Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-11


the Democracy took upon themselves to make
in the last presidential campaign.
The recommendation in the message goes
ont as as forlorn hope against what has
heretofore been supposed to be tie strongly
intrenched doctrine of popular sovereignty
What will the country do, is the question
Will it defend this great principle in the hour
of its severe trial ! Or will it allow the right
of selfgoverument to be successfully assaulted?
Has it already become an obsolete, worn-out
thing ? But two years ago | expressed the
opinion that those most prominently instrn-
menta, in causing the Democratic party to be
pledged to maintain the doctrine of popular
sovereignty, in the organization of our Terri
tories, would deeply regret it, never doubted
that it mould operate against the growth Of
| the South. On the 18th of March, 1856,
when insisting upon an investigation into al
| legged election frauds in Kansas had occasion
! to use these words
Sir the supporters If that bin 1.-THE Nebraska Kansas
bil have proclaimed to the nation that the Territories
of the United States constitute fair field. and
that there is to be free fight there between the North
and the South, to decide whether slavery freedom
shall rule them. II the energy the enterprise the active
modes of life the available capital and the numbers Of
the North shall not be able compete successfully with
their opnoses in the South and sgrure freedom, =; the
Territories, then viii admit that there vitality and
power in slavery Elich Of the North have never
dreamed Of In my opinion the Representatives Of the
South in the ThrtyThrrd Congress have the fire.
and they will gather tire into their own gamers
The prediction is fulfilled for now, like
| Pyrene. the Iberian princess, they fly in fear
/ from their own child it is serpent, and pur-
sues them. The day of repentance has come
( upon them much sooner than | anticipated
Instead of decades, it has required but brief
months to inculcate the lessoa which should
| never be forgotten, that weakness cannot long
! triumph over strength, nor minorties in this
/ free land, trampe down maiorities If what
! we have esteemed the great truths Of repub-
! lcan government are not a sheer lie, then
| squatter sovereignty, adequately protected,
will give the virgin lands Of our Confederacv
/ to the free white man. and not the negro slave
! This is now seen, and sovereignty is not to he
protected it is 20 be crushed out By unwar-
rantable illegal interference it is to be crush
ed ont and the hitherto plant North is ex-
/ pected to acquieSce If it submits be it so
| viii, never no, never
| Is it not too plain that popular sovereignty
so much extoiled in the Thirty Third: congress,
| and go highly recommended in the last presi-
dentCl contest, as the sound principle upon
which our Territories were hencefo-th 70 be Or
ganized ard governed-whch was declared as
giving all power into the hands of the people
| is &c be sWeated down to the yerT moderate
| dimensions CT q privilege to say whether they
| will hold negro in bonds or not No opin-
/ ion can be expressed as TO the organization Of
| the legislative, executive or judicial branches
/ of the government 4; none Of the constitutional
/ safeguards afforded to life and liberty are of
: IL, l.
speak as to them bis whole voice is TO be
| kept for his yea or nay on negro slavery
This is Tom Thumb sovereignty, CT sovereignty
| in nutshell.
| The case is even worse than | hare exhibit
| ed il. Nothing has been submitted for popu-
lar determination. Slavery should not be YCt-
ed down by voting the " constitution with nc
| slavery" when the instrument expressly de-
| clares that under such vote " the right oi prop
erty in slaves now in the Territory shall in no
manner he inteFfered with" Z" That right Of
! property carries with il tile Increase Of those
slaves as completely as If born in South Car
DINA ; and if that night 81 stall not b. iHterftr-
/ Cd lCltha slavery must continue. have never
/ before been Taught that that is free State in
which the negro and his issue ere to be holden
/ as slaves. and where the property in slaves
= shall rot be inter!ered with" The right OF
the people % to form aud regulate their 90
mestic institutions in their own way now
means simply, 10 form and regulate" slavery.
provided ther 90 form" il in State, and do
not " regGIate"it il out This | would designate
as sovereignty invisible
| deeply regret that those who support the
LecomPtol constitution have NOT rested il up
/ on q principle, but upon ez7ediercy. As
read the rIeSsage of the President, he scanc-
tons il in order that the country NAV get rid
OF the excitement which has - long prevailed
upon the subject. What excitement, pray
That which has been caused by repeated acts
OF violence, SInoIhering tie popular will, and
gagSing the popular voice. It's language = :
.wsea onee admitted in - tbe Caj,a. rss.5,- VIZ.
or wtEoIt slavery the excitement beyond her limits
VIII spesly r1 away, sh= ~. then the frst tsEl=
e len a. she ought 70 have teen l91g since. 70 Ara
es- own aaErs n her way. II her ocasfi.atiya on
The sl5ec. Of s'sTerv, o. any ether s75ic-t = dis
pleasing 20 majority c: tas people. haEEan power
12a PreTeRi them from changing :; within oet pared
In ny judgment principle should perer be
sacrificed to e1pediency. Bat deny the ex-
pedencv of the course recommended. anI the
argument 10 sustain il IS, to nv mind, unfor-
tuuate, The President saws if her cousti-
tuition on the subject Of slavery. or any other
subject, De displeasing to majority OF the peo-
pie, no human poEer csn prevent them from
changing it within brief period" Tae Or
gsaic act promises the people that they mar
form and Regulate their domestic Institutions
IN their own war now they are told they
should take fundamental law, in making cf
! which they had 10 part. and OF which they 70
tally disapPrcTe, because no human power
can peeFenr them from changing it within 9
brief period" Now, nj the time they seek ad-
nissioo into the Onion, oppression forces in
stitutions npon them brt when admitted,
that hsrd will Be witfsirsvn aud they viii re-
gain their rights This is sovereignty With s0s-