Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-08-13
NUMBER 30.
Letter from +" "Auti-Lecompton.

The doctrine of popular sovereignty Is now
demanding the attention of the people, not only
of this State, but the entire country, and is the
very fundamental basis of democratic principles,
and underlies the great fabric of Republican
Government. 1t may be justly called the corncr-
stone of democracy. The principle involved was
transplanted on American soil by the Pilgrim
Fathers its impress was felt on Plymouth Rock,
ard the early boundary of those little common
wealths, commencing with Plymouth Colony,
and extending through all the old thirteen colo.
nes, long prior to the Confederation. which pre-
ceded the consolidation of the Federal Govern
ment. This doctrine--that they, the people,
possessed the inherent power to lcgslate for
themselves, there had its birth place, and became
n fundamental principle of free government. 1t
received its sanction q. the hands Of Revolution.
AIRY patriots, and became fixed principle in tho
political Constitution, when the old thirteen
States united under the Federal Government.
At later day, when the question Of admission
Of California, together with the formation of
Territorial Government, for Utah and New Mex
leo was under discussion, the champion of popu-
lar sovercignty Mr.. Douglas, then chairman OF
mittee on Territories, reported the bill, which
bill proposed to leave The people of Utah and
New Mexico free to decide the slavery question
for themselves; : in the precise language of the
Nebraska Bill (Which was afterward pas'ed) A
portion of the committee, however, reported the
bill to the Senate with an amendment, as follows
That the Territorial Legislature should not
leglslatc upon the subject of African slavery
Mr.. Douglas objected to the amendment, on the
ground That it subverted the great principle of
selgovcrnmcnt, upon which the bill had been
originally framed by the Territorial Committee
After an extended debate, the Senate refused to
pass the amendment, in order to establish tho
/ At..t ~. . 4
gani2atlon Thus, by the action Of the Senate,
they at that time recommended this great princi.
pie, which was afterwards Incorporated Into, and
became fixed feature OF the Kansas Nebraska
bill. That bill, in language so plain. that =" b.
who runs may read,' expressly vnu lc.aits thlS
great doctrine, and declares, as ii explanatory OF
! its true meaning, that" 1t being the true intent
and meaning OF this act, not to lcgislate slavery
into any State or Territory, nor to exclude IL
therclrom, hut to leave the people thereof per.
! fcctly free to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way, subject only to the
Constitution OF the United States" The previ-
Gus bill giving Utah aud New Mexico Territorial
organization rs has been shown, intended that
the people themselves should decide the question,
and Mr. Douglas, who framed the bill, says it
was the intention, that the Territorial Legislature
should lcglslate upon the subject of slavery.
There, then, we have itone of the wlses plain
est, most practicable, and equitable ways ever
devised for the settlement Of Il vexatious aud
dangerous question.
The Intervention Of the Buchanan administra.
ton aud Congress, ia attempting to force the
Lecompton constitution on that Territory AGAINST
their expressed will Is one controlling cause of
the present aspect of the democratic prty-a
usufpatton without parallel In the history of
The country. All old democrats reared in the
Jcnelsonian faith, repudate the Lecompton fraud.
aud are with the true democracy.
LEcoMProy