The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-08-30
The Douglas Argument

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The small politicians who allow other
men to do most Of their thinking, have
stereotyped squattor argument, with
which they appear to be highly satisfied
and which they seem to think conblu>
siVs. We are in favor, say they, Of
allowing the people of the Territories
to govern themselves 10 make such
laws, and establish such institutions as
chey please if they want slavery, let
them have it; if not, let them exclude
and prohibit it. And then with an air
Of seeming triumph, they exclaim ''is
not that right? Is not that democrat
lie ?"
Those who indulge in this sort Of ar
gument, seem to be ignorant Of the fact,
that no such privileges have been allow
lowed the people of the Territories,
since the organization of our govern,
ment nor has DIR. Douglas ever pro
posed, comforting any such unlimited
rights on the Territories. Every Terri
tory which has been organized since
the confederation Of the originalthirteen
States, has had only a limited right OF
self government conferred upon it
Congress has reserved the power Of
appointing the Governors AMI the
Judges Of the Court, by the General
Government-thus controlling the Elk
ecutive and Judicial benches of the
Territorial governments. Such has
been the case in the past history Of all
the Territories. How can the people
Of the Territories be said, to have the
forming Of their own institutions, while
they have only part ofthe law making
power put into their hands? Is it not
absurd to claim that POPULAR Sovereign
ty is complete, provided Congress does
not intervene, simply in aespect to the
matter of slavery?
But it may perhaps be said, that
Popular Sovereignty eontemplates con-
ferring more rights on tie people of
the Territories, than have hitherto been
allowed them, aside from the determin-
alton Of the question Of slavery. Mr..
Douglas proposes nothing more in his
Kansas Nebraska act, which he has
commended to the people, the power
over the Executive and judicial depart
ments Of Territorial government, are
withheld from the people thereof
Therefore all who attempt any supple
mentary exposition of Popular Sover-
eighty, speak without any authority
from Mr.. Douglas himself. All the
defamation therefore, about allowing
the Territories to shape and control
their own institutions, is mere idle talk ;
the Territories have had no such powers
during the past, nor has Mr., Douglas
by any act, indicated he would have
them possess such power in future
Still the specious theory Of allowing
Sovereignty to the Territories, is one,
which the small politicians Of the Doug
las School delight to talk about, and
one which seems to satisfy superficial
minds. Popular Sovereignty defined
accarding to Mr.. Douglas own acts and
votes, as a member Of the U. S. Senate,
means only the allowance OF a local
Legislature to the Territories-a Legis-
lature over whose acts a Governor ap>
pointed by the President, has the veto
power; and District Judges in like
manner appointed, determine the con.
stitutionality of Territorial laws.
Aside therefore from the Popular
Sovereignty sham, in pretending to
give the people the right to prohibit
and exclude slavery, it is seen when ex.
aminod in its true charactar, to possess
no such element OF power, as the follow
ers Of Mr.. Douglas ascribe to it. For
as has already been remarked, Mr..
Douglrs' theory Of Territorial rights,
must be judged by the illustrations
which he has given in his official acts.
The Kansas Nebraska act, is an exam
| pie, of the Wanted humbug of allowing
the people to govern themselves.