Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-05-24
: The Butler ResoluliOhs.

We publish, 10 another column, the But
Ter county resolutions, az adopted at their
Convention on Saturday. They are good, 10
the main, and commend themselves, for their
straightforward independence and manli-
ness, to tho wisdom and intelligence Of the
people Of this Congressional district, and Of
the entire West.
We are not sure that we quite understand
the import of tho second resolution. We
believe in tho doctrine oFpopular sovereign
ty, as laid down in in the Cincinnati plat,
form and think there is really little room
for difference % to its true intent and con'
struotioD. The just import Of thai platform
(aud we think il sound doctrine) iS "that the
people Of the Territories shall be left per-
feotly free to form and regulate their domes.
tio institutions In their own way, subject
only to the Constitution" etc, and THAT
when the people Of a Territory properly ap-
ply for admission into the Union ss State,
they should be admitted with or without do
Iuestic nlavery as their Consultation might
provide, and DO placed on an equal footing,
as to sovereignty, with the other States, in
all respects whatsoever.
Now, we ask iftho right TO form, and reg
ulate, confers the power to create or destroy3
We hold that the terms used will not bear
this construction. The Consultation Of the
United States looks upon Territory 40 an
embryo State, and the people thereof as
the agents who are forming and regulating
the institutions and affairs of this future
State 30 as to prepare !. for position among
the sovereigns of the Unisn.
There is no questioning the position that
the people Of the several States have an
equal right to 90 into this Territory, the
common property Of the whole country, and
take with them whatever property they may
have and hold in the States from which they
emigrate. Would il be right, In accordance
with the doctrine of popular sovereignty, or
the Constitution Of the Union, for few
sqnatters, who might first enter and settle
in the Territory, to absolutely prohibit the
introduction or existence Of any other spe.
cies OF property therein, than what they
might carry with them 2
Furthermore, should the territorial legis-
laturo do the same thing, at any stage ofits
existence
If this were 30, then the territory would
not be the common property Of the people of
all the States. 1t would only belong to the
first settlers who might run into it and pitch
their tents, without regard to its state Of pro-
baton or period of pupilage.
Precisely phat the power of the Terrific
rial Legislature is, over the domestic insti-
tutions of the people, or how far it may or
may not 20, in the exercise of it's authority
to form and regulote, to encourage or discour,
oge the introduction or existence of any
species Of property, has never been fully adj
Indicated. Nevertheless we think it well
settled that, inssmuch as the Territorial Leg
islature and its enactments, in their very MAJ
ture, are temporary, it cannot absolutely
prohibit the citizens of any of the states from
emigrating there with their property. Ifthe
local authorities refuse, or neglect to protect
and encourage u certain species Of property
there is no power in the nation to compel
them to do 30. Nor should the Congress
interfere, to force upon people what they
don't want.
The doctrine of extremists of the South
is equally as heretical and fanatical as that
of Seward and the interVentionists of the
North.
The Democracy must occupy the true
popular sovereignty platform, and discour-
age fanatieism North and South Upon |
this party rests the hope of the country and,
may we not say, of the world. Let us then
be true to the right, and future generations
will rise up and call US blessed.