Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-09-27
From the Lawrence (Kausas) Republican,.
Popular Sovereignty.


Bu, les; Mr.. Douglass should exul too
much over this so-caIIed supremacy of the
Territorial Legislature lei us point out TO
hum how the matter of the Legislature
giving ia: isdictlon TO our courts has
worked under his own pet Nebraska bill.
The Kansas Legislature Gid proceed TO
define the jurisdiction" of the several
courts mentioned in the "Organic Act"
1t gave 10 probate or County Courts. the
Judges of whom came from and were
elected by the people, II limited jurisdiction.
Our business WAS mostly done IN thes peo-
pie conrtS. After we escaped from Bor-
der Ruffian rule, our differences were
settled IN these cour;s whose presiding
officers sprang from our midst and
over whose actions Ne had complete con-
troll. But, no sooner was this found 10 be
the prevalent custom all over the Ter
rItory than the Supreme Court, which
Douglass own bill gave us, composed ex-
cluSively Of three federal Judges, who
were IN no ways amenable Ia the Dc0ple
of Kansas, in solemn conclaye decided
that under that very section of the - Or
ganIc Act which Mr.. Douglass quotes
with such triumphant flourish, The Ter
ritorlal Legislature had no power to con-
fer civil J'irIsdicinn upon our Probate
Courts-the peoples courts.
What hollow mockery is ii for Douglas
TO faunt in our faces the sovereignty"
the liberty and the q being left perfectly
free > of the people of Kans as, when an
der h 5 own bill, and by the very Judges
for whose appointment he has provided,
we are bound hand and limb, and made
he very foot ball and sport of our foreign,
federal appointed judiciary. 1t is of no use
10 tell us the act does give the Legisla-
ture the power to define the jurisdiction
OF your courts, when, at the same time.
1t Is tipped from our fingers by the very
Supreme Court which you have made our
ultimate court Of resort. How is II in Kan
sas to-day Onefourth of our legal
BUSINESS cannot be transacted, because
list, III ere is more business than three
Judges can possibly attend to; and 2d,
Because the people universally have a
deep disgust of the federal courts. In
Judge Peuiu's district, he has refused 10
hold courts in the different counties, unless
The counties will III advance fork over
the cash to pay the expenses of his court.
In many counties this amounts to a com
piete and total denial of Justice. And is
ibis the beautiful maid, Popular Sover-
eighty, whom you, Mr. Douglas, ask US
TO bow down before and worship? We
cannot do it. We have seen the drab-
bled, besoucd robes Of the creature too
often to entertain high notions of her viz
tue.
Popular Sovereignty in Kansas, under
the Nebraska till, has been com plele
and terrible despotsm.
Douglas might as well tell his gang of
slaves toiling upon his Southern plantation
that they are, free, and harangue them
concerning the priceless boon of liberty
they are enjoying, rs to tell us he is The
distinguish'd friend Of popular rights in the
Territories. 1t he is honest in his devo-
ton to this idea, it ought to be- a matter
of bitter chagrIn to him that his measures,
so far that idea is concerned, are worse
Than miserable failures There is no
such thing in Kansas as Popular Sover-
eighty. We are ruled by foreign, fed
eral office holders. The sooner Mr.
Douglas recognizes this fact, the less IN
consistent and absurd will be his maga-
zine essays.