The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-05-06

: largely in the minority in
4 branches of Congress, had there
not appeared allies in the field of strife.
A portion of the Democratic and Amer
lean members had become so thor
oughly disguised with the rufianism
and tyranny of the slave power, and
were so 10th to sanction the palpable
and disgraceful frauds perpetrated in
the election of delegates and pretended
submission of the Constitution to the
people of Kansas, that they were COM
PEELED to oppose its adoption. Another
portion headed by Senator Douglas,
pretending to stand upon the doctrine
OF popular sovereignty, but really out
of pure spite to the Administration.
entered the lists with the opposition
Thus assisted ssiiu I0rtihed, inc IsepuD-
licans succeeded for months in holding
the monster at bay; until treachery-
the base and disgraceful treachery of a
portion of the Douglas party gave the
victory to the President and slavery.
The "principle" upon which the few
Democrats who at first opposed the
Administration planted themselves,
was, as they explained it, the right of
the people to decide for themselves the
character of their domestic institutions.
They disclaimed all desire to control
by Congressional will or interference
the affairs of the territory, but con-
tended that the Constitution should be
fairly submitted to a popular vote. The
position of the Republican party was
an advance upon this-that slavery has
no rights which the people should or
can respect, and that common justice
and the general good require its re-
striction-hence they could not consent
to admit Kansas with a slavery tolerat-
ing 6o1st;tutfon, under any -considera-
tion II has excitoA some remark, and
some pretend to think it very strange
that the Republicans should have sus-
tanned, with Senator Douglas and his
adherents, what has been termed the
Crittenden amendment. But there is
no strangeness about it. That amend
ment referred the Constitution directly
back to the people for their approval
or rejection, and even then there was
: nothing binding upon Congress to ac-
: cept or reject it. OF course this did
not cover the who'll ground of the Re-
>tlpublican party, bu it was supported as
the>>best thing tht could be done under
the cf cumstanes. In supporting the
Critten' lien apsndment the Republicans
did not, ;pany degree. endorse the
doctrine q "squatter sovereignty
they voted 10 enforccby Congressional
Legislation plain and inherent right of
the people to form their own Constitu-
ton. Instead of a vote for the bogus
Douglas principle, it was a palpable
act of direct interference by the Con-
gress with the affairs of the Territory.
But this step of the Democracy was
too great an advance for them to take
A portion of them seeing and feeling
that they were treading upon Republi-
can ground, made quick haste to
retreat. To enable them to do this
decorously the English conference bill
was gotten up. Now mark the SINGER
lily of these squatter sovereignty men.
This bill instead of submitting the Lee
compton Constitution directly to the
people, submits only to the question
l"Do you desire to be admitted into the
| Union ?" If the people say eyes"
they are to come in under the Lecomp-
ton Constitution with its pro-slavery
clause in full force, and receive for their
lcondesccntion large grant of the public