The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-06-03
POnnIar SoYnreirntr.

We had thought long since that every man
in the Union, north and south and east and west,
as we'll as every school-boy within its limits,
understood what was meant by the doctrine Of
Popular Sovereignty, and the difference that
existed Between the Democracy and the Black
Republican party upon that question. But IN
these impressions it seems we were mistaken,
il we are TO take as sincere declarations made
by the editors of the IerGi2 and JYhig, and
those Of corporafs guard of quondam Demo
Gratis scattered here and there Throughout the
North.
Now, it is well known, that the doctrine Of
Popular Sovereignty as laid down in the plat
form Of the Cincinnati Convention, consisted
inst in this that it gave to the people Of the
TerrIoies, as embodied in the Kansas Nebraska
Bill, the right TO regulate their domestic nsttu-
tons 'n their own way" subject only TO the
Constitution Of the United States, and as a.
gainst the intervention OF Congress in any way
whatever. The territories being the common
property OF all the States, North and South, Of
shareholders and of non-sIaveholdcrs, and The
Constitution ofthe u. States recognizing slavery
ii was Contendcd, and Justly too, that Congress,
had no right 10 lcgHlate slavery out OF, or INTO,
any such Territory, no more than she could
create or eZtjnguish It in any Of the sovereign
States Of the Union. The Territories, then,
being held in common, the Constitution re-
cognIziBg slaves as property, II was held and
insisted upon by The Democracy throughout the
country, and as rcsDluteIy opposed bY the
Black Republicans, that the stakeholder had
an equal right with The n0n-siavc-holler, 10
take his property there. This right being
recognized by the Constitution, and sustained
by The Supreme Court, It was absolute and
therefore Congress had no authority vested in
1t TO intervene in one way or the other. That
she had no power 10 exclude the property Of
one man more than That Of any ether and that
any intervention in any shape or manner, on
the part OF Congress, was unwiSe as well as
unconstitutional. This was the doctrine OF
Popular sovereignty as enunciated by the
Cincinnati Convention, and endorsed BY the
people OF the Union in the election Of James
Buchanan 10 the Presidency.
On this doctrine the Black Republicans took
issue. They asserted, in the very teeth Of The
fundamental law Of the land, IN derogation Of
The rights Of the people Of the States and
Territories and as against popular sovereignty,
as well as against common sense, that Congress
did possess the power OF excluding the "pecu-
liar institution in whatever Territories it saw
proper-thus saying TO the slavehoIding States
and their slaveholding citizens, that, s.althoUgh
the Territories were obtained bv the blood and
treasure Of all the States, vou have no equality
Of rights with those OF the North you have no
right to hold in common, and therefore you
are eStoppcd from carrying your property,
recognized as such by the Constitution, into
Territory north Of a certain degree Of latitude"
This is the doctrine, we believe, Of this class
ofour opponents 10 this day and il is so,
%'taar- hecauSe iIay are ignorant nf the Con-
stliutona rights OF the southern people, or
because they are to- dishonest 10 "do unto
others as they would have others dount0 them"
But, how far does this doctrine of Popular
Sovereignty extend Does il cIothe the peo-
pie of Territory with the authority TO create
or abolish the institution of slayeryz Certain
~ not. Why ? For The very good and
substantial reason that the people Of aTerritory
are only S0UereigRS IN ea,yry0, and can per-
form no act OF SOUerc7gntr setting at defiance
the recognition in the Constitution IN regard
to property in slaves, until she forms Con-
stitution preparatory to admission into the Union
as Z sovereign State, and then it is when her
SorcrcigatY begins, and not until then. Il is
then that she IS clothed with the authority 10
say whether slavery shall, or shall not exist
within her limits. Previous to this step, and
during aer dependency as Territory, she must
remain subject to the Constitution OF the United
States and, therefore, as that instrument as
before stated, recognizes property in slaves, |
the people thereof possess no power 10 create |
or 10 exclude it. True the local authorities |
Of Territory, by refusing to pass laws for It's |
protection, may thus, in effect, exclude il yet |
the local government docs not possess the |
s0gcTagafg 10 abolish it, because it is subject |
10 the Constitution, and remains 50 until |
Sovereignty IS thrust upon il by It's admission |
as one OF the the sovereign States Of the Union |
Ii IS this suliection to the fundamental law Of |
the land, which tJrbds Territorial governments |
from Ignoring the rights held in common by |
all sections OF the country. They are under /
2Ee until they become States, and daring their
minority they have no more right TO tiespass
upon the rights reserved to the people Of the
several States, than minor has a right to
vote or be elected 10 any civil Office. This |
must be scIt-eTident 10 every one and it seems
50 plain to Us, that 'Eho who runs although fool
may read" understand, and be convinced
Somerset Democrat
The EaDgoGD Whilst in Bedford
a few days since we paid this celebrated water
ing place short visit, and were particularly
7trgcG with the great Improvement the place is
undergoing. The houses are being painted and
furnished in good style aud the grounds are re-
ceiying thorough "ceaning up There are
one or two "eye-s6rcs" about the place vet.
that we hope TO see removed at no distant day.
One Of these is the old diapdated mill, and an
other is the unsirhtly anpcarauce Of the old