The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-01-22
Niscciiapecus.
The Power of People in the Tsrri,oriss.

Our system Of government is based up
on the comprehensive theory that the
people are The source and funutain of all
power. Within sovereign Safes, they
establish their local laws, their municipal
regulations, their domestic insti utions.-
in districts and in counties they exercise
the same unlimited right Of CONTROL
They act as citizens Of school districts, o.
counties, Of States of the United States,
and in each and all Of these capacities,
their functions are suprt me aud their de.
cisiOn is final. The fundamental idea OF
our institu;ions-the right of majorities
10 rule-requirps that this should be so.
Aud this is Popular Sovereignty in it.
fullest, broadcast. most perfect signlfication.
In the practice Of the Government, how.
ever, the Territori have been put under
the tutelage of the Federal authority,
which has furnn he'd them with Governors,
Judges and other Territorial officers
When this practice was first established,
the western and north western domain
was wilderness Of vast extent, inhabit-
ed by numerous tribes Of Indians. There
were but few pioneer bands of settlers,
scattered widely apart, and they needed
the strong arm of the Federal power 10
sustain aud protect them. Out of this
need, grew the practice, which exists to
the present day, of Federal supervision
over the government of The Territories
But the times have changed, and the
condition of the Territories has changed
with them. The public domain is no
longer an immense wilderness, infested
by rowing bands of warlike Indians. The
arts Of civilization and of culture have
been transplanted thither. Great com
munities have sprung up there, and many
OF the Territories have taken the form OF
States, and have come into full and equa,
standing in the Union. Meanwhile the
progress If EN- grafton is still onward. -
Westward the tide of empire takes it,
way. The entire bosom of the continent
is planted with communities. who are u.
der as Gear condition of indrp lent
sovereignty rs any communities III the
older Sales. They are not liable to in.
vasion from barbaric foes, but cultivate
the arts of peace aud oc social life with
the same freedom and spcuri V that at
tach to our quiet New England villages
Under these circumstances, the old
practice of the govern mant is out of place;
it is not in conformity to the requirements
OF the people in the Territories nav, it
Is unjust and oppressive. for it abridges
the rights of American citizens, and strips
them of rights in the Territories which
they enjoyed in the States-the right to
determine their own rulers and their own
local statutes and laws. SO long as the
public domain was wilderness and in.
cipient settlements only were TO be found
there, in perilS continually from savage
inroadS, the comprehensive rule and au.
thority of the General Government was
the only efficient rule that could exist -
When, however, the settlements took the
form If communities, perfect in aR their
parts; when all fear of disruption was
forever banished. then returned, in all
their force, the full and equal rights Of
seif-government, which those who com
posed the new communities enjoyed while
they remained citizens of States. This il
popular sovereignty in its plain and ohvi
Gus application boston Herali, Dec. 29ih.