The daily Butte record., 1858-03-20

oi ING eLecomptoDites gave utterance to sen.
timents and principles so directly antago.
nistical to the Democratic doctrine, and to
the clearly defined and we'll established
principles Of popular government, as to in.
delliblystamp themselves as ignorant preten.
ders to political science. or as insincere and
traitorous professors Of the Democratic faith.
Among the more bald and unblushing Of the
Lecomptonites, and avowing sentiments and
using arguments that sbames and disgraces
the intelligence of the age. stands Mr. Mer.
rtt, of Mariposa. But VIC will permit the
gentlemen to speak for himself, that We may
not msrepresent his sentiments. Mr.. Mer-
ritt said:
"Our system Of government Is not pure
Democracy. The people do not assemb bic in
mass, as in some Of the republics of the old.
en- time to give direct expression Of opin-
ION In regard to any Of our laws. Our gov
ernment Is mixed government. 1t is car
ried ON by the people. acting through agents,
to Dtom Mey delegate their s0vereigafy for
the time being. And when the people of a
Territory confer upon delegates the right to
frame n constitution, it WAS not funda.
mental principle Of the Kansas Nebraska
bill, IN his opinion, that that constitution
requires n subsequent ratification at the
hands of the people The people may do, as
fully and eflectually. anything pertaining to
their government, through their qualified
agents, as II they themselves did it directly
without the interposition Of these agents.
This was the case in regard to the Kansas
I'ecompton constitution. The people dele
gated their sovereignty TO the delegates
that framed that constitution. and ii thus
became their act as JM'y had made IL
MemseiUes. The people delegate power to
n California legislature to make laws. Does
any one contend that they ought afterwards
to be submitted for ratification or rejection
to the people''
This is certainly strange doctrine for n
gentleman to enunciate who was elected up
still processes to be attached to the good old
principle loving Democratic party. What a
wise legislator, who is unable to discern the
difference between power granted by a con-
stitution and the power that makes constu-
tions! What treachery to the inalienabe
rights of frcemen for one protesting Democ-
racy to rise in the Senate House, and declare
that the sovereignty Of the people can be
delegated" and that minority convention
OF delegates can bind the people Of sove.
reign State Oh most sapiont statesman |!
If honest in such declaration If not, then
what base treachery to the heaven. born
fifth of n party that have elevated him to u
position TO which the above sentiments show
him to be wholly unworthy-~the represent
atve Of free people!
The Democratic doctrine upon this subject
was we'll understood during the campaign Of
1856. 1t was circulated In printed docu-
ments, and Illuminated from forums, until
sanctioned by the nation as the fundamental
principle of free government. 1t was de-
MED that the constitution of the United
States was sovereign, for that was created
by the States. 1t was denied that the gov
ernment Of the United States wss sovereign,
for it exercised delegated powers" only,
as declared the Constitution 1t was denied
that Congress could exercise sovereign
power in the territories, but could exercise
only the powers delegated by the constitu-
tion. The constitution was recognized as
the supreme law created by the sovereign
States. IL was denied that the u. States
government could exercise power over the
Territories not granted in States 1t was
thus shown that sovereignty, the constitu-
tion making power, was vested in and rested
exclusively with the people of the States and
territories-that sovereignty toas inaiien-
d6le and could not be delegated. This was
the Democratic doctrine of popular sove-
rolgnty, and it is the fundamental principle
of public liberty. by it we shall stand, and
when the Leccmptites present themselves to
the people for positions of honor ard respon-
sibility though they were backed by doz.
en- Custom House and Digger reservation
conventions. We will denounce them as trail
tors to Democracy and enemies to tho lber-
ties OF the people Tho history of republi-
can government does not present more
gross violation of its fundamental principles.
than this act of unmitigated ignorance or
unprincipled treachery of the assembled
wisdom Of California. We tell them plainly
that there is no Democracy in their course
Mr. Merritt out Bucks Buchanan himself
The Presidents Lecompton message denied
that even constitutional provision could
bind the people Of Kansas, bIt that they
could amend ther constitution at any time,
notwithstanding direct provision to the
contrary-that they could not bind them.
selves. Mr.. Merritt says they delegated
their Sovereignty" to contemplate mi
nori,y convention! What nonsense But