The daily Butte record., 1858-03-08
PppuIar soxerlgnty.


The State Senate seem unwilling to aban-
don the Democratic doctrine of popular
sovereignty, so decidedly repudiated by the
Assembly. At last accounts they had taken
no action upon the concurrent resolution of
the Assembly. In caucus. it appears that
but thirteen of the Democratic Senators
Of California we're willing to caucus away
the vital principle of free government, and
one which has given national vitality, life
aud success to the Democratic party. The
justness of that principle has boon recog-
nized in every portion of the Union, and it
was justly reasoned and well.understood
that those who opposed it denied the right
Of the people Of q State to form their own
institutions, but claimed that Congress had
Jurisdiction over them, and power to say
what institutions should be adopted in new
States or retained in the old. This was de-
MED by the National Democratic Conven.
ton, and by the Democratic conventions Of
every State in the Union. 1t was, and still
is asserted by the Republicans and extrem-
lists Of the South-who desired Congress to
exercise arbitrary power over new States,
and bring them into the Union with such in
stitutions as their respective sections might
desire. An abandonment of the Democratic
platform leads to the adoption of sectional
views and motives, and to the exercise Of a
power by Congress, which the nation, In the
election Of Mr.. Buchanan, decided as belong
ing to the people of the States or territories.
Notwithstanding the reservations Of Pres
ident Buchanan in favor of the doctrine OF
popular sovereignty. while recommending
Congress to force an obnoxious fundamental
law upon the people Of Kansas, the debates
in Congress have shown that the warmest
supporters Of his arbitrary and anti.demo-
cratic policy. are bitterly opposed to and
utterly repudiate the doctrine that, the peo-
people Of sovereign State have the power
to form their own institutions Notwith-
standing the reservations of those in Cali.
fornia, who sustain the Kansas policy of the
administration, and oppose and denounce
the Presidents Nicaragua policy, to the con-
trary, itappears that they, too, are opposed
to the doctrine of popular sovereignty. A
letter in the State Journal, of Friday, dis.
closes the real position and hypocrisy of
this class Of unprincipled politicians. That
letter ridicules tho doctrine of popular
sovereignty" and compares it to the San
Francisco Vigilance Committee, and says
that "such is tho popular sovereignty
Douglas desires the President to get down
upon his knees and acknowledge The
letter sneers at the declaration of our con-
stitution that government is instituted for
the protection Of the people" We mention
these points to show the position of these
traitors to Democratic principles, and the
estimation in which they hold intelligent
freemen, and the contempt with which they
compare the legitimate exercise of the elect
i've franchis with the action Of a mob
This is the position which the Assembly
have instructed our Federal Representatives
to occupy! The Senate may we'll pause be-
fore concurring in such outrageous senti.
mcnts.
The letter was not designed for publica.
ton; but the Journal could "not withhold
IL from" their "readers" 1t is an old
adagc that "Children fools sometimes speak
the truth"