Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-03-31
TIE TIMEso ON DOUGLAS.
Our friends Of the 7ia,as have yeni arad

Our friends Of the 7In,ss have vent arad
upon q political prescription" in The last
issue, under the title -" Stephen A.
Douglas." The opening paragraph par
takes 10 much of the character of the ad.
vsrsisemon. upon the third page, headed
"Pleyels Ague Exterminator,' tina. we
incline to the opinion that the printer has
nsds al awful mistake 10 making up the
form. This portion seems to be the COM
mence ment Of a scientific dissertation up
on :" the fantastical isothermal thso-y.'-
We have made an examination OF Web
s.er's Unabridged, and find "isu,hermar
means, having equal degrees Of heat. The
Times says it appears to have a very
sslubrious and tonic effect upon the per-
cep.ion Of our Democratic friends" We
are really glad to lear it, and hope there
is an abundant supply Of "iso,hsrmal,' and
that j: will BE- freely administered. The
editor seems anxious to know upon wha.
grounds the Democrats predicate their
Partially for the Little Giant, and thinks
it connot be =" the presumed abuse heaped
upon him by an sxasperated constituency
for what'they deem gross malfeasanee Of
official duty His exasperated een.ti,u.
sncy have taken rather singular mode
to Observation-Disclosures at his malteas
ance, a. evidenced by his triumphant re-
election to the United States Senate, and
BY the overwhelming popular expression
Of the people Of the State he represents in
favor Of his nomination to the highest Of
fee Of the government. II is very true
that class Of one idea men, claiming to
represent the people Of Illinois, attempted
to crush him by refusing to grant him
hearing ip his own defence, but the result
vas us signally failure as was that other
effort Of the same class to degrade DAS'L
WEBSTER, by closing the doors Of Faueuil
Hall against him, and although the edi-
tor mistrusts the magic of sympathy in
this case we venture the assertion that
no single ACT of the enemies of DOUGLAS
has done more to elevate him in the pub.
lie esteem than their refusal to grant him
. hearing in Chicago. Freedom Of speech
is with the American people cardinal
doctrine, and to deny any man this right
is tacit admission that his doctrines can
not be met in fair and open field Of con-
troversy. His doctrine Of "squatter Soy
ereignty' is characterized as u Second
hand" "chimera" 1.-The most shallow and
fallacious," ''inheritsd from the great Mich.
gander.' In one sense, this is quite
liberal admission, as it relieves Mr.. Douc
LAS from the oft repeated charge Of having
originated a heresy fraugh. with so much
mischief, and so derogatory to the morals
Of our country, placing him in the position
Of An innocent heir Of distinguished
statesman,-it is not explained how the
patrimony was obtained in advance of the
demise Of the legator. This chimera 50
shallow and fallacious, consists simply in
allowing the people who settle our terrific
riss the right of regulating their local at
fairs as their own sense OF propriety, and
their own interests may prompt without
airy interference from Congress, smigrant
aid societies, or other outside and remote
organizations. II this be falIacy, then is
our system Of government. based upon a
mistaken idea, aud our forefa,hers labor.
Cd under an esregrious error when they
assumed that the col onies had an inherent
right to regulate their own municipal af-
fairs without any dictation f.om the par
ent government. If it be not a RICH,
which the people possess, what rights have
they? Would no. the same rule that
would deprive them Of settling the subject
OF slavery operate with equal force upon
every other question Of internal policy ?
would il not take from them every priv
lege regarded Is the birth right Of freemsn.
II was not simply the burden imposed up,
on our fathers by the duty on stamped pa.
per that nerved their arms to defy the
power Of the British Crown-but it was
thu exercise Of prerogative which was
unlawful and tyranous and one, the ex-
tent of which might not be foreseen, if the
power was oncs conceded. Aud so with
this question. II any power may dictate to
the people their local laws upon a single
subject, it may upon others, and thus may
the people Of territory Be reduced to a
condition Of servile dependence, as humi-
liating as those Of Russian province.
Bleeding Kansas is referred to as an IL
iussration Of the practical workings Of the
DsUGLAs doctrine. Now, in all candsr we
beg to inquire if any man believes there
would have been any alteration in Kan.
sas if the settlement Of that territory had
been left like Nebraska to the orderly and
quiet possession Of those who emigrate
only with view TO acquire homes By
whom we're the scenes of strife and blood
shed which desolatsd that country initia-
ted? The veracious historian who may
chronicle the deeds which have given
Kansas world wide notoriety will seek
his items for the FIRST chapter in the city Of
Boston, rather than upon the prair;es Of
Kansas. It was the combined capital of
New England which employed men and
purchased mentions Of war for the ex-
press purpose OF inaugurating the ire
pressible conflict in thatterrtory. Instead
OF being possessed BY the peaceful settler. |