The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-02-18
W. Do Tar MEAs?-There Is an lnee1-

{ in Ia u
/ - - b.- northern and southern journals
friendir 10 the administration Of s'lssz.., -
We are told BIZ the north that Lnefe eN.I -
objection to the admission OF Kansas ilso -
Union with constitution loleratin5 =
such be the will Of the people; WINE ~ 49,
declares that she win not oppose tae ei'i -.
nj Kansas among the sisterhood OF States e -
viii, constitution prohibiting slavery II ~
reoy,1e ~ decide. One would imagine tnat VII
! such apparent uniformity ofsentlnenf, the sao
iect would be readily removed from me CONAN
n Dolijcal or sectional polernIcs and fhat hof1-
and south would be equally content to avian
The action OF Kansas, and sustain her aPphc"
lion for admission into the Union, AheiheF i'ei
constitution wears a northern or southern aspect
Rut in this seeming concord there lies germ o.
difficulty. uDsuspected save byfhose who have
studied the different phases et popular sosef-
eighty as expounded By northern and southern
authorities. The term is an aIIunng ONE,
fiatters the amour-propre OF the people, ah2
ministers to our national vanity Hence II roIis
,rinDing1T from the mouth Of every orator, ana
the Den OF every pubIicist. When, however
W. come 10 inquire into the inherent signIBcan-
cv Of the expression, we find that It's meaning
is radically affected By geographical oohhdS'
Ii the north popular sovereignty IS squas'e'-
sovereignty. When the northern journal pro
claims is assent 10 this great principle, It's ia
tent meaning is quietly suppressed. lis views
Of popular sovereignty are those OF gen Cass'
and Of northern politicians Of the democratic
school. and arr wholly different from those UNI
yersalIv entertained at the south. General Cas-,
and those who think with him, maintain that the
people OF a territory are sovereign, and have
right to regulate their domestic institutions to
suit themselves They assert likewise that the
new conner into a territory becomes lpso iacto
invested with sovereignty, and possesses the
right Of suffrage and Of holding office. This Is
popular sovereignty as explained and advoca-
ted BIZ the north. The southern doctrine is
widely different. The south asserts the su-
premacg of congress over the territories, and
denies that the people of a territory can perform
any act of legislation except in virtue OF express
laws Of congress. Now congress is supreme
only within the limits Of the constitution. No
where in that instrument is there clause con-
ferring upon congress the rightto prescribe -
a territory its domestic institutions; III other
words, TO establish or prohibit slavery. Con
sequentlv, congress cannot vest in the people
OF territory power which ii does not Itself
possess. 4 territory, when performing the SOL
emn act BY which il becomes an inchoate Stale
that is, when framing State constitution, is
then truly sovereign, and may lawfully regul-
ate its domestic and social institutions, subject
only TO the restriction in the federal consttu
ton which requires absolutely that new States
should have republican form of government.
This is thesouthern view Of popular sovereignty.
We regret TO notice disposition among lead
ng organs Of democracy TO blink this impor-
ant question. The 'W ashington Union itself,
which has recently put forth an elaborate ex
position Of the policy Of Mr.. Pierce, and Of the
probable views of Mr.. Buchanan, is sudiouSIy
nexpiicil and perpIexing in regard TO this very
point Says the Union, speaking Of the in
.ructons given 10 governor Geary:
The truth is, that governor Gcary went 10
Kansas with the same policy which both Of his
were instructed to follow. That
policy was to see that the provisions OF the Kan
as law IN their true spirit should be faithfully
Executed, and especially that the people OF tie
erritories should enjoy the right of regulating
heir domestic institutions in their own way, I'M
Influenced and unembarrassed BY extraneous
vas expected 10 pursue this policy, but he al
owed his attention TO be first diverted to schemes
# land speculation, and afterwards suffered
himself 10 become the supple tool Of the emf
rant aid societies, in their effort TO abotionise
he territory Governor Shannon went out
with the same instructions As governor Reeder,
ut he lacked the energy and decision to meet
he obstacles which governor Reeder's blunders
lad entaiicd upon him. Governor Geary went
With the same instructions which had been Civ
n to both OF his predecessors, and he had the
Ouragc, the wisdom, the tirmness and the ener-
y to execute them faithfully and in their true
pirt"
And further on in the same article, the Off /!
Ial organ holds the following language:
1.-The election of Mr.. Buchanan, therefore, /
ettIed the question that Kansas was to be a
zee or a slave State, according to the wishes Of
he people of the territory. If Kansas comes /
ITO the Union as a free State, it will come in .
5 such because the people have decided, thro'
Ir. Buchanan's election, that it is the right oil
he inhabitants of territory so to come in, or
} come in as slave State, at their own option.
If Kansas becomes a free State,
will be the legitimate consequence of the free
holce OF lis ptope, Drought ABOUT Dy The ma
lral lsss OF emigration, and in accordance with
ne principle of popular sovereignty. In that
esult So brought about, the democratic party
ill readily acquiesce, and, in obedience to their
rncipes, they will await the decision to be
1ade by the people of the territory. If the
,ws of Legitimate emigration, of climate. OF pro-
uclion, in harmony with the great democratic
rinciple OF popular self-government, result in
laklng Kansas free State, not word of com
laint will be uttered by democrats
The Union seems to have imbibed the very
0irit OF the cynical Frenchman, who affirmed
TAT language was given to man to conceal his
Ioughts. Else, why SO purposely ,ebscure?-
hat does the Union understand by the popul-
r sovereignty, in accordance with which the
eople OF territory are to ''enjoy the right of
sgu'ating their domestic institutions in their :
"n way The foregoing extracts all convey
lat dubious Specification 10 which we have re-
fred as charactSising the avowed willingness
both north and south to abide the will of the {
eople of Kansas. The Unions iteration of the |
leasing catchword popular sovereignty would
infinitely more satisfactory, were it accom-
'nied by an explanation. As it stands, it is
Michigan Malicho," and may mean mischief
S object is as little cOmprehended at the ror,h