The Nevada journal., 1860-09-28
DourI,sisn-uoyyit Lacks.

tnaj rewards the laboF Is Il parucIe we sup
posed would be gold, but lind is brass
Weigh it, test it by the rcfnements Of rea-
son in every possible manner, and it is moth
ing jpt brass. 1t is valuable as soft solder
and for this it is principally used.
Many Douglas adherent on reading thus
far on this article, if he attempt to read il
at all, will be apt to cjacnlate,--' political
prejudice and cease farther perusaI. We
shall attempt to show oar estimate Of the
issue is reasonable and Just, whether it is
read by erring locofocos or not.
There is but one idea in the Douglas doct-
rinc. We mistakc-therc is but the seub-
lance of one. The idea sought to be con-
ycycd, is, that the people ofu Territory are
sovereign. This iGca undoubtedly ticklcs
the people, and when we come to examine
it we must confess it is a ticklsh question.
1t tckies the people, tickles its cxpoundcrs
50 that they laugh in their sleeves, and
tichlcs all philosophers who deem it better
to laugh than weep over the follie5 of man
kind.
The people alone are sovereign is the
cry word Of the Doaslasitos. 1t sounds
well and in its general application is well.
Abstrnctly it is truth. and none deny j;
more pointcdIy in practice than the Doug
lasite5 themselves; for, they admit if the
Saprcme Court composed of men fallible
ike ourselves, shall decide the people are
not sovereign to the extent to make their
own laws in Territories. they submit, and
acknowledge sovereignty resides somewhere
else than in the people. In the event the
Supreme Court decides the people of Ter
rtory have no power to exclude Slavery
and we know such will be the decision, if
indeed it is not already-wha. becomes Of
the doctrine ofpopu!ar Sovereignty? Gone,
ulimmcring through the shades" Douglas
ism docs not propose to adhere to the very
impol t,nt aud '.irrcfragible truth, it has
Iau,ied as the basis on which all free gov
cruments rest" ItdoeS not propose, strong
as are the profes,cd convictions Of the i'm
ruculate virtue Of the doctrine of popular
sovereignty. and Of its being the vital spark
which elcctrifcs our republican government
and without which that republic would be
dead and inert. to cling to it in lis eStrcm-
itv. again.t any ana all enemies with liy
ing faith in lis truth. No, Douglasism pro
poses to abandon the doctrine Of the SOW
ereiguty Of the people at the dictation Of
raliLle court it says the great principle
which undcrles all free governments is 10
be sacrificed by the constructive power Of
men liable to error, and never hints an 0p-
peal. If there.is a great principle vital to
the RepubIic, is it not the part Of statesmen
ana patriots to make uuceasing war for its
preservation Shall we surrender our con
victions of right 10 the warped judgments
Of an oIigarchy and submitted without
murmar forever?
II there Is principle so sacred, AS popu-
lar sovereignty is heraldcd to be, Douglas
ism should go step farther, and declare
under no circumstances shall il be violated;
that should the supreme Court coustruc the
Constitution to the destruction Of the prin-
cipIe. it viii be an aggression of an arm Of
the government. foretold and feared by Cal
houn. and must be resisted, not necessarily
II Ct arms. but by reconstruction of the
Court which will insure the sanctity Of the
peoples rights.
Douglasism intimates no such course, no
such spirit. Ii speaks Of nothing but Il
tame aud base surrender Of q hallowcd
/ principle It does worse-it not only ac-
/ quicsces and submits to what it declares 4
wrong, but it goes farther, and says other
and powerful arms of the government shall
not Interfere. Neither Congress nor the
Executive can interpose, and the rights Of
the people are to be known ouly by the
Courts Thus our judgments are to be
dwarfed to Judicial standard and never to
aspire to independence. Right is 4 CONVEX
tiblc term and truth an abstraction.
Really, then, what is popular sovereignty
as preached by It's apostles The phos-
phorescent glare about a rotten machercl-
a giided halo lowering round decay
McKIBRIx, since his arrival in this ST. te, la,