Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-05


Mr.. J. GLASor JOINS, Of Pennsylvania, in late
letter to q demOeratcmass meeting in Philadelphia,
davis the distinction between popular and Congress
ional sovereignty very clearly. He says:
" The doctrine Of popular sovereignty is now a
settled and integral part Of the democratic creed;
So also is its eorrelave that Of nOn-intervention
hv Congress- In the domestic affairs Of the Terrific
ries. as ours is government Of law and order the
popular viii Of the Territory, can only be known
through its legal representatives..
81 The code aud manner Of conveying that will to
the federsl government belongs exclusively to the
people Of the Territory If they direct that it shall
be made known only through the popular suffrage,
ratfyinT the acts Of their Representatives IL can
be received in no other form. If they authorize
their representatives 70 speak for them without
submission or by partial submission, to the popu-
lar vote il is alike binding; for WHILE in each and
every case We hsve no rigut TO dictate suggest or
intervene, consider il the highest attribute OF pop
ular sovereignty to allow the people Of Territory
mot only to form and control their own domestic in
situdOBs, but to do this in their own way and not
the way that Congress may suggest. Kansas the
done this. The Presideuthas no legal knowledge Of
the popular viii there except through its own chosen
representatives. If he to reject or disregard
this, Ii would not only nulify the acts Of popular
sovereignty, communicated to him through legti-
mate channels but it would be intervention with q
high hand aud an executive usurpatiOn far more
odiOus than congressional. The new doctrine that
the popular will cannot be made known through It's
own chosen agents, if it be their will do is
abridgment Of sovereignty-a limitation Of the
power Of the people, imposed on tn IN BY Congress-
which assumes without consti .uiional authority to
exercise it. II is setting up higher law than the
constitution, inHsmuoh 1t abrOgates the whole
system Of representative government
81 recognize in the people Of Kansas, when they
sufficiently numerous, the absolute right, in the
NJ lp hai II
institutions; and l recognize II as one Of the high
egt attributes Of that sovereignty that they may
choose their own Vay, their own mode and manner
If the Executive or Congress can dictate the man
ner, OF compel them to select particular mode,
other than that Of their choosing, then popular
sovereignty is a farce If the agents abuse the
trust 20 whom are they responsible2 To the people,
fthey are sovereign-tO COngre5s if the people are
not sovereign If the constitution of Kansas is not
acceptable to the people Of Kansas it IS easy for
them 70 change It f.; popular sovereignty comedies
them that right. But Congress attempts TO change
it. congressional sovereignty supersedes popular
sovereignty and the battle Of 1885, has been fought
in vain. have no regard for the LeComptOn cOu-
vention its constitution, except far It IS the
manifestation Of the will Of q sovereign people,
made known through their own agents. Il is be-
1 am bound 10 regard this constitution the
act Of the people, and not Of the convention that
accept it, acknowledge the right Of the people of
Kansas to abrogste, alter, or amend this cOnstitu
ton. deny that rif ht TO the Executive 10 Con
gress. With these views, my sympathies and feel
ings are with you.