Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-07-15
Perplexities of Popular Sovereignty

PerpleXltles OF Popular sovereignty.
The doctrine Of popular sovereignty
which has been SO much praised and
expatiated upon by the democratic par
ty, is likely to present some practical
questions which must be met. The pro-
per disposition Of the Mormon Saints,
we Judge from the Washington Union.
is q matter Of considerable perplexity tc
the administration. Popular sovereign.
ty of course allows of no interference
with the domestic affairs of the followers
of Brigham Young. The cabinet at
Washington is evidently in doubt, il
respect to whatought to be done in REGARD
tothepractiee fpolygamy,w which has beer
the occasion Of the Mormon difficulties
The Springfield Republican says tho
President in his late proclamation to
the rebelious inhabitants Of Utah makes
no alIusion to the subject, only in gen
eral terms implying liberation of tho
polygamous practices Of the peopl e.
Upon what basis to settle the question
without q virtual denial Of the popular
sovereignty plank in the democratic
platform, is the perplexing problem.
The Washington Union inclines
strongly to the opinion, that Utah
should be excluded from the Union, be-
cause polygamy is incompatible with
republicanism. The argument however
is by no means clear or conclusive. Il
it be consistent with republcanisln fol
an inhabitant of Missouri to possess five
or more female slaves, then it is equally
so for Brigham Young to possess five
or more wives. If the people have the
right to regulate their domestic affairs
in their own way in the one case, they
have the same right in the other, and
the modern doctrine of popular soyer-
eighty can make no just distinction.
The New York Journal of Commerce
a paper religiously scrupulous in its ad
vocacy of democracy, inclines to the de-
fence Of polygamy, maintaining that
the Mormons have a legal right to e.
tablish their institutions whetRor'in the
capacity of territory or y state, ,and
that they cannot be excluded from the
Union for polygamous regulations. "A
brief extract must suffice to show the
reasoning Of that Journal
"While we in New York undertake
to enact, that one man shall have but
one wife, we are not at liberty to deny
to the people of another stateSta make
such laws as they please on thegephle ct,
and accordingly we recognize thedegA
right of the people of Utah. to enjoy
more matrimonial happiness, if they can
find it in their system, than we claim for
ourselves"
The Journal of Commerce is good
democratic authority, and its applioa-
ton of popular sovereignty to Utah, is
logically drawn. Such then, is the le-
gitimate tendency of the absurd theory
of territorial sovereignty, which the de-
mocracy have for the past eight years
been laboring untiringly to establish.
This is the doctrine upon which Senator
Douglas rests his political popularity
and which he prides himself of being
especial champion. But the doctrine is
inherently false and vicious in its appli-
cation, leading to the grossest absurd
ties and immoralities. The territories
are not sovereign; the constitution of the
United States confers no sovereignty
upon them, and in no instance has Con-
gress ever yet treated a territory as n
sovereignty. TIA territory were a sover-
eighty it would possess the elements and
the power, to originate its own govern
ment and its own officers, without con-
grossional or other intcrposition. The
states only aresovereignties, subject to
such limitations as are expressed in the
constitution of the United States. A
new state presenting itself with institu-
tons Incorporated into its sorganic law
calculated to imperil the safety or the
general welfare Of the confederation is
properly denied admission to the family
of states. This is no arbitrary exercise
of power; it is only an application of a
principle to communities, essential
TO the we'll being and safety ofthe whole.
The freedom of every individual is nee,
essarily restricted by his entering into
the body polite; so of every new
state asking for admission into the Tn.
ion.
How the democracy will finally dis
pose of the Mormon question is not set.
tied. The Washington Union, is inclin.
ed to ignore popular sovereignty as ap.
plicable to the case; the Journal OF
Commerce stands up to the rack, and
argues that Utah is entitled to the I'M
munities and privileges Gncluding poly
gamy) which the doctrine of popular
sovereignty confers.
UTAH.-It is reported by the news
from Utah, that Gov. Cunning and the
Peace Commissioners, have concluded