New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-14
well received.


The doctrine Of popular Sovereignty that
is Of the right OF the People Of any State or Terri
tory 70 establish or reject Slavery as they shall seq
fits pausibly advocated in Mr.. Douglass speech,
and we zee ii affirmed also 10 the resolves of County
Conventions wherein Republicans would seem to
have participated. Before Republicans are asked
10 assent to such doctrine, We submit that it
ihouId be clearly set forth so that there can be
mistake az TO what it really is.
We, be it distinctly understood, do not accept it.
We recognize no right 10 one man to enslave his
fellow man-no right to do this nherlng in ten men,
Tor yet in ter thousand To talk of Slavery as
legal constitutional relation Of one man TO another,
u1der Republican Government, is to utter the
most amazing absurdity. Slavery is the reign of
FOrce-tbe rule Of the strongest dethrone-
ment Of Law by Violence. An uncorrupted Court
Of Justice ought anywhere to decide the pretended
establishment Of Slavery by Law solecism-a moral
mpossbiity.
But LET us concede, for the Arguments sake, that
Slavery can be established by law-that its egazs-
ton is matter Of sheer expediency like Banking
or Rslroads-and LET us zee what popular Sove-
reignty with regard to it really is, or should be-
SuPposipg it abstIactly right that every Territory
or embryo State shall determine for itself, whether
by popular vote or otherwise, to have Slavery or
net have it for one of its "dOmesti, Institutions"
it is very clear that the vote other determlnst
to establish ought 10 precede the act Of establish
ing. Is not that clear Suppose we agree that the
question of Banks or No Banks ought to be decided
by the People; would if not be monstrOus to begin
by letting every one who peases set up Bank, and
tten call on the People to vote FOX or sgails. the
continuance of those Banks
Yet this is precisely what Popular Sovereignty
practically does with regard to Slavery IL plants
Slavery in every Territory, fosters and protects it
through the whole period of said Terrtory's exist
ence and tells the People that they may vote it out
or vote it down, if they see fit, when they come to
frame u State Constitution. Is this holding an
even balance between Freedom ard slavery BE
not deceived by psusble oOlloc atoms of words but
lock into the facts.
When the Kansas Nebraska bill was before the
Senate, and had received it's final shape through
the adoption of the famous stump speech clause
purpoIting to leave the People thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic ins.tu-
"tions in their own way" Mr. Chase Of Ohio
moved March 2, 1854, to add:
"Under which, the People of the Territory, through
their appropriate representatives, may if they See n.
prohibit the existence of Slavery therein
This was roted dozen: Yeas, l0-al now Repubs
Icans; Nays, IS, including Messrs. AtchisOn,
Toucey and Douglas-Gen. Cass absent or silent.
Here we see that the Nebraska bill A. passed not
only did not accord to the People of Territory
the right TO prohibit Slavery but that all its friends
voted expressly not to accord it.
Popular Sovereignty" then as expounded by
its inventors and champions, does not authorize,
nor enable, nor allow, the People of Territory to
exclude or expe Slavery from their soil. 1t gives
them no power over Slavery, save to regulate aud
protect it, while they retain the Territorial condi
ton 1t subjects them to the introduction and
maintenance of the peculiar institution" at the
PLEASURE of any single stakeholder, and only prom
ices that, when they come to form State COnsti
tation and be admitted int the Union, they may
rid Themselves Of its presence if they choose. Even
this promise has been practically repudiatsd and
violated by President Buchanan, his Cabinet, in.
Sovereignty" Gen. Cas-, aud more than three
fourths OF the Democratic leaders, but not by Sen
ator Douglas, Gov. wiz and Gov. Walker. The
exception does credit tothose in whose favor it is
made, bu. where does it leave the Democratic
party
Are the People of this Unicn prepared to sur
render all their Territories 10 Slavery so lorg as
they shall remain Territories Mr. Douglas, ii
seems, is; his recent express approval of the bred
Scott decision removes al doubt on that point.
The Republican party is not. ard, while it is ready
TO cooperate With members of other parties in fur.
therance Of common objects, it must not be asked
by them to sink or deny its cardinal principle
Hostility to the plsntiug or ssazins of Slavery in
the Federal Territories. II the Peunsy yania Union
Convention which meets to-day should forget or
override this fact! We apprehend thai all conserved
will have resson for regret.
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