The Washington union., 1858-03-13

SENATOR HARLAN OF IOWA AND LEcompTuy
Ii would be curious work and might repay the
labor Of an idle man TO hunt up and put rogster the
opinions Of tire opposition npon the questions IN
volved II the Kansas issue. Mr. Walker contends that
the soTereign power Of the people is iraenaie and
ndivisibe; and that therefore il is impossible 10 del
egate il to representatives Il ihe work Of snacting
organic iaws. Mr.. Harlan repudiates Mr. Walkers
theory and it must be confessed very succesHfrlly
We qngte from Mr.. HsFlan's speech in the Senate
the other day:
To follow the advice of the President and those who
agree with him, viii the organization Of a slave
state free su To adopt the policy proposed by t,e
senator from Illinois viii exclude slavery fTnin this do
main eeufualiy IL Congress should rrer,act 44tat
neither slavery nvoluntars Errtude shall ever exist
north Of 3Gl 80 north atitude
The President aud his supporters do not deny the right
of the peonie e the Territory require tire suaniiu OF
their constitution 30 the electors at the Fo for arrro
val disapprgval- it's pruprety ar general rude of
policy But they deny its expedency IN the present -
stance, its possibility without an infrnrtiun Of the
doctrine Of non-intcrvention by Congress They claim
that to rsYirE the people to for against their fun
daTnental Inv Ivy act of Congress- would be ~ dis
tasteful 10 reemen would be denial Of that right
1t If true sir that the people a State or Territory
are left perfectly free 10 give expression their own viii
in their own way they may act conventions ms
vast deiiberaye body thus originate and mature
measures OF public policy they may net through their
Representatives Ia this country the latter the usual
practice.
The people uf the Stntes in the modification Of their
CONSTITUTIONS and uf the Territories in originating them
have uniformly acted through Delegates Sometimes thev
have reserved the right Of approval ruppru1al at the
polls of the whole instrument when completed some
times however they have clothed their delegates with
eAnTy powers In the latter The conventions have
frequently submitted either the whole instrument or
Humc on ts sechc features about which they may have
been in doubt IN regard TO the popular viii
In the enactment laws the people ast through
their representatives IN the State legislatures and also in
the Congress Of the United States.
In tine Interpretation and application Of the laws the
people act through their representatives ON the tribunal
Of Justice Nrits issued by these courts are believe
always IN the and nv the authority s.of the ro
Pile .'o the State, of the Common wealth. ,r nf
the United States and not in the by the author
tv of the cuurt itself
In the administration Of the government in tho -.
Orcenent If the laws, State and national the re,nI t
through their representatives, in the presidential Office
and Through The governors of the States all Of whom, ARE
supposed 10 be guided by the win Of the people expressed
IN lcgsl fam.
The entire rarne- work Of cur government r,s , a.,
iden Of Obedience 20 the viii ct the psple sxrr.s4..d
through their representatives, IN all of it's Departments
Legislative, executive and judicial And the practical
departures very few.
What the people do in mass MEETINGS Is usuaIIr it
NAL and Illegal Large bodies Of men entertaining Siui
lar views, ior the purpose adopting reltiops
and forming platform, the whole purpuf which s 10
endorse the official conduct uf their legal representative.
or 20 instruct them in relation TO their future official duty
lt rs true also Mr. President that many of the most
respectable courts Of the country have decided when
fe lgislature of State. it's responsibility sub
mlts law to vote ot the people fgr the approval or
dipi0va such submission must either be treated as
rurF!u'ge nf regarded viating the whole act even
ph'Sh y may have been approved ly the people fine
polls hnire' u the people o Kausas did in fat author
20 ~ sash q constellation icr State government.
that purpose Without requiring its sulnin ,r apro-
val 81 The Petis they bound by it, astion The nat
oi the convention is their act Fpoa g,- eTi1u jocs
F~ r. enFeiAon thus appointed poas.spses planurv
powers. And 81 suppose the instrument =, lr ,,5 i,,
thus nIade, brssuee The convention fsfisd i "A, thnt
which ths prupe bad mot required it to do i. an tsu