True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-11-24
SoHreigntY in the TefritOries.

Sovereignty in the Territories
The right of the people Of Territory |
to smanage their own affairs in their own
way" is a question which is being discus
Sod in this county, by the two divisions
Of The democratic party and as it was
the avowal of this doctrine, on The part
Of Mr.. Buchanan and the Democratic par
~, which elevated him to the Presiden-
tial chair, and II is proper that democrats
should inquire whether the President still
adheres to it, or whether il has been
"hrolled by him. In the discussion be-
tween Mr. Peace and Mr.. Estep, which
came OF in the Court House or last
Wednesday evening, Mr.. P. charged that
James Buchanan and his followers had
! abandoned the doctrine Of popular Sever
eighty, as Sc. forth in the Cincinnati
platform, and quoted the Washington
!. Union, the organ Of the Administration,
to prove his position. ga ..,al.st,-- +.
It will be recollected thai Senator Brown
announced soon after this Administration
came into power that Mr.. Buchanan had
declared his intention 70 throttle Popu-
lar Sovereignty, and evory act of his Ad.
ministraiion goes to prove that such has
been bis purpose. A late number Of the
Union says: 1.-THE dogma Of Sqaatter
Sovereignty in the territories is totally
extinguishod by the bred StOtt decision"
Il denies that there sis any original juris.
diction or legislative authority in a Terri
tory" and asserts that "all authority,
therein is derivatiye, coming from withou,
and not inherent'in its inhabitants" &c.
After discussing the question at consider
able length, ii comes to this conclusion:
,ssc"Thus we have explored the source Of
the dogma of Squa,ter Sovereignty and
tracing the progress Of each Eerrltory oi
this Union, we have seen this dogma
nega,ived in every act -of its history. -
we have seen that sovereignty in The
Territory cannot come from the individu.
al squatter. We have.seen that it does
come from, and does reside in, during
every hour Of the existence Of the Terri.
tory, different antsgonistic source thai
is to say. from andiu Congress; represent
ing the Union at large, under the Federal
- Constitution, $50 .s,,.l .'.'',,. -,
t7"W regard with phspeakable contemp
all efforts 10 prove that the Kansas Ne.
braska act, or any other territorial &C
ever passed BY Congress, contains a sein
tilla Of this doctrine, or gives a wink o
blink Of coun,enance to it, It has seemed
p to us that to assert that the dogma il
recognised ia any word Of that act. is a
rrepostsrous as to assert that fire is ice
or that black is white" .
3f The above will certainly satisfy ever.
homes, democrat that the Administratio
has abandoned the doctrine Of Popula
Sovereignty-a principle that folsted
into power. Is.it any wonder then thu
democrats who advocated Mr.. Buehar
o. ans election on the ground that he wa
pledged in favor Of that doctrine shoul
now desert his Administration, and DE-
nounce him as traitor 10 his party an
81 principles This is being'done here an
elsewhereAan over the country. Y
ss',ruh such men as Mr.. Estsp will stand @ VI UP an
defend every act, Of Mr., Buchanan's A
81 ministration, and denounce those who ha'
81 the Independence torefuse to follow the
lead as traitors to-the Democratic part
They seem to think that it is the duty
. !, Democrats to stand up and defend Il
= Administration fright or wrong;" al
% all who refuse 10 do so, 10 their eslim
ton, "deserue and should reciere moi
ing but the contempt Of the faithful Il
lowers Of James Buchanan. But we
glad 10 know that there ate democrats
q Harrison county whp refuse 10 be dicta'
70 BY party leaders leaders-=yhho who ps have IN the ln'