judicial DECISIONS conllSrate property, take
life and change tho organic law, Respect for
the revolutionary action Of is subjects may
restrain HIM but there are no means of cnior'-
ing a political right against his sovereign will
In Great Britain, again. this high power rest,
in Parliament, comprised of the three great es-
tates of the realm-Kings, Lords and Com
mons An act OF Parliament is supreme. IT
can revere the decisions Of the courts, take
away titles, conisratc estates, deposc kings,
destroy life, and change the organic law,
There rests the sovereign power under that
organism of government. Engshmen may
talk about their rights; but they have none
that may not be annihuted by an act Of Par
Lament.
In the nations to which have alluded this
high controlling power is SO prominent as to
be readily seen and fixed, In our system the
elaborate work of more enlightened age Of
the world, and a more odqanced stage Of the
human intellect, it is not so easy to trace
clearly the location Of the sovereign power
1t eqists; but where? Does it rest in the fed
eral government? Let us apply the test of
Il | lnv ,,i, Al. e. 4