The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-03-08
Popular Sovereignty.

Only short time ago, Popular Severe ignty
was prolific theme for democratic news papers
in this and other n rthen States. 1t was held
up as the great principle by which the democra
cy were to triumph IN the campaign of 1860
But wOndrous change has come over the party;
Tor the past few months Popular Sovereignty
has fallen off amazingly as n lavorite topic of
discussion with democrauc politicians only now
aud then feeble expression appears in its favor
No longer ago than September last, the democra-
tic party of Wisconsin in State Convention at
Madison, vigorously insisted en- the maintenance
of the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty. The
party by resolution declared itself hostile to in
ierpolating into the creed of the democratic plat
form, such issues as " the doctrine that the Con-
sliution of the United States establishes or pro-
hbts slavery in the Territories, beyond The porer
cfMe people tcgaHy to cOatrola.,' But tina recent
attempt of the people of Kansas, to con troll the
nettution of slavery in that territory, has given
The democracy an opportunity to make ap exhib-
tion OF its Popular Sovereignty professions
The legislature of Kansas having, a few weeks
ago, passed an act abolshing slavery in the Ter
ritory, Governor Medary promptly vetoed it,
he Governor takes the modern democratic
ground, that tine Constitution regards all kind,
.of property alike; that the people have the same
right to take their slaves into Kansas as theiI
cattle and horses, and that The owners of slaves
are as much entitled to the protection of Their
property in slaves, as are the owners of horses
Of what worth are democratic professions -
All the assurances Of the party heretofore made
as to the right of the people Of the Territories to
regulate their own institutions, including domes.
tic slavery, turn out mere sham 1t is facf
that in no single instance, since the democracy
protested to stand on the Popular Sovereignty
platform, has the action of the party justified lis
| professions. Every step in the history of Kan.
'as during the past few years, finds the democ-
racy beeing its creed in respect to the rights Of
he people in the Territories The democratic
papers of Wisconsin, which a year ago were al
ablaze with Popular Sovereignty, have row not
word 10 say in condemnation of the course pur-
sued by Gov, Medary of Kansas, ner any com.
mendation of the legislature of that Territory for
vindicating the right of the people to regulate
heir own institutions in the way Senator Doug
las assured The country they might.
The democracy of Wisconsin are now invited
TO step on new platform, which has just been
constructed by democratic caucus eff U. S Sc
nators at Washington. This platform adopted,
IL expected to serve as notification of what will
be demanded Of the Convention at Charleston
in April next. The fourth Resolution declares
ResoiUed, That neither Congress nor Terri
rorial Legislature, whether by direct egislati on
,r legislation Of nm indirect and untrendly char
acter, possesses the power to annuf or impair
the constitutional right Of any citizen of the Uni
Ted States to take his slave propealy into the
common Territories
The fifth declares that if at any time The Judi
CARY or Executive power is not sufficient to
protect such property, then it is the duty of Con-
yress to provide emedy-that is by a Con gres-
sonal slave code for the Territories.
Although the democratic party of this State
made formal protest IN State Convention asi
fall, against any new plank being put into the
platform, nevertheless the party will not be able
70 bear up against the pressure from the South
it must yield unequivocally, if it has not already
lone so, by its silence in respect to the new doc
trines ann ounced,