The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-06-17
squatter Sovereignty.

popular sovereignty, as applied to in
choate territories. The idea of sover
eighty implies point of unity, some
where; either in laws and institutions
pre-existent, or in the homogeneous
character of the settlers and their har-
mony, of interests. There must be
some understood center about which
the various multitude may rally, or else
the first idea of sovereignty is wanting
and the prerequisite to peace is de-
ficient. f.,6 yoe san H.r go
4 The practice of the United States
government, before modern innovations
were introduced, defined the character
and secured the peace of new terri
tory. When it was ruled by geograph-
zeal lines, of what nature, in relation to
the vexed questions of American poll
tics, a territory should be, one trouble
some subject, at least, was kept out of
frontier disputes. The gathering of
strangers, diverse as to characters and
nationality, into one spot was made
with the recognition of power supe-
rior to themselves. Whatever might
be said in the older communities about
State rights, in the new territories the
federal authority was acknowledged,
and the enforcement of respect for the
national government gave the orderly
a point of union. Under this the new
community had time and opportunity
to organize; and under the national
protection, States came into the con-
federacy with some semblance of har-
mony and completeness. The rudeness
of border life was not always depressed,
for, in the nature of things, it could
not be. There were isolated acts of
disorder and violence, against which
the better sense of the great majority
protested. Lynch law, though a for
midable, and, as some argued, neces-
sary evil, was not paramount. There
were certainly many not very fattering
evidences of what men, under wild
freedom, could be guilty. These cir
cumstances did not indicate the pro-
priety of any change of policy which
should still further leave every man to
do what seemed right in his own eyes.
Yet to open this large liberty our leg
islators decided. And the painful re-
suit is before us. G .sc u
Every new territory has, to some de-
gree, suffered; but Kansas, being on
debatable ground, as to the peculiar
institution" has been most unhappy.
Even now, that the main subject in dis
pute has been virtually settled, the u
ritations and enmities which grew out
of the struggle are producing their
fruit Tho soods- Of <so,.f,.~ior, and ar
archy, the unsettled habits of life, and
the disregard for private rights and the
public peace, are still in progress Of
development. And the most mjustif.
able course of the national administra-
ton, in relation to the unfortunate terri
tory, while it has added to the local diff
ficulty, has falsified its own doctrine
Border troubles, once local, are now
national disturbances. fV .sas
And as if it were necessary to show,
in every possible phase, the folly of the
new doctrine, Mormonism has grown
up under it to an enormity which re-
quired the application of force, and the
expenditure of millions to repress. We
do not say subdue; for there is no tel
ling where the scattered Mormons may
concentrate, or in what new field re-
enact their old troublesome practices.
These significant events, most gratui-
tous in their infiction upon us, uncalled
for as they are disgraceful, show the
folly of disregarding experience, and
the wickedness of tampering with the
principles of right and justice to serve
party purposes. 1t is easier. to create
a disturbance than to quiet it. Though
the originators of the modern trouble
some paradoxes in government, have
been compelled virtually to abandon
their favorite, the lawless spirits who
are interested in misrule will be much
slower of conviction. The whole
course of the future colonization of the
west, is likely to be disturbed by the
doctrine which it was foolishly thought
could be made to operate in a national
caucus, and be forgotten afterward
The dearest bid for popular favor that
ever was made, was the innovation on
our territorial policy known as the ap-
plication of popular sovereignty to the
unorganized territories. 1t destroyed
the only point of connection which
really existed between the wild license
of the border and the customs of civil
lied life. Bitterly we have rued it, and
worse may be still before us.
| N -<~->-~e 80