Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-09-24

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.

The doctrine Of popular sovereignty In the Tcsss-
tories Of the United States, while in Territorial
condition, is hunbug and q cheat, aad can cxis:
only in the imagination or BY wilfl dcrclction of
what conceive to be an imperative duty of the
Congress of tho United States. lf the Territorial
legislature can, at s pleasure by it's laws or other.
WISE embarTass omit to protect certain intcrrst
or property As to drive Il out Of the Territory
prevent its going there, and thereby prevent sush
property or interest from being represented in the
organisation of State government for the Territory,
then the majority Of the citizens Of such Territory
is not orly a sovereignty but . dcspotsm; the
minority will be entirely al ts mercy and without
protection or redress from any source whatever with
in its reach. Such an anomaly would be blot and
that BODY will have failed to carry out in good kith
the trust reposed by the sovereign States The
Constitution Of the United States gives 1.-THE Con-
gress the power to dispose Of and make all necdfal
rules and regulations respecting the Territories %
other property belonging to the United States"
Then the evil will exist not because Congress Uhe
trustee Of the Sates has no power to prevent L. but
because It the neglect Of plain duty imposed By
the Constitution.
This new land in some sections popular) doctrine
of "squatter sovereignty" together with recent de-
velopments in Territorial Legislation. ought to sd-
monish Congress Of its duty and make that body oct
promptly and with efficiency. interposing barriers
aud restraints to oil such abuses and maesslation
Heretofore it seems Congress has not deemed Il
necessary. in the organic Law creating Territorial
government, to incorporate any restrictions or in
functions except in general terms that its laws shall
conform to and be consistent with the Constitution
Of the United States not because Congress had no
right to do under the Constitution hut most pro-
baby because that body supposed the community 81
interest and aseyna sympathy Of the people II the
Territory made il unnecessary. But now that il Is
seen that partial and unirndly" legislation Il the
lever BY which Territorial governments arc to hoist
themselves into soveregntcs inficting gross abuses
and wrongs on both persons and property IT . re-
spectacle portion Of the people Of the United States
it will be an impcritive duty on Congress In all 70.
ture organization Of Territorial governments to i'm.
pose both restrictions and obligations. lin the
language Of the Constitution. all neeslfa rules and
regulations.) sufficiently comprehensive TO compel
the Territorial legislature to pass laws to protect at
once, equally alike and continually, all persons pro-
perry and interest recognized and protected by the
Constitution and laws Of the United States that may
be within the bounds Of said Territory or that may
at any time go there during its Territorial pupasc
failing negaecting for unreasonable length n
time to carry out in good faith the requirements ol
their charter to be declared in state Of anarchy and
revolt Such action Of Congress will think. rene.
dy any impooer sectional influence or "uniiicndly
legislation" toward any particular species Of proper
all Of the Sites may 20 there with their pruperty
and remain equally secure in their persons and pro
perty and with equal privilege in the elections fos
representatives in the Territorial legislature. and
equally entitled to be hear and felt in the osnatios
Of State Constitution when Il msy brcnue psoye,
FIR II to be admitted in the Union q . sossrei.
! State
Here then is . remedy. plain simple. eaie;en, an
practicable distinctly marked on, b. The ssi,sssna
for this miserable Yankee cheat and humbus ..l,cs
.'sqna';er sovereignty uh:ea the p-as,e az tn
States should to il 3 faithfully applied and en-
forcsd by their enmann agent and trustee the con
grcSs Of the United Stite.. There l. m need tina
Congress should pas. any slave code. hnrse r'.,s
liquor core, any other code to cnmpei the Terri
tora governments to Do justice In their interest
property. but simply to make mandatory. ncc.isu
rules and regulations to prevent any "unfticndl
Legislation" other abuses aectin. injariouslv IN
persons or property Of any Of the people Of III
United States, to whom equally and alike hclcns
the public domain; and to which all have right I
90 with their property free from restraint or e,nla
rassmcnt by Territorial government w.