The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-12-30
A Proposed Modification Of Terrific
rial Government

The bill VIII ch Mr. Morris, o illinois, is about
to introduce in the House OF Representatives
giving to the people OF the Territories, alter
due organization by act OF Congress, the power
Of eleCtng their own Governors, Judges. and
other officers, in such manner as The Territorial
Legislatures may provide, will probably be the
subject or warm debates BY the very act of
providing for the exercise OF the elective fran
chsc in these cases, it maintains the essential
sovereignty OF Congress over the Territories
1t delegates to the lnhd 5itanS Of those parts Of
the Union certain powers which the Executive
and Federal Government has hitherto exercised,
| but which recent experience has shown to result
| in great abuses
The Republican members Of Congress, we,
learn, are strongly inclined to support the bill
| because it strikes at the extraordinary usurpa
! tons Of the Executive in the case Of Kansas
! Everybody who understands the history OF that
| Territory, knows very we'll that all its troubles,
| OF nearly all, have arisen from the conduct of
| the Governors, Secretaries, and Judges sent
! thither by Franklin Pierce and James Buchau-
ON. Take, Is an example, Governor Shannon,
who invited horde OF house burners, horse
thieveG and murdercrs into the Territory nnl
left the people at their mercy, and who aided
and encouraged Me invasion of Kansas by an
army Of NJ issouruns, taking possession Of the
polls, holding their own elections aud kee ping
Secretary Woodson, who for some time was Mr.
Perc SIS acting Governor Of the Territory, unG
in that capacity formed league with the ru(
fans who kept the country in disorder. No less
intsmousis, The record Of the Territorial Judges
Lecompte and Cato, appoincl by the President
who Imprisoned innocent men aud Shi idcl
murderers and thieves from th2 Just punishmen
Of the law by setting tn m at lib>rty, These
exnmpIes--to say nothing Of the conduct o
fierce ant Buchanan in retaining that rogue
!, snd bully, Brigham Young SO long as the
Governor Of Utah-have put sober and sensible
people in dread OF the power with which tn,
present organization of 50 many territories
clothes the Executive, and make them willin,
to consider any practicable scheme for lintin,
50 d4ngerouse prcrogative
With gard TO those who hold to The doctrine
of squattcr sovereignty, they will vote for th
bill, OF course. 1t Is true that it does not pro
pose to put the Territories beyond the contro
OF Cong rss, but it releases them from tha stat
of immediate and dangerous dependence on th
Federal Executive, OF which both they and TIL
Union have had such melancholy experience
aud looks like an honest and consistent u temp
to enlargs the privileges of the settlers. 1t is
measure, in short which preserves all that i
II good in the doctrine of popular sovereignty.
MIR. Morris, who will Introduce the bill, is
Douglas Democrat, though we are g;ad to lear
that he does not quite approve of Douglas con
duct in making u banqueiting tour at the Sout
while so many important questions are bctor
Congress. The Dopglas Democrats in ongrrs
may be expected to give the bill their supper
and it will probably be made the beginning {
n series ofproposed m asures embolyng prA,
tical expression of their peculiar opposition t
the nrrS mt AlminiStratiOn.--N Nelp York Pos