The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1858-03-20
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.

The subjoined article, touching the much
talked Of subject Of popular sovereignty, is
copied from the Harrisburg Keystone, and is
in all respects sensible and judicious:
| In the general discussion of the Kansas
question there are some aspects Of it which
seem to have escaped consideration. The
doctrine of popular sovereignty has been every
where insisted upon as fundamental to our in
stitutions, and yet it does not appear to have
been thought necessary to define the meaning
Of this sovereignty. 1t seems to be taken as
the absolute will Of the majority The excr-
else of absolute will, by maiorties or mino-
rites, by manJ or by one, is tyranny. The po-
pular sovereignty alone recognizable is that in
which the rights of the minority are respected
and protected Hence, bills of rights and
constitutions to restrain and regulate the will
Of the majority in the exercise Of power.
In this view of popular sovereignty the ma
iorty in Kansas have refused to acquiesce.-
They insist upon the unrestraned, absolute
exercise of their will They refuse to ac-
knowledge any constitutional authority ema-
mating either from the federal or territorial
government They even deny the operative
effect of the Topeka Constitution, upon which
they insist as the declaration Of the popular
sovereignty. Under the Topeka constitution
the existing rights of those holding slaves
were respected and protected; and yet the
present Territorial Legislature have, in viola
tion of this constitution, abolished avery un-
conditionally in the Territory not only in con-
travcntion thereof, but also of the decision Of
the highest judicial tribunal of the nation.---
And yet they clamor for the right Of popular
sovereignty. 1t is thus perfectly dcmonstrable
from the past conduct Of the majority that un.
der the name of popular sovereignty they de.
sign to exercise absolute tyranny, irrespective
OF all constitutions.
If the Federal government, through its re.
presentation, by an act of Congress, authorize
the calling of another convention and the for
nation by it of another constitution does any
} man, acquainted with the proceedings of the
majority heretofore in Kansas, believe that the
popular sovereignty will be exercised with due
regard to the rights of the minority? That
as heretofore the rights Of the minority vii
be utterly disregarded is perfectly manifest -
The constitution so formed would unqucstion
ably be so odious oppressive, and vindictiye
I, that the sole effect of the privilege to make il
would be to place the minority in the same at
titude of resistance which the majority now
growing excitement.
The minority have proceeded under the ap
proprate, recognized forms of law in what
they have thus far done; if the majority have
allowed them to exercise the power so attain
D ed by their own laches what right have they
to complain and upon what just principle
! should the federal government exercise its au
e thority to reverse these positions! Not tt
c speak of the Democratic party, how would the
nation be benefited thereby? How would
= the harmony of the States and the stability o
the Union be advanced?
y In the event of the resistance of the mino
rity to constitution embodyng the present
wild idea Of popular sovereignty in Kansas
s. the right to exercise an absolute, unrestralnc(
power--how long would the present minorit.
It remain such? Like their own prairie fires
Is which put in motion the winds that fan th'
flames and extend the conhagration, the ee
> ments of civil strife would rush in from ever,
point of the compass. What power woul'
stay the conflict and what would be its u
N innate result
W W Is it not manifest, from these considerations
that the only, the wise, just, and rational solr
ton of the present difficulty is that enuncate
by the President? Whatever difference {
$. opinion may exist as to this policy, none ca
deny that the magnanimity he has displayed
the present crisis is worthy of the best days
the republic. He has met the issue openly
= fairly, and decisively. There is no enabling
act that can confer such broad powers as II
a ceving Kansas into the Union as a sovcreig
- State making her the peer of the old thi'
teen, What solid foundation can there be TO