The Nevada Democrat., 1859-07-20
POPULAR souEREIeNrY.
Extract frOa a Speech Of Col. &. x. Smart,
Maine

| Name.
When say popular sovereignty mean pop
ular sovereignty. When urge the people to
recognize the doctrine Of popular sovereignty,
mean no ''fallacieus augmentation" When
| declare that the people Of a territory have
right to exclude or establish slavery as SOW
efeigns, l do not mean that they must wait for
judicial decision upon that right. j do net
understand that any decision has been made
against that right, nor do believe there ever
will be one made against it. There certainly
can be none till the territories leeislate. Till
legislation takes place there are no laws to in
terpret or expound, by any judicial authority
| say then, let the territories legislate to-day,
tomorrow or at any time they please-let them
establish or exclude slavery. do not, sir, be-
lleve in popular sovereignty, 10 theory, which
we are by party insolence forbidden TO put in
practice. Popular sovereignty is much abus-
ed word just now, and We must not be deceived
by any false preteuses. There are those who
claim that the Specification of popular cover
! eighty is TO allow the people of territory to
decide upon the question of slavery only when
a constitution for State government is form
ed The people, we are told, may elect dele
gates TO convention, and through that con-
vention may form Constitution, and insert
clause excluding or establishing slavery, but at
no other point of time. The authority of q tel
ritorial Legislature to control slavery in any
way except to make laws for its protection is
by many public men repudiated! Now il is
well known that the people when they adopted
a constitution always had right to determine
the question of slavery. But were we not all
told that the compromise measures, " the Kan
sas-Nebraska act, and the Cincinnati resolu-
tions, conceded us something more than we had
previously enjoyed-that they guaranteed to
the people of the territories sovereign rights
/ nu euhiaCtc nf d..tuasiio lnoislatinn- mi In
which was the right to control the question
of slavery at any time.
| In 1854 and 1856 our landmarks were estab-
lished. Mr.. Douglas Chairman of the Commit
| tee on Territories, accompanied his report on
the Nebraska bill with the following words
"In the judgment Of your Committee, these
measures Compromise measures Of lS60) were
Intended TO have a far more comprehensive and
enduring effect than the mere adjustment of the
difficulties arising out of the recent acquisition
of Mexican territory. They were designed to
establish certain great principles, which would
not only furnish adequate remedies for exist
ing evils, but in all time TO come, avoid the
perils of similar agitation, by Withdrawing
slavery from the halls Of Congress and the pO-
litical arena. and committing it to the arbitra-
mcnt of those who were Immediately interested
In aud alone responsible for its consequences"
Mr. Douglas has lived up to his declarations
| Some others have not Committing the ques-
ton TO the people did not establish slavery.
! The stakes were consequently moved. IL was
then declared that the people Of the territories
must not "arDitrae" upon the peculiar iustitu-
tions until they were ready to be admitted as n
State. But II was still found that this would
not establish slavery. The stakes were again
moved. 1t was then declared that the day of
admission must be put far away. 1t was how
ever, discovered that this would not establish,
slavery. The stakes we're once again moved,
and we we're thea ius)lently required TO enact
laws by tie Intervention Of Congress, to pro-
vid for "a civil and criminal code for the pro.
lection of slave property ia the territories"
a anst the wishes Of majority of their inhab-
itaats. Aud we are Informed by Senator
! from Virginia that no Presidential candidate
can get a single vote In the South who does not
take this ground
But have been asked by some acting with
, me, what will you do If the Charleston Con
ton adopts slave code for the territories,
ieclares that the Constitution conlers the
bolding slaves in the territories, against
of the people? ?" lst, should pro-
\ an assertion false-uttery. The
's plain and can be understood by
y refers TO slavery three times
the importation of slaves after
des that fugitives from justice
3D. it declares that In form.
sentation for Congress, five
united as three white men.
IN for holding slaves in
will of the people-and II
sir. | am ready 10 tell
v, that will vote for no
uphOlds this doctrine of
in the territories, and
C to protect il there |
this last demand never,
d immovablc upon the
will say with the la
!" 90 where Democratic
these disappear / halt"
Fath Congressional Slave
lountain of iniquity, balll
colors; but / shall neither
flag Of the ultraists of the
no seem now to unite in max
.he rights Of the people In the
w violated public pledge, and l
by the one now make on the floor
80 House. hope the declaration is not
I.atable TO any of our citizens; but If it Is,
"A .tll not be Withdrawn. Sir the extreme men
of the South we're among the first who inangu-
rated the new policy Of territorial sovereignty.
They demanded me to support IL. did so.
The people of Maine did not understand the APP
plicaiion of II 10 the territories. l labored
light and day with my pen, to educate our
opponents up 10 the luea, Dut blIb 'nty s'.li
did not understand it, They did not believe in
it and we who supported it were swept away
az with the poisonous blast Of a Siroeco. We
were lain low in tho dust and in many instan-
ces. we saw small meH--very small men-suc
ceed to positions Of prominence IN their oppo-
sition to territorial selEgovernment. But the
prDcipal now stands forth in all its beauty,
and is a tower of strength to all who support
it. With the vacant territories contiguous TO
the savebolding States. it was supposed popu-
lar sovereignty would would aid the propa-
gandism of slavery in practice. But the pro-
pagandist has found that it works against bin,
and now he wants to repudiate bis own plat
form. and to drive me from it. But sir. II is
too late He can't do it, Nearly every Dem
ocrat n the State is With me in this determine
ton. There are no "wings" and no divisions
among the masses upon this point Popular
sovereignty IL popular in Maine. We are SOL
emnly agreed upon the prineiPle-and LET the
North and South take their chance upon II. 1t