The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-11-06

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every instance to admit Southern States
with Constitutions recognizing slavery
And why ? In all their speeches they
contended that the people of the Terri
tories had right to form their own insti-
tutions in their own way. Said John
Quincy Adams, in the debate upon the
admission of Arkansas with her slave
Constitution, 81 cannot, consistently with
my sense of obligation as a citizen Of the
United States, object to the admission Of
Arkansas as slave State"
Arkansas has a right
to come into the Union with her slaves
and her slave laws"
What was this but popular sovereignty
endorsed by one of the purest statesmen
and most rigid moralist our country has
ever known? Other sage and venerable
men Of the North took the same view of
the question. A distinguished Senator
from Ohio spoke to the same point, while
explaining why he should vote for admis-
sion, as follows: "The wrong, in moral
sense, with which 1 view slavery, would
be sufficient to induce me to vote against
admission, did 1 not consider my political
obligations and my duty as member Of
this body, I otOe to the Constitution under
which now act, clearly require of me the
vote shall give.
The people of Arkansas having formed
for themselves State government hav-
ing presented their Constitution for ad-
mission into the Union, and
believing that Congress has no right or
power to regulate the system of police
these people have established for them
selves, cannot, as a member
of this body, refuse my vote to admit
this State into the Union, because her
Constitution recognizes the right and ex-
istence of slavery"
When the question of admission has
been presented by other States, the dis
cussion has been vindication Of the same
principle, and every observer of the gen.
eral tenor of our Government, must ad-
NIT that for more than half a century
the supremacy of this doctrine has been,
more or less directly established. Not
in the character Of glazing absurdity,
mounted as the hypocritical hobby, by a
waning demagogue, perhaps, until it was
thus prostituted by its modern apostles.
/ take the principle in its broadcast sense,
and contend that Congress finds no author
ity in the Constitution to domineer over
the people of Territory, while they re-
main loyal subjects, acknowledging their
constitutional dependence just as far and
no farther, than the people of all the
States are required to do, and the only
authority that any party has ever claimed
to derive from that instrument, is found
in the third section of Article ", which
says "The Congress shall have power to
dispose of and make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the Territory, OF
other property belonging to the United
States" which neither grammarian or ju-
rist can strictly construe to apply only in
its property jurisdiction to the right of pos
session to the soil, and not in any degree tc
the civil government Of the inhabitants
living thereon. In this, their own sove.
reignty is not infringed by the Constitu.
ton, and why should it be by Congress
that has no jurisdiction beyond its dele,
gated powers? That Congress has as.
sumed to place rulers over the people o
the Territories for long period, is no ar
gument in its favor. 1t was evidently tn,
\ intention of the trainers of the Constitu
ton, to secure the fullest rights to tn,
| people, and when the subject of extend
ing protection to the inhabitants Of thu
Territory ceded by Virginia, and the 9th
er border States was first agitated, it wa
only proposed to permit the States ad
joining to exercise species of protecto
rate power, or SUBJ confederacy, over sucl
colony, that would always cease as sool
as they were able to protect themselves
and it was not claimed that Congress hao
any right to interfere, so long as the Fed
eral Constitution was not violated. Their
are volumes of proof going to show thi
fact, and still the correspondents "Kansas'
would represent that Gass, Douglas. and
few abandoned political dotards were tn
| only adhersnts he has ever known to thi
modern humbug." n
1t is surprising that any gentleman
claiming the confidence of the public as
journalist, should so stupidity err as to 50,
tina. popular sovereignty ais now withou
any responsible person to patronize it,
mo sane person viii touch it." SC VIA
arc tie jactsf Why, it constitutes tn
/ substance of our whole Kansas cause. ]
is the FIRE by,Ehich the faith of our re
vered martyrs has been tried. It is tn
vitalizing spirit that makes strong tn
cause Of Right to turn back the arm Q
despotism. We have borne this testimo
ny for nearly four years while We hav
been struggling to throw off the bondag
of slsve-ridden eligarchy, as exhibits
/ by foreign usurpation. And to-day th
doctrine is more popular than at any othe
hour. Its defenders are found among tn
profoundest statesmen Of the age, and it
proselytes will multiply wherever inses
] tigGtion is sought Already. Blair,
Trumbull, q Thayer. q Chase. and oths
brave champions like them, have spoke
for the people. consequently, if the aro
| gance of aKansas', is taken for surpsssin