Oroville daily Butte record., 1858-01-13
Funny somersauIts.. =.

ana untlrlng IN advocating the right of the
people of the territories to form their own
institutions. In proof that the Journal
meant not alone the slave question, we refer
to an article in their issue of Decembar Z,
Wisdom of Democratic Measures,
The Sub-Treasurynow and formerly" In the
Journal of December 1lth, occurs the fol-
lowing explicit declaration 10 regard to
Kanzas and the Democratic party:
"The next step will be to submit a eonsti.
tuition to a vote of the bona .fde settlers of
the Territory, and the great mission of the
Democracy on this question. will have been
accomplishe d-the blowing. of Republican
ism to the contrary notwithstanding. Who
will say that the Democratic party have not
strictly adhered to its promises %
The Richmond Enquirer of October 81
expended Democratic doctrines in relation to
Kanzas, thus:
GAS ifto place this docrine beyond the
possibility of doubt, the same act of Congress
provides further, that the people of each
erritory shall be left 'perefectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way" Yet, in the face of this
enactment, Mr.. Hunter assumes the position
that a constitutional convention in Kanzas
may (even without power to that effect ex-
pressly delegated by a vote Of the people)
enact constitution for territory of Kanzas
,1ith or pithOm the ratification Of the peo-
pie, as the convention itself may decide -
Thus the Senator makes the convention su-
preme, deprivng the people of the power to
''form and regulate their domestic institu-
tions in their own way" and placing those
institutions under the irresponsible control
of the convention. We have no hesitation
in saying that a general concurrence in
this doctrine ,couid strip the Kdnzds-Ne-
braska act Of its last recommendation"
Again, the same article says if the pro-
visions Of the Kanzas act are
"To be so interpreted as to deny, instead
of affirming, popular right, und forced
construction Of sovereignty, securing the
practical exercise of sovereignty to an
elective oigarehy, then the kdnzas act is
left devoid Of a single redeeming feature"
Again. we extract from the same article:
"There is but one inducement which can
cause the convention in Kanzas to Withhold
the constitution from popular ratification,
and that is fear lest the constitution may
not be approved by popular vote. Thus
such an omission would Indicate nothing
less than an intention to wrest the constitu-
tion making power from majority OF the
people. And, without any reservation, we
boldly denounce any such attempt as illegal
and anti-rtpubiican."
The same article says, if Congress should
force a constitution upon the people of Kan
zas against their wishes:
at would be urged that the Democratic
party and the whole South had united to
disregard the letter and spirit Of the Kan
Zas act, and the black republican party
would WELD the moral force ttaohing to the
advocacy of the principles of popular sove-
reignty. .AgifatiOn ,couid rage ten-foid
fercrr than erer before"
This was the position occupied by the
Democratic party, and which they we'll and
truly vindicated before the people. But
since the KAazas convention has, adopted a
constitution, submitting nothing but the
simple question of slavery to the people of
the territory, our beloved Democratic State
Journal, and staunch Democratic Richmond
Enquirer. abandon the principles they have
so ably advocated in the above extracts, as
follows
THE RICHMOND Enquirer ON THE KAN
sAs QUEs There has been the most
untirng efforts, on the part of certain ultra
Southern journals, to entangle the Rich
mond Enquirer on the subject above indica-
ted, and thus cause it to aid in dividing the
Democratic party. The Enquirer, howev-
er. is both too shrewed and too honest for
their purposes, and by plainly stating the
case. as well as its own position, puts its op-
ponents to the blush, and coIStrains them
to silence. The following is its frank and
manly response to the Richmond South,
which journal called upon the Enquirer to
define it's position:-Stdte Journal.
The submission of only one clause of the
Constitution for the approval of the people
of Kansas, is not strictly in accordance with
our idea of the full extent to which popular
sovereignty is not only practicable, but also
to which the authors of our institutions con-
templated its being carried But as We are
anxious to see the dangerous agitation of'the
slavery question allayed as soon as possible
AS it was with reference to that question,
that the doctrine of popular sovereignty was
so distinctly re-afirmed in the Nebraska
Kansas bill-and as slavery alone seems to
be the oaly institution in regard to which
there is. any danger or diversity of opinion
in connection with the application of popu-
lar sovereignty, we waive all abstract ohjec-
tions on the subject and cordially concur iu
the sentiment, that the Constitution, of Kan
sas should not bs rejected or retained by
Congress- because none other than the pro.
vision with reference to slavery has been
submitted to the vote of the people. We
contend that according 10 the spirit of our