The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-07-20
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JULY:::::::::20, 1859.
PENNSYLVANIA Democracy.

S>sees' 800
State Central Committee Of Pennsylvania.
But there is one question comparatively
new to the country, in the form in which
it is presented, that has occasioned some
diversity of sentiment among us, and
which has otbeen settled authoritively,
as some Democrats contend, by the high
est councils Of the party. We refer to
what is commonly known rs the Terrific
rial question. The most ingenious and
labored efforts have been made to confuse
the public mind on this subject, but when
rescued from the incomprehensible jargon
Of the demagogues, it merely raises an en-
quiry, which should be calmly and candid
ly met, as to the nature and extent Of the
Legislative power possessed by the inhab-
itants Of the Territory Of the United States,
in the political relations of such Territory
to the Government and States of the
Union, We dosnot now propose to dis
cuss this question at any considerable
length, or to say much more than briefly
to express our views regarding it. We
presume that every true Democrat will
yield his ready adhesion to the principle
Of Popular Sovereignty, when rightly in,
terprcted and applied. Blu: real Popular
Sovereignty is not spurious political
idea, indefinite, vagrant and accidental.
1t is, when properly defined, nothing more
nor less than the right Of selfgovernment
pervadiDg our entire system, but express
Fly limited inits action by the Constitution
and the laws It cannot exist legitimate
ly outside Of these. Otherwise, instead of
being, as it is under our Government, the.
touchstone Of order, justice and peace, it
would become the source Of multiplied
disorders aud constant anarchy. THIS de
fncd and limited, Popular Sovereignty is
equally Incompatible with the rash pro-
cecdings of "a mob, as with the edicts of
atyrant. We cannot, therefore, subscribe
to the illegitimate assumptions Of Squat
ter Sovereignty" We are clearly of opin.
zion that Territory Of the United States
can, in Ito respect whatever, be regarded
as either a Foreign or Sovereign State.
Nor can it enjoy, by possibility, any po-
litical capacity independent Of, or incon-
sistent with, the government Of the Union
established by the States, by whose agen-
cy they, the States, through an expenditure
of their treasure, and it may be, their blood,
/ have acquired the very Territory in ques
ton, as SO much public domain or common
! property" Where, let US ask, resides the
:. right Of eminent domain over a Territory
,, of the United States? Is it not admitted
by all to be with the Federal Government
Where shall we look for: the right and
power to ascertain and fix ali Territorial
] boundaries Isl mot to the Federal Gov
ernmcnt? Where shall we seek the
n right and power and duty todispose of al
\ lands embraced in the Territory? TIT
: answer is, in the Federal Government
Where in the government Of a Territor.
is lodged the Executive authority? 1t il
!. lodged in the hands ola Federal Governor
Where is the judicial power Of a Terrific
rial Government? In the keeping OF
: Federal Judiciary. Where>is the Legis
lative power Every one knows it di'
L not exist, and that it could not legal,
exist, until called into being by the Fed
eral Congress, in the organic act of Terri
torial Government. In all these demon
strations Of power, and there can be non
others outside Of them in Territorial
Government, we behold the direct, positiv
and tangible evidences of the presence, 9
&c the sovereignty Of the Government Of th
United States, excluding the prctension
If of Squatter or Territorial Legislative So
ill ereignty, or Popular Sovereignty whe
~ ;, used as a convertible term with these, a
h, berg alike untenablc in fact, and prepo
. tereas in logic.
id But It must be borne in mind that tt
n N, Federal Government cannot act in Te
ritory as a despot, or arbitrary ruler; an
N N here IS HE difference 5strecn our doctrine an
that Of Tile WQnlot prorisoites 1t must go
ern in Territory Try the sense of the Go
: stitatioh, from Whichit derives its life al
Il. it's every function, and it is bound to re
pect, with strict impartiality, the RICH
lad interests Of all parties conccrne
: these parties being the States and peop