The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-18

grcss in the Minnesota act (which is bu
supplemental and ia execution OF the Kan
sas and Nebraska billy in requiring III,
Constitution itself to be submitted, for rati
fication or rejection, to the vote Of the peo
pie. And why should this odious distinction
| be made between Kansas and Minnesota
Why should the people Of the latter be per
mitted to vote for or against the ratification
of their State Constitution, and this grea,
sovereign and constitutional right be with
held from the people Of Kansas IL the ont
a sovereign and the other a subject State
Where are we, and in what direction are WI
drifting Are we upon the banks Of thC
Bosphorus or Danube, or upon the soil con
secra.ed 10 popular sovereignty by the
blood of the rev0lutiOng IL II Executive
edicts or sovereign rights that constitute tn,
liberties Of our country? Are We freemer
"who know our rights, and knowing dare
maintain" or are we vassels, seris, or slaves
palace-slaves. that will cringc or change at
the stamp Of the foot Of a master? Is il the
the people and the States, as represented in
the Senate and House of Representatives
who are to record their votes Us indicated
by their unbiased judgment; or are they
merely to register Executive edicts, under
penalties for refusal Of denuncation and pro
scription? Is the President the master or
the servant of the people, that he should thus
dictate TO them or their representatives, I'M
der threats of exclusion from the party of
their choice2 Is Democracy name and a
shadow, or a substancei 1t means the
poper Of The people. This is its vital essence.
Or has il lost its true signication, or are
we moving from il with vewlcss but rapid
strides toward despotic power, 10 make and
unmake the rules of political faith under
pains and penalties abhorrent to the souls Of
lreemen? IL this the eighty-second year OF
our independence, or is it the first year OF
Amerndn Noaaycty, that is now dawDing
upon u.s.
Let the people--let the masses composing
the true dcmocracy--arouse from their slum-
bers. Let them break tue chains which
would ictter their free thought and free opin-
ion, and assert their blood bought rights
and especially the great indefeasible sover.
eign right Of sclfgoverDment.
We have fallen on evil times the liber
ties Of the country are in danger. Let the
people in every town. county and state rise
In their majesty to the rescue. Let the tim
id or corrupt falter as they may let the
democracy Of Indiana, now in mass meeting
assembled, proclaim in tones that shall echo
throughout our Republic, that the spirit OF
the Revolution is not esinct in their bosoms,
but that from the lakes Of the North 10 the
lovely valleys of the Wabash and Ohio
you the democracy of Indiana, will stand
one updaunted column, by the great prln'
ciple of popular sovereignty, sustained by
them at the polls n 1856, n embodied In
the submission Of the Constitution Tor ra,i'
iication or rejection by the nniettrcd vote
Of the people Of Kansas and Of every other
Territory.
Thanking you for the kind manner in
which the Committee, through you, have
been pleased to speak Of my humble services
in behalf Of the great Democratic doctrines
Of State and popular sovereignty
am most respectfully, your ieIlow-citi'
zen, RoBgRr j. WALLER.