Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-09-08

as merely associated individuals, partnerships
for self-defence and mutual good-we took it
for granted that Mr. DOUGLAS. in his phiIoso-
phical aud logical capacity, would in building
up his new system of right, have begun with
the man and not with the community. Men
do not love or hate communities. but only the
individuals that compose them. Communities
do not originate laws neither do they eat or
sleep--but only the individual members there
of can do these things Therefore, in tracing
laws to their originals (and it has become ne
cessary of late for the people Of the Ter
ritories to do tn y, we must think and speak
only of the real persons, and not of legal
fctous or corporate bodies.
Mr.. DoCGLAS, on the contrary, speaks only
Of cooperate bodies, in the announcement of his
doctrine Every distinct political community"
is the object, not every individual. He does
not touch the uuorganized populations of the
Territories. He does not seem to recognize
their existence. Beginning with the discussion
of Territorial, which is one with individual
sovereignty, after few pages Of labored quo
tation aud collation., be loses sight Of his theme
if he ever saw it, and merely reannounces, in a
loose and unsatisfactory paragraph, the old
doctrine of State rights or communal despO-
tism, as it is understood by Shareholders If
Mr. DoUGLAs wishes to say, that local interests
should De managed by the people of the loca-
ty, State interests by States, towns by towns
folk &c, this a sound doctrine-we 90 with
him but it does not touch the condition of
the unOrganiZed masses of Territory. He has
proved by an elaborate argument that these
masses cannot be governed by a State, the
laws Of State not passing the boundary of
such State. Neither can the Federal Govern
ment impose laws the free act Of the people
being the only source Of popular law
If communities have no rights save only in
the individuals which compose them, then let
us change the form of the DOUGLAS proposition
thus
Tie principle say we under our poljtical sys-
tsm is that every adult person Of saae NINA, and
nat criminal or Destructive IS entitled 10 all the
rights, Prlrueges and jmmunities Of self gorcra
ment IN respect 10 ladiridUaL coRceraS and d0mes-
tic p0ljty subject only 10 the general 3rclfare-|
This is 0ur doctrine of Territorial or Individual
Sovereignty, and we commend il to Mr. DouGLAs
as superior article in its way, for demagogical
purposes, much more efficient than his feenle
rehaSh of the old States deSpotism doctrine.
Under our doctrine Territories can be rapid
ly and efficiently organized, without complica-
tionS while under lis, they must first be organ
zed or become will defined communities " be-
fore they can take the first step toward becom-
ing comnunities-an absurd consequence. In
fact, Mr.. DoCGLAs, after tremendous effort at
original philosophy and the expoundng offirst
principles, falls back exhausted into the arms
Of his Southern friends and there we leave
him In these days we opine, there is only
one source ofideaS, as there is but one law, and
that is in a contemplation Of the individual
man, stripped of all doctrines and conventions
impeIled by the subjective and adjective neces,
sites of his nature--necessity for and living
and breathing, necessity, in order to do this
happily, of harmonizing kindly with his fellow
creatures. All beyond is mere convention or
inference.
Let it be understood, however, that in |
establishing our doctrines of Territorial Sow
crcignty-a doctrine which, we suspect, Mr. |
DorGLAs intended to eXpound, but dared not
for fear of the SOuth,-w do not set aside the
Constitution or any Of the principles cIassed
under the head Of ethics or morals. We re-
gard these absolute and eternal and believe
that the people Of a Territory should begin
their career Of Selfgovernment by acknowledge
ing these as paramount as, in fact the source
of law,-beiug as they are the spirit and mo
tive power of the truly selfgoverned.
Mr.. DOUGLAS has published his recantation
though he does not perhaps intend it to be
taken as such We wish him cordial and
triumphant reception into the arms of the
Southern Democracy