The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-10-27

hope no one will pass it by without read
ing it, for it states clearly and unmistak-
ably the Republican doctrine on the
Slavery question, and shows the fruits ef
that doctrine. After reviewing, itatcon-
siderable length, the doctrines Of Judge
Douglas, as promulgated in his late Mag
zine essay, Mr.. Trumbull proceeds nd fol-
| lows tt@ ED. JOURNAL
II will not detain Yon longer with ihs
discussion of this Magazine documsns.
[ have said enough to show that this
thing called popular sovereignty, or self
government, subject to the Constitution,
| is an unmeaning phrase. Fit means tbs
right to do as one pleases, it would be
destructive of the Constitution and the
Union. have said enough to show that
1t is utterly impracticable, because its an
thors cannot carry it out. Sovereignty
implies supreme powor. If the Terrific
ries are sovereign, the United States Gov
ernment is not superior to them. They
are not the States belonging to the Union.
The men who advocate this doctrine are
inconsistent, for they impose restrictions
upon the people of the Territories. The
Kansas n ebraska bill is an utter refuta-
ton of the doctrine of popular sovereignty.
81 will undertake to state what in the
true theory of the Government of the Ter
rtories. They are not to be likened to
the colonies at all. The colonies were
forever to remain dependencies of the
British Crown. A Territory is only to
remain under Congress until it has enough
population to come in and be one of the
United States. Territories are like the
children of household. Do you think
it wrong that children should be under
the control of their parents? Would any
one think it right to advocate that child
should do as he pleased, and that there
was no difference between controlling
child and an adult person7 For child
to be subject to his parents during mi
nority, is very different thing from his
being forever afterwards subject to them.
| The colonies were forever to be under the
control of the Grown the Territories an
der the control of the General Govern
ment only until their population viii jua-
tify the formation of State Government,
when they become sovereign in their ja-
risdiction over domestic affairs. ~.
The Constitution Of the United States,
fellow-citizens, was not made for Terrific
ries. 1t was made for States. The pro-
amble of the Constitution reads-"Ws,
the people of the United States, in order
to form a more perfect union, do ordain
and establish this Constitution" "for the
| United States of America" IL was made
between the original States, and for the
States. 1t contained provisions that the
Government which they created should
hare certain powers in regard to them.
selves, and certain other powers in regard
to Territories They conferred upon ths
Government power to do things outside
of the States We have interests lying
beyond the States, and exercise authority,
and send men beyond the States, to az
tend to those interest. Agents are sent
to China and to England, although ths
Constitution of the United States does NOS
govern in Canton or London. So with
the Territories. They were outside Of
the States but tho Federal Governments
has conferred upon it the power to make
all needful rules and regulations respect
ing the Territories THIS is the language
of the Constitution The men who made
the Constitution knew they had the ter
ritory. The Ordinance of 1887 was adopt
ed while the Convention to frame the
Constitution was in session. Many Of the
members of the legislative body whick
the Constitutional Convention. Congress,
when it comes to make these ucedful
rules, should make such as are best for
the interests of the people who go to Ter
ritories, and for the interests of the whole
country. Is that ruling the people as the
colonies were ruled? Who make the
laws for the government of Territory,
except it be the peopl, who are to pos
sess them; and it matters not whether
these rules are agreed upon before or after
they get to the Territory. Provision Ia
usually made for the organization Of
Territorial Government, while most ofshs
persons who are expected to settle it are
still inhabitants of the States, and as such,
take part in framing the rules and regu-
lations by which they are to be governed.
1t is, therefore, no Infringement of the
principle of self-government for Congress,
which is the representative of all the peo-
pie of the Union, to prescribe the rules
by which all who shall 60 to the Terrific
ry shall be governed, till they become au-
.merous enough to establish rules Of their
own. Where Congress comes to organ