Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-07-13

Constitution, to letray and destroy it. Un- |
der this head the labors of the Democracy |
have been invaluable. We have opposed |
National Banks, destroyed them and estab-
lished the Independent Treasury We have
steadily and successfully resisted the imposi.
tion on the people of heavy federal taxes by
excessive duties on imports, and have obtain
| ed the concurrence of large majority of the
country in the rule that taxes shall be limited
to the demands of revenue alone, with incl
dental protection, by judicious determinations
to Home Industry. We have defeated all
propositions for the distribution Of the pro-
ceeds ofsae public lands among the States.
We have sedulously and effectually guarded
the Public Treasuary from heavy charges for
internal improvements In cases admitted to be
not general or National, but special and local
in their character. And we have steadily
refused our assent 20. aud resisted many cum
ningly devised schemes for squaRdering mil
lions Of the public money, and tens of millions
of acres of the public domain, on objects
whose usefulness and legality have been alike
questionable.
We might extend the enuncnation of our
principles, concerning which there has been
no change of sentiment whatever in the Dem
oeratlc party since its earliest records were
! made, but we think we have already said
desirous to know the impartial truth that we
now speak as one of the constituted organs of
great and glorious part, lot of an ephemer-
| al faction, or combination of factions-th that
we represent on this occasion party as ven
erable for its age as 1t is useful and honora-
ble, in view of the extraordinary services 1T
has so long, SO honestly and so ABLY perform
ed Can ii not be asserted as an uuquestion-
able fact, that no party ever yet existed in
any country the face of the earth, that can
Justly claim 10 have rendered the same amount
Of valuable services to that country, which
the Democratic party has rendered to ours?
On any issue therefore, involving honorable
historical antecedents, or consideration of
general merits in the past or present, we shall
appeal with confdende to the voters of Penn
sylvania.
As regards tue personal character and
t qualifications of our nominees for Auditor
, General and Surveyor General of the Com
5 mou~eal.h, Messrs. Il. l.. Wright and John
Rove, We earnestly desire to call the atten-
tion of our fellow citizeus to their unblemish- :
: ed private reputation, to the ample expert
ence they have acquired in the service of the
State in various responsible Offices, and 10 the
admitted integrity and efficiency, marking
their entire official lives, as offering the strong
est guarantee of their fitness, in all respects,
| lOr it!S poSiiiOuS W "DICu lGSy bO" aSpIfe
But there is one question comparatively
new to the country, in the form in which it is
e presented, that has occcasioned some diversi-
, ty of sentiment among US, and which has not
been settled authorisiyely, as some Democrats
contend by the highest councils of the party.
We refer to what is commonly known as the
{ Territorial question. The most ingenious and
: labored efforts have been made 10 confuse the
q public mind on this subject, but when rescued
G from the incomprehensible jargon of the dem
| gogues, it merely raises an enquiry which
: should be calmly and candidly met, as to the
: nature and extent of the Legislative power
possessed by the Inhabitants OF Territory OF
, the United States, in the political relations oi
4 such Territory to the Government and States
1 of the Union. We do not now propose &c
c discuss this question at any considerable
s length, or to say much more than briefly tc
o express our views regardingt. We presume
). that every true Democrat will yield his ready
g adhesion to the principle of Popular Sover
). eighty, when rightly interpreted and applied
l. But real Popular Sovereignty is not spuri
1t Gus political idea, indefinite, vagrant and &C
II cidental It is, when properly defined, moth
:, ing more nor less than the right of selfg gov
It ernment pervading our entire system. but ex
lie pressly limited in it's action by the Constitu
$ ton ard the laws. 1t cannot exist legitimate
l. ly-outside of these. Otherwise. instead o
e being, as it is under our Government, th
N touchstone of order, justice and peace, i
G. would become the source OF multiplied disor
J ders and constant anarchy. Thus defined
: and limited, Popular Sovereignty is equal,
i incompatible with the rash proceedings of
i mob, as with the ediets Of a tyrant. We car
i, not, therefore. subscribe to the iilegitimat
it assumptions of ''.Squatter .Sovreignty." w
y are clearly Of opinion that Territory of th
ID United States can, in no respect whatever, b
le regarded either Foreign or Sovreig
er State. Nor can it enjoy, by possibility, an
Us political capacity independent of, or inconsis
a tent with, the government Of the Union es
-h tablished by the States, by whose agency the
r the States, through an expenditure of thei
is treasure, and it may be, their blood, have &C
of quired the very Territory in question, as S
Is much public domain or common property.
rs Where. let US ask, resides the right of emf
ty nent domain over Territory of the Unite
as States? 1t is not admitted by all to be wit
ct the Faderal Government? Where shall W
r look for the right and power to ascertain an
g fz sll Territorial boundaries? Is it not t
n the Federal Government? Where shall W
L seek the right and power and duty to dispos
ed of all Hands embraced in the Territory? Th
he answer is, in the Federal Government Wher
ic in the government OF Territory is lodge
is the Executive authority? 1t is lodged in th
of hands of q Federal Governor. Where is ih
n; judicial power of Territorial Government
I'd In the keeping of Federal Judiciary
of Where is the Legislative power? Every on
l. legally exist, and that it could not legally ez
le list, until called into bong by the FEEDER;
s. Congress. in the organic act of Territori;
lie Government In all these demonstrations
ID power, and there eau be,none others outsid
4 Of then 10 Territorial Government. We bt