Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-08-14
Non Intervention.

'iieis IL AZ 'uea OF uoctfihe prevalent which IS
exercising n considerable. aud we think. all
undue influence. 1t has some very able advo-
, cate, and many honest adheren,s a very large
proportion Of these adLerents we feel assured.
would quickly abandon their faith in this doc
trin",'t they Could See it in lis true light. We
believe II 70 be q tallacy, and think we can
show, TO candid and uhprejudiced minds tha,
1t is such. In the law providing for the organi-
cation Of the territories Of Kansas and Nebras-
/ ia al attempt was made TO reduce this doc
/ trine to practice, aud 1t therein declared
/ TO be the "true intent and meaning OF this ac,'
/ to leave the people Of any Te rItory perfectly
4 free to form and regulate their domestic iusti-
/ buttons in their own way. subject only 10 the
| Constitution of the United States" We take
II for granted that II will not be seriously dis
| puied, that the phrase "io form and regulate
! their domestic institutions in their own way.
means simply and only. that the people Of any
/ Territory may establish prohibit slavery as
they fit. We know of no difference of opln-
in regard TO any other domestic institutions
| This then We undersi and 10 be the popular
/ idea of the doctIiae-iha; the Federal Govern
mcnt shall in way interfere with the regula-
tion of the institution Of slavery in the Terrific
ries. but leave the people Of those territories
! perfectly free form and regulate" that in
stltutIon in their own way.-to establish or
prohibit slavery as they think proper or adyi
sable. We believe this is strictly correct
statement of the popular conception of the doc
trine. We think that the rnodifyin clause,
subject only to the Constitution of the United
! : -
importance not duly appreciated. Occasional
! II we hear it stated that il is only meant that
/ The people may exercise this freedom to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in their
OWE way Whenever their numbers are suffi-
cIent to Justify the formation of a State Con-
! stitution. Certainly such is no: the general
understanding of the doctrine, and il is equal
! ly evident that such not the understand
ing of Mr.. Douglas, who, in speaking upon this
subject in the Senate the 18Th Of may last
said: Here non-int eryentoa was established
as inrariable rule of action; tbs Territories
'cere to legis!ate they pleased. that they did
( not violate the Constitution"
/ We presume that it will be conceded that we
4 have fairly stated the doctrine OF non-iuter-
| yention hich the Kansas and Nebraska Bill
was designed to enbody and make practical.
And which has since, uuder the more common
name of Squatier Sovereignty. been accepted
and cherished as just and benefcent primer
pie by great many honest and patriotic hearts
Let Us now examine il.
Whatever may have been the seeming mer-
It's of this doctrine at the time OF lis introduce
tiou INTO the Kansas Nebraska Act, we think
IL
sion. We have seen that the language Of the
Kansas Nebraska Act declaring the freedom
of the people 10 form and regulate their do
mestic institutions in their own way, IS modi-
fed BY The clause,-"sUhect only to the Con-
siitutiou of the Uuiicd States" This IS
~ importan! mod fcation. It's fall meaning
and force viii perhaps be better appreciated
after reading the following extracts from the
speech of Mr.. Douglas above referred to.
The principles were distinctly set forth
First. that the slavery question was to be ban
i.hed forever from the Halls Of Congress, and
remanded TO the people OF the Territories who
were Immediately interested. Secondly. that
all questi involving the title to slaves. and
matters of personal freedom, were referred 10
the adl publication of the local tribunals. nth a
night Of appe1!to the Supreme Court Of tie United
States. Here non Intervention was established
invariable rule OF action; the Territories
were TO legislate as they pleased, so that they
did not violate fh- Co1stt,tion aud if they pass
ed any law Impairiug, or injurious to the rights
OF property IN slaves suit should be brought in
the loo i court of the Territory. with right OF
appeal to the supreme Court Of the United
States; and that we would abide the result o.
such decisions
Every man WHO voted for the bill declared.
on his oath. tina, that was the intent: non in
teryehtion by Congress; the people were left
free to 10 az they pleased, that they did not
violate the Constitution and the Courts to find
o,- hether they violated Constitution, Of The United
Statss--or."ot !"
We give also extract from speech made
by Senator Hunter. of Va. Feb. 9th, 1854,
while.the Nebraska bill was under discussion.
he said:
There is difference of opinion among the
friends Of this measure rs 70 the extent OF the
limits which the Con stituiiou imposes upon
the Territorial Legislatures. THIS BIZ proposes
70 Leave these Differences TO the decision Of tie
Courts
From these. extracts it appears very clearly,
that al the time of the passage of the Kansas
Nebraska Act it well understood that
there "a difference Of opinion among the
I friend. Of that measure" as to how far lie Con-
stItutIon OF the United States might limit tho
right or power OF the people of the Territories
TO Legislate upon the subject of Slavery; and
that hence, IL was thought necessary to make
the law declare tina: their freedom "to form aud
regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way was subject to the Constitution of
the United States; and, in the words of Mr..
4 Douglas. 1.-The courts 10 find out whether they
violated the constitution or not. In other words
1.-The people were left free 10 do they pleased -
provided he Supreme Court did not deny tn EN-
T the right, bat whatever the Court decided they
( must abide the result of such decision"
II we are able 10 show that the Supreme
Court has already denied the people that rig ht'
that i: has already decided, in effect, that aay
/ other regulation of the institution of slavery
Than protection TO slave property would be
violation Of the Constitution. and hence that
the people Of 4 Territory, acting through their
/ Leg stature. are not tree to form aud regulate
! the institution Of slavery IN their own way,
/ then we think THAI We shall have succeeded in
e. ie.a-S