The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-22
cipIe, would give it their cordial support.


fair and M perfect an exposition Of the doc
trinc Of popular sovereignty, ~ could b.
carried out by any bill that man Aer Dc
vised. II proposed TO refer the Iecompton
Constitution back to the people Of Kansas,
and give them the right TO accept or reject
II as they pleased, at a fair election, held in
pursuance OF law, and in the event Of their
rejecting II and forming another in its stead,
10 permit them TO come into the Union on
an equal footing with the original States.
II was fair and just in all OF its provisions
II gave il my cordial support, and was re-
joiced when found that Il passed the House
Of Representatives, and at one time enter
tanned high hopes that it would pass the
Senate. (App!ause.)
regard the great principle Of Popular
Sovereignty, IA having been vindicated and
made triumphant in this land, a. a pcrma
nent rule Of public policy in the organiza-
ton Of territories and the admission Of new
States. lCheers) Illinois took her posi-
ton upon this principle, many years ago.
You all recollect that in 1850, after the pas.
sage Of the Compromise measures Of that
year, when returned 10 my home, there was
in supporting those measures. (Shame) ]
appeared before the people at Chicago at
mass meeting, and INDICATED each and eve
ry one Of those measures and by reference
10 my speech on that occasion, which was
printed and circulated broadcast through
ont the State at the time, you will find that
! then and there said that those measures
were all founded upon the great principle
that every people ought to possess the
right to form and regulate their own domcs-
tic institutions in their own way, and that
that right being possessed by the people Of
the States ] saw no REASON why the
same principle should not be extended % all
OF the territories Of the United States a
general election was held in this State a few
months afterwards, for members Of the IL.
gislaturc, pending which all these questions
were thoroughly canvassed aud discussed
and the nominees Of the different parties,
instructed in rcgnrd To the wishes Of their
constituents upon them. When that elcc.
ton WINS over, and the legislature assem-
great dissatisfaction expressed nj my course
bled they proceeded 10 consider the merits
Of those compromise MEASURES and the prin.
ciplcs upon which they were predica,oj.
Aga cha, Wa .ha -P.uli u 7ss,eir. ;.,.;og 2
They passed resolutions, first repeating the
Wilmot Proviso instructions, and in lieu
thereof. adopted another resolution, in
which they declared the great principle which
asserts the right Of the people TO make their
own form OF government, and establish their
own institutions That resolution is IA fol-.
lows
Rssoieed, That our liberty and Independence
are based upon the right Of the people 20 form
for themselves such a government as they may
choose; that this great principle, the blrthrght
Of irecmen, the gin Of Heaven, secured to us by
the blood Of ont ancestors, ought to be extend.
ell TO future generations, and no Limitation
ought TO be applied to this power In the organ.
patton Of any Territory Of the United States OF
either "A Territorial Government or state Con.
| sttulion, provided the Government 40 cstab.
lisbcd shall be Republican aud in conformity
| with the Constitution Of the United States,
That resolution, declaring the great prin-
cipIc Of sell government as applicable 10
the Territories and new States. passed the
House Of Representatives OF this State by n
vote Of sixty-one in the Affirmative 10 only
four in the negative. Thus you find thai
an expression Of public opinion, enlightened,
educated, intelligent pablo opinion ON this
question by the Representatives Of Illinois,
IN 1851. approaches nearer to unanimity
than has ever been obtained on any contro.
vertcd question. That resolution was IN
tcrd on the journal OF the Legislature of
Illinois and it has remained there from that
day 10 this standing instruction Ia her
Senators AMI request to her Representa-
lives in Congress to carry out that principle
in all future cases. Illinois therefore stands
pre- eminent as the State which stepped for,
ward early and established platform appli.
cable TO this slavery question, concurrcd in
alike by Wings and, Democrats. in which il
was declared to be the wish Of our people
that thereafter the people of the Territories
should be- lcft perfectly free to form and re-
gulate their domestic institutions in their
own way. and that no limitation should b,
placed upon that right in any form IRE
mendous applause)t Hence, what was
my duty in 1854, when II became ne.
cersary 10 bring forward bill for the
organization Of the Territories oi
Kansas and Nebraska. Was il not my
duty in Obedience 10 the Illinois platform
10 your standing instructions 10 your Sena.
tors. adopted with almost entire upanimity.
to incorporate in the bill the grea, principle
OF selfgovcrnmcnt, declaring tina, il was the
true intent and meaning OF the act no, to
lcgislate slavery into any State or Territory
or to exclude il therefrom. but TO leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and reg
uate their domestic institutions in their own
way. subject only to the Constitution Of the
United States p Cries OF yes, yes. -
and cheers did incorporate that prin-
cipc in the Kansas Nebraska bill, and per.
haps did a. much as any living man
to further the enactment Of that bill.
great applaasel thus establishing the doc
,rine in the public policy Of the country.
(Cries OF good, and renewed applaasc.) |
then defended that principle against assault,
from one section o! the Union. During this
last winter il became my duty 10 sipdica,c
i, against assaults from the other section OF
the Union. iCh@rsl lvindicatcd il bold