The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-01-20
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squatter sovereignty at a Focus.

Under this caption the Cincinnati Com
mereiaI, of the 18th, gives in full the mes
sage of Gov. Black, of Nebraska, in which
he vetoes the Territorial Bill for the exclu-
sion of slavery from the Territory. The
| Legislature of Nebraska, in their simplicity,
supposed that the organic act, known as the
Kansas Nebraska bill, conferred upon them
the power to exclude slavery from the Ter
ritory, and acting upon this supposed pow
er, they passed the following act
SEC. /. Be it enacted by the Council and
House of Representatives of the Territory
of Nebraska, That slavery or involuntary
servitude, except for the punishment of
crime, be and the same is forever prohibited
in this Territory.
SEC. 2. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after the 1st day of July, A.
D., 1860.
Here is practical and we think proper,
application of Senator Douglas doctrine Of
popular sovereignty. It was for this very
right that the political battle ct 1856 was
fought in the Northern States, and this
alone saved the Democratic party from an
overwhelming defeat. In vain did the Re-
publican leaders tell the people that the
Democratic party was not sincere in its pro-
testations for this right of the Territories
e to regulate their OWE institutions in their
own way; and here we see the result of
the attempted exercise of that right. The
vote on the bill was not part zan, Democrats
voting for as we'll as against it. The rea-
sons which, in part, prevented the passage
of the bill may be gathered from the re-
marks of Mr. Doane, a Democrat:
/ have all along tried to keep this vexed
question out of our halls of legislation, by
voting and fighting against the subject in
every form in which it has thrust its hydra
head into our chamber. In doing this,
have acted in good faith. But, Sir, the
President of the United Statas, in his late
message, has seen fit to step, in my opinion,
far our Of his way, to throw this agitating
question upon the country and upon the
Democratic party and if he can stand it
to introduce this agitatioR, can. He says
the people of Territories have right to
legislate on this subject. Sir believe this
10 be a political heresy, and however pre-
sumptious it may appear in me to take issue
with so distinguished functionary, / wish
my vote to go upon the record, Before my
country and before my party, in issue upon
this question, raised BY the President, and
in aid of the passage of this bill.
The bill having passed both Houses, was
sent to the Governor for approval. He re-
turned it unsigned, accompanying it with
his reasons for his veto. Taking his cue
from the Southern politicians: and the Pres
ident's Message, that the Territorial Legis-
lature has not the right to exclude slavery,
and that such an act would be contrary to
the treaty by which the Louisiana Territory
(of which Nebraska is a part), was acquired,
and opposed to the Constitution of the
United States, which recognizes slaves as
property, and gives to the Southern master
the right to take his slaves into Nebraska
so long as it remains a Territory. the will
of the people to the contrary notwithstand-
ing
We subjoin the following extract from the
veto message, to which we call the especial
attention of our Popular Sovereignty Demo-
Gratis who gained such a grand triumph at
indianapolis last week. What will their
triumph avail them in opposition to Presi-
dent Buchanan, Gov Black, and the C0i,sti-
tution
All territory is acquired to become State,
but il is likewise acquired for the common
benefit of the existing States. 1t is theirs,
and the Federal Government holds it as their
trustee. Consequently every citizenofevery
State has share in it. tits his in the first
instance, because he is a citizen of some one
of the United States and he has right to
enter into the territory, clothed with his
rights as a citizen of the State. He takes
his property with him, from his own State,
and if he may not do so, then the territory is
not acquired for the common and equal BEN
eft of the several States. Does the Consti-
tuition of the United States then, carry sla-
very into the Territories No; but under
the Constitution, and by virtue of it, the
Federal Government acquires territory, fol
the common and equal benefit of the several
States-slaye-ho and non slaYe-holding
alike. Being acquired, all may go into it
with their property, of whatever kind, auC
if they may not ther, is no equality. Tha
the Constitution recognizes slaves as prop
erty, is settled beyond doubt.
DB A controversy has been pending 70
some time between JOHN ENRICH, brewer