The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-20

EDITOR OF EREE TRADER DEAR SIR -
Some OF our Republican friends admit that
James n. Polk was good constitutional
President, and that popular sovereignty is .
new doctrine, conceived and Matched into
existence by Stephen A. Douglas. Now.
let US see what Polk says about it in his
message to the 3oth Congress, I'd session:
Our gallant forces in the Mexican war,
by whose patriotism and unparalleled deeds
oil arms we obtained those possessions as an
indemnity for our just demands against
Mexico, were composed of citizens Of citi.
zens who belonged to no one State or sec
ton of our Union; they were men from
slaveho!dine and non-slaveholding States:
from the North and the South, from the
East and the West, were all companions In
arms and fellow citizens Of the same COM
mon country. engaged in the same common
cause. When prosecuting that war, they
were brethren and friends, and shared alike
with each other common tolls and dangers
and sufferings. Now, when their work is
ended, when peace is restored, and they re-
turn again to their homes, put oil the habl-
iinents Of war, take their places in society,
and resume their pursuits in civil life, sure
ly a spirit of harmony and concession and
Of equal regard for the rights Of all and of
all sections Of Union ought to prevail in
providing governments for the acquired
Territories, the fruits OF their common SER
vice. The whole people of the United
States and Of every State contributed to de-
fray the expenses of that war, and it would
not be just for any one section to exclude
another from all participation in the acquir-
ed territory. This would not be in conso-
nance with the just system of government
which the trainers of the constitution adopt
ed
The question is believed to be rather Alb
stract thin practical, whether slavery ever
can or would exist in any portion Of the &C
quired territory, even if it were left to the
option of the siaveholding States themselves.
From the nature Of the climate and prodac.
tons in much the larger portions of it, it is
certain it could never exist, and in the re-
mainder, the probabilities are it would no:.
Rut however this may be the question in
volving as it does principle of equality of
rights of the separate and several States, as
equal CO partners in the confederacy, should
not be disregarded.
Nor for the popular sovereignty doctrine
Of James K. Polk. He says:
"In organizing governments over these
Territories, no duty is imposed on Congress
by the Constitution requires that they
SIOuIu !te4Slalc on tle suUJtCt Oh slavery,
while their power to do so is not only seri-
ously questioned, but denied by many of
the soundest ezpounders Of that instrument.
Whether Congress shall legislate or not,
tee pscp!e If TIE acquired Territories oehen
assembled in Conrehtt0n TO form State Con-
stitutions, 1iU possess the sole and erctastre
P01cer 10 deter1ntne Jar themselves achether
.St0rery stall or shaU not erist 1oithin their
limits. If Congress shall abstain from in
terfcring with the question, the people Of
these Territories will be left free TO adjust
it as they may think proper when they APP
ply for admission as States into the Union"
Here We see that the popular sovereignty
doctrine is at least ten years old. Some of
our Republican friends are in great ectacies
on account of the split Of the Democrat IA
mily. This lie human nature. Misery loves
company.
Query-Hew many Republican electoral
votes could there be obtained South of Ma
son Dixon line for a Republican candidate
for President Of these United States who
resides north of said line, and rice Cersa,
the Republican may try TO cover up and
hide as they will, it is nevertheless true in
theory, so far as the Republican party is
concerned the union of these confederate
States is dissolved Ii. j. Il.