Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-01-09
IMMENSE GATHERING
OF THE
Philadelphia Democracy.

L FtSHftNt DUCb tNttN hUUttNtSCfUttUW
EndOySed-HtS Policy tn Relation to
KanSlS Apry0ved-Popular Screreiga.
ty in the Territories Tindicated-IHe
Right Of the People 10 Regulate Their
Oson Institutions an Their Oaon WaY-
Tie Democracy Of Ihilddelphia Sp al
10 Thtir Brethren Of the State onM
Union.
The Democracy of Philadelphia, held
an immense Mass Meeting, on Monday
evening, the 2sth Of December, 1857. for
the purpose of endorsing the Presidents
views on the Kansas Question. Ex-t hiof
Justice Lewis, presided, assisted by an
unusual array of Vice Presidents and
Secretaries. We take it that this was the
strongest demonstration ever given in our
State upon any subject and most trium-
phan,ly did lhey sustain President Bu-
chanan.
The President, (ex-C hef Juscice LEW.
ISL on stepping forward to lake the Chair,
was greeted with hearty applause, and
addressed the assemblage in substance as
follows -
beg leave to tender my sincere thanks
t, this meeting for The honor conferred in
selecting me to preside over its delibera-
tions. AT the same time, justice to my
own feelings requires me to say that I
accept the honor with great reluctance, and
had repeatedly declired it when proposed
by the Committee of Arrangement, because,
when retired from the highest judicial
station in my native State, and declined
the nomination for re. election so generously
rendered by the Democratic Convention, it
was my sincere desire to be relieved from
the responsibilities of all prominent public
or political stations. But the wishes of
my fellow sitizens have been manifested in
way not to be disregarded, and yield
to their wishes with profound acknowl.
edgments for this high mark of their
confidence.
We are assembled to deliberate on the
measures ol the President in relation to the
admission of the Territory of Kansas into
the Federal Union, as an independent
State. By the Constitution of the United
States. Congress possesses the power to
" dispose and make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the Territories or
other property belonging to the United
States.' 7 his clause has been thought, by
some, to be confined merely to the resula-
tion of the Territories, as property, and
not to the government ofthe people inhabi-
ting the Territories. 1t may be safely
conceded hat this is correct. But it must
be remembered hat the Goyernmen. has
the power to declare war-to m Ike peico,
and to make treaties. In the exercise of
these powers, Territories may be acquired
either by conquest or by treaty. When
the Government, by either of these meth
DDS, acquires the jurisdiction over and the
right of property in Territory, the right
to make laws for its government results as
a necessary incident to acquisition. Al
though the United States Government is
one of limited powers, tits certainly supreme
within the limits prescribed and, in sd-
dition to the powers expressly granted,
possesses all the powers necessary TO the
exercise of the authorities conferred by the
express terms Of the Constitution. Under
this construction of the Constitution, Con.
gress has, ever since the foundation Of the
Government, claimed and exercised the
right OF sovereignty over the people of the
Territories and the doctrine OF popular
sovereignty has never been carried 10 the
extent of claiming for the people of the
Territories a right to set themselves up in
opposition to the sovereign power of the
United States No territory has ever been
organized for governmental purposes but
by authority of Congress, and in conformity
10 its enactments. The people oil a terri
tory, before 1t is organized for the purposes
Of government, are bound by the Constitu
:ion and laws Of the Union, so far only as
they apply to such territory. With this
exception, the inhabitants of territory
before it is organized, are in state Of
nature--each man prcscribes laws for
himself and administers justice to himsel
in his own way. As ali have an equal
right in this respect, no one has rightfu
power over another, Sovereignty imple.
superiority. Where all are equal there
can be no such thing as soyereignty.--
Sovereignty, instead of existing among
people in state of nature, has no ezistenc,
at all until government be established The
creation of governmental power is the bir |
of sovereignty, Even popular sovereigDt.
has no existence until the aggression o
individual II hts, given up for the purpose
is vested in the appointed authorities Blu
in the case of the Territories belonging t,
the United Ststes, the sovereignty exists il
the Federal Government. The people o
Territories have no powers beyond tho'
secured to them by the Constitution of tn,
United States, or voluntarily granted b.
Congress. 1t is only by authority o
Com ress that thay can have Territorial
Legislature. 1t is only under the SAM
authority that they can righ fully be ad
mitted into the Union as Independent
States. In accordance with these principles
Congress, by act of 3Oth May, 1854, or
ganised the Territory of Kansas. Il wa
declared to be " the true interest an'
n l. 4