The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-11-25
Three New TeFrltbrEes-Popu1Ar
SOvefclEmty ~ work. =

The proper management 81 our tefrftorial
communities is, perhaps; the most important
and delicate duty devolVing upon the Gov:
ernment Of the United States. The princi-
pies upon which this duty should be perform.
ed by the Federal Departments. Legislative,
judicial and executive, have never been 90
nearly settled and adjusted, In the public
mind, az they are at this moment. The peo-
pie who settle the new countries are capable
Of self.goVernment and Of wise and proper
control Of affairs, ifthat doctrine can be pre-
dicted of any people on earth. The distln.
gushing characteristic of the Democratic
party, is its advocacy Of the right Of every
community TO manage its own local con-
Germs. This doctrine, BY the support Of the
National Democracy, bids fair to make still
farther advances in popular affection, and in
it's applications, rather than to recede In any
manner whatever. No party can be sue
cessful in this country which permits itself
to oppose the constitutional idea OF popular
sovereignty. Gall for the people, oil by the
people,--nothing about the people, without
the people"--this is the spirit Of our age,
and this 10 Democracy. The constitution Of
the United States vests no power in the
Federal Government except by express au.
tbority, or by immediate and necessary i'm.
plicaton. All other powers are "srpressty"
reserved to the States, or to the people,
Every power, therefore, to be exercised in
the government OF the Territories, by any
department Of the Federal Government,
must only be such as is explicitly conferred,
or obviously necessary to carry out such ex.
plicitly conferred power. II any thing be
lacking 10 the constitution, regarding the
government OF the Territories, the constitu.
ton by its own fundamental and declared
provision RENTS the whole subject to the
people OF the Territories themselves. This
is the position OF the Democratic party, aud
the gates Of hell cannot prevail against it.
We have been led to this recurrence to
first principles by certain significant intelli.
gence from the mighty West, whittier the
Star OF Empire, centuries ego, took its way,
and where it seems at last to have arriYed.--
The new settlers OF three new countries are
now about organizing governments for them.
selves, and where is the Jurisdiction for an
injunction upon their proceedings? !? The
people OF Dacetab, numbering esyeral thou
sand, have. it seems, completed the forma.
ton OF an independent temporary govern.
ment. They got tired waiting for the com
position of Kansas troubles ready made to
order, and they have elected State officers,
a Legislature, adopted a code Of laws, aud
done everything requisite to the establish.
ment OF law and order. Their reasons for
this action are undeniable in point of fact,
and sound in argument. They were left en-.
tirely without laws, except those of the
Lynch order, and the disorganized state of
society keeps away emigration. They point,
in justification, to the precedent, set them BY
California and Oregon. Revolutionary as
such procedure would be considered n any
other country but the United States, il is
here an evidence of the law loving and law.
abiding character Of the people, and qua.
ranty that they are disposed to niaintain Or
der, and respect the obligations OF citizen.
ship. .......
Arizona also contains population Of some
eight or ten tn ,usaDd American citiz .ns--
They have elected territorial delegate and
sent him to Washington. The bill to or.
g 'nize by act Of Congress, a government in
that country, failed to puss at the last ses-
sion, but il will probably be successful at the
next. Opr own information from that coun |
try leads US to believe that no measure more
fuliy merits the favorable and early atten.
lion OF Congress. ......
Then comes the proposed new State OF
Superior, or Onlanagon. This country we
lre informed, contains two parties, one in
avor of the immediate organization Of a new
State, the other only going tor u territorial
government at present. The portion in fa-
'or OF State, udduce the Kansas precedent,
or their claim to come in Immediately, with.
mt regard 10 the population, as all parties
ave favored, and many seem still to favor
he admission OF Kansas, without the formal
scertainment of the usual and regular pop.
lation. The people Of "Superior" have
made application to the Legislatures OF Mi
bigan and Wisconsin, to which States that
egion belongs. for permission to form a Sc.
arate Territory or State, and we learn that {
he proposition meets with general favor in
9th States. the fact is universally admit.
ed that this must eventually be a great min
ng and agricultural region, anl it, pcninsu
ar position between Lakes Michigan AMI
superior, seems to adapt it for commerce, as
'elI as to require separate Ilitical organ
sation. 1t has already population OF many
lousand. .... ~
Thus Popular Sovereignty, the great prin.
iple of American Democracy is rapidly do
'g its own proper work, at its own tsme,.
nd regardless Of all opposition. Territory
ter Territory is being settled by people !
ho know their own rights and interests,
nd who will maintain them first or last
gainst the whole world. The party that
ares to stand in the broad path Of this :
lightly energy Of popular progress. will be G
rushed to atoms Statesman. IL