The Washington union., 1858-01-31
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would be exposed by giving to the majority of the
or modify its provisions; hence the peculiar sgnif
canoe of the impediments thrown in the way of its
alteration or change.
II we refer to the principles which underiie the
organization Of State governments, and reflect that
the sovereign power is wholly in the people that
constitutions are even in the most technical sense,
mere directions and limitations imposed upon their
local representatives will be seen at once that
they must be always and at all times subject to their
control. We have in this country aspecies Of he.
reditary for constitutions We are not yet
who'll, released from ancient estimates Of such In
struuents derived from that period Of history when
constitutions specific concessions from the
eregn power of a single ruler--charters, as they
were termed, by which the subject was guar anticd
certain political rights. In this country the people
possess all power they create constitutions; they
can receive no political rights; nor do they mpart
such rights; they simply exercise them through their
representatives for their common benefit Iii man.
fest then, they cannot restrict and parayze the ex-
ercise of their own sovereign power.
This leads us directly to the conclusion that State
constitutions simple limitations restrictions
imposed upon representatives, to be altered mod
flied at pleasure by the sovereign power. BY re.
cent decision of the court of appeals in the State Of
New York. which is almost universally condemned
by the democracy, it appears that the judges avow
that the constitution of 1876 was limitation upon
the Legislature and that all power not specifically
prohibited may be exercised by the representative
We know not how this is but it seems strange that
people who twelve years ago determined to exer.
else the original rights Of sovereignty should frame
and ratify such constitution.
THE ADMISSION OF KANSAS. DUTY OF THE DE
MOCRACY. sapsa
1t is the admitted policy Of the democracy of the
Union that they will maintain the doctrine of non
Intervention in the domestic affairs of the Terrific
ries We have seen this policy heartily endorsed
by the democratic party throughout all the States,
and we have it as bitterly assailed by there.
publicans, whose forces, of course, exclusively
confined to the North We believe it to be just to
all sections Of the Unionjust to the North, with it,
preponderance Of population, native and adopted
just to the South. which simply insists that the peo
pie of the Territories, through their local authori
ties, shall be permitted to establish and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way and,
above all tits just to the people Of the Territories
themselves, who are alone to be directly affect
ed, because in practical sense they are the only
parties interested in the matter. This policy
was proposed in Congress by the distinguish
by the united support Of the national men as
" -
can be said to have anything to do with measure
then might this be called moro of q northern than
southern measure. But it is neither; it is great
national measure, and the settled policy Of great
national party, having reference to this or that
section Of the Union AS we have said, it has been
everywhere recognised and endorsed as tho settled
policy Of the democracy but it is now for the first
time, sought to be put into practical operation by
the admission of Kansas into the Union under the
Lccompton constitution. Tho most casual observer
cannot have failed to discover that among the people
of the South there is an entire unanimty of senti
ment in favor Of such admission and it is equally
clear that this sentiment is fully participated in by
their senators and representatives in Congress
Whatever may be the case at the North, there
is at the South, and among southern men, but
T.
opinion and one party on this subject. Firm
united and determined, they will sustain the poll
cy of the President, and demand faithful ad
herence to the principles Of the Nebraska act by
the prompt and unconditional admission Of Kan
sas into the Union under tho Lccompton constitution
The black-republican leaders and Journals Of tho
country, discovering that this is SO, have, with |
their characteristic readiness for doing injustice to
all who disagree with them in opinion, already sci
on foot the charge that such would not have been
the position of the South had Kansas asked for ad
mission into the Union as a free instead Of slave
State The charge is as untrue it is unjust and
illiberal The South is governed by no such narrow
and selfish motives. Her people are emphatcally
Lw-abiding fair-dealing people. They demand moth
ing but what is right; they want nothing that
is wrong. Animated by an honest desire to do JUS
tce to others while demanding it for themselves,
they have only to be convinced that measure
right to accord to it their warm and earnest sup
port; and knowing that it is right they stop not TO
inquire whether it's successful establishment will re-
dound most to their own or to the interest of then
northern brethren. In this spirit they adV0
Gated, accepted, and endorsed the Nebraska act
They regarded and still regard it as the best
safest, and only constitutional mode of settling inc