The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-01-13

GuberDatoTlal chslr, nearly one year ago.
in Difference to public opinion, and my
own feelings, after rapid review of G.
vents in Kansas, / stated that ITO the
people of Pennsylvania, the admission oi
new State into the Union-into that
confederacy of which she is men. ber-
must be at all times subject of high in
terest. And | believe l express their
sentiments, as we'll as my own, in deelar-
ing that all the electors of territory
should have full and fair opportunity
to participate in selecting delegates to
form a Constitution after it is framed.
Subsequent events have confirmed me
in these sentiments. The deplorable dis
putes in the first session of the present
Congress-tbe popular excitement re-
sulting from those disputes, together with
other proceedings in their nature, novel
and alarming, would all have been avert
ed, bad the people been secured in "the
unqualified right" to vote upon their do.
mestic institutions. Iregret to be compell-
ed to say, that, under various pretencos,
this sacred franchise has been virtually
withheld from them. When they refused
to accept the LecoDpton Constitution,
made for them By delegates representing
the minority, they were explicitly denied
the privilege of making their own Con-
stitution, unless upon a condition not pre-
vious exacted. II they accepted the Le-
compton Constitution, they entered the
sisterhood of States at once, with pop
ulation less than one half Of the existing
ratio of Congressional representation; but
if they refused that Constitution. they
could not be admitted into the Union,
with the Constitution of their choice, un-
til they were ready to show, BY formal
census that they had attained popula-
ton equal to that ratio! The results
have become historical.
The last expressive vote Of the people
of Kansas against the act of Congress;
commonly known as the English tiil, has
for time arrested Congressional inter-
vention. Peace has resulted alone from
the votes of the people, not from the sug-
gestons of outside influences. But, dur
ing the angry feelings which this contro.
versy has aroused, the theory has been
started, and insisted upon, that it will
henceforward be the duty of Congress to
protect slavery in the Territories, il the
people Of the territories shall fail to DO SO
The warrant for this extraordinary as
sumption is alleged to exist in the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court of the United
States in the case Of Dred Scott Enter
tanning, as | do, profound reverence for
the decisions of that august tribunal, aud
standing ready to obey them whenever
they are enunciated, | have yet to be
convinced that any such construction can
be fairly given to their action in the case
referred to. Such a doctrine no matter
bow sanctioned, or supported. will shake
the very pillars of our constitutional fab
ric. 1t would compel every territory to
elevate property in slaves above every
other description of property, and to es-
tablish slave code in its municipal reg
ulatiors; or else it would convert the
Congress into a theatre of elimination
and confusion, and ill the whole coun-
try with strife. And all this, without Sc
curing a single advantage to the North
or protecting single right of the South.
Regarding myself as fully committed
to the doctrine of popular sovereignty in
its broadest sense, | can never subscribe
to the theory of Congressional interveD-
ton as understood and supported by the
opponents of this doctrine. By popular
sovereignty [ mean no violation OF the
rights of the States-no assault upon the
institutions of the South, Eo appeal to
sectional prejudices. On the contrary, l
regard the doctrine as the embodiment OF
the popular will in States and Terrific
res, as the conseryator of the rights
and the equality of States apdpeo-
ple-and as the only means by which
a vexed and dangerous agitation will be
satisfactorily and perpetually settled"
A theory equally heretical has been
advanced in another portion of the Uni
on. 1t has been held that this govern
ment, divided into free and slave States,
as it was framed by our Revolutionary
Fathers, cannot endure-that all must
cSSOnC iiSCy Vi dil uiUSG UtCOuG SldfCs
When such doctrine shall be enforced
the Constitution will have been subyerted
State sovereignty prostrated-State
rights disregarded, and the liberty Of the
people destroyed. 1t should meet an in
dignant rebuke from every lover of his
country, and the blood bought right of
the people and the States to self-goyern.
| ment.
Under the various amendments to the
Constitution of Pennsylvania, the infu-
ence of the Executive has been greatly
reduced by the transfer of patronage
from the Governor to the people. This
is ID accordance with the principles of
self government, but it must be acknowl-
edged that in relieving the Executive
from many serious responsibilities, it has
diminished his ability to maintain the
rights of the State against Federal and
other encroachments, and has thrown a
greater share of responsibility upon the
people. The extensive patronage of the
Federal Government, and the large sala-