Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-04-23
Views OF an Eminent Catholic upon our
National Politics.

National Politics.
The last number of Brownson's QUARTERLY
ReUieao contains a remarkable article upon
"Politics at Home and Abroad" from the
pen of o. A. Brownson, who is conceded to
be the iINi-~ Catholic writer and controver-
mails ia. tied States. The article is
ararke Ds iua' spirit # randor which is one
III the ioo.glng dr;.clefistlcs Of TINS distin-
gui>hed writer, and the subjoined extracts
from it are worthy the careful consideration
Of our Catholic fellow citizens hereabouts.
1t will be observed that Mr.. Brownson de-
nounces our present Democratic Administra-
ton in no measured terms, and handles
Douglas popular sovereignty" with gloves,
exposing it as doctrine without logic to sus-
tain it, or Constitutional law to give it any
kind of force or vitality.
Passing from the discussion of politics
abroad, to those at home, he says it is not
with unmixed pleasure, but with subdued
pride, that he contrasts British statesmen
with our own" He says: "We, however,
have the consolation of knowing that when
things are at the worst, they sometimes mend,
and zoe are in that state when any change must
be for the better. The political morality and
integrity of our people have been ON the de-
cline ever since the election of Gen. Jackson
to the Presidency. Further on he says: ave
have, in word, done everything we could to
render our government an absolute democracy
as incompatible with liberty as absolute mon
archy itself Conservatism has come to mean,
with us, fillibusterism, the acquisition of our
neighbours land, the extension of negro slave
ry, the reopening of the slave-trade, and
placing under the ban of society every public
list, who raises his voice against such conser-
vatism." And again he says: 1--WE advo-
Gated, with reluctance indeed, the election of
Mr.. Buchanan in 1856, but our worst appre-
tensions have been realized. We can hardly
call to mind single statesmanlike measure
that he has recommended, nor a wise act of
much magnitude his administration has per-
formed"
Mr. Brownson then takes up the question of
the power of Congress to govern the Terrific
ries of the United States, and thus disposes
of Mr.. Douglas popular sovereignty doctrine :
We do not agree with Mr.. Douglas in his
doctrine of squatter sovereignty, or the legis-
lative capacity of Territorial people. A
Territory under our system is neither State
organized nor an inchoate State it has no ex-
istence but what it derives from the Federal
government, no rights or powers but those con-
ferred on it by Congress. While Territory it
has no autonomy, no substantive political ex-
istence. The power of Congress over it is no
doubt limited, but by its own constitution, not
by the rights and powers of the Territory
If Congress has the right to legislate on the
question of slavery, it may delegate the exer-
else of that right to the Territorial legislature,
and that legislature may authorize or exclude
slavery as vt sees proper; but if Congress has
no right to legisiate on the subject, the Terri
tory can have none The pretence that Con-
gress cannot intervene, and yet that the people
of Territory, remaining Territory, can
settle the question of slavery or any other
question demanding legislation, is simply alb
surd. Either Congress has power to legislate
on the .ubiect Of slavery in the Territories,
aai theu admit or exclude it, as it judges
pgoper or there can b. no legislation on the
subject till the Territory becomes -ove.eign
o,ate. In 40 way, then, can MI Douglas
doctrine, ii ii aims at any thing more than.
transferring the dispute FROM Congress to the
Territory, be defended. His doctrine of pop
ular sovereignty, as we understand it, is the
most dangerous doctrine that can be asserted, I
and one which every American statesman
should set his face against. On this point we
agree with the Southern statesmen, whose in
terest has led them to deny it, and assert the
principle of vested rights. MIR. Buchansn's
fault is that while fully acknowledging. and
pledged to maintain the doctrine, he has acted
against it, and in case where bv acting
against it he sanctioned a manifest fraud.
Next, Mr.. Brownson reprobates the attemnt
to force the Lecompton Constitution upon
Kansas; advocates the doctrine of States
Rights, and asserts that if it is not adhered
to the Republic will be tending ''throuqh demo.
cratic absolutionism in the direction of Caesar.
ism, Fastening the day, sohen by a coup d'etat,
the Precedent soiU make himself paruenue
Emperor"
As to our foreign policy he considers the