St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-09-13
Douglas Repudiates Squatte1
Sovereignty. '~@@'

The Chicago Press and Tribune repub-
lishes from the Globe the subjoined speech,
made by Stephen A. Doug glas in the United
States Senate on the 18th of May. 1t is
a document which every man who takes
an interest in politics would 90 well to read.
It was made subsequent to the two-day
effort of its author in May, and was fshed
out by the persistent catcchizing of Jefer-
son Davis, who was determined that Doug
las should no longer skulk behind unmean-
ing genera!ities. 1t will be seen by this
unwilling confession that Mr.. Douglar re-
pudiates Squatter Sovereignty, acknowl-
edges that the people Of Territory cannot
set up a. government for themselves, and
can exercise no political rights exceptsuch
as are obtained through an Organic Act
Of Congress He in effect justifes the ac-
tion Of those Democrats who voted against
Eli Thayer's bill proposing to give to the
inhabitants of Dakota, Arizona, Jefferson,
and Nevada the right to choose their own
Territorial rulers and elect Territorial Del
egates to Congress. His doctrine would
have even excluded California as State,
because the people did not go through the
form Of a Congressional Territorial organi-
zation. IF anything was needed to convict
Mr.. Douglas Of the most shameless inccn-
sistency, and se9every honest adherent
in his ranks to forsake :him in disgust, it is
superabundantly furnished: in this brief
senatorial speech. 1t ought to be posted
up in the same frame with the letters and
speeches Of Fitzpatrick and johnson IN ia
vor Of Slave Code. Let everybody read
it: 4....u ..., uo.: ..i:.. ~.., ,..,.. .:
Mr.. DoUaLAs-Regarding Squatter
Sovereignty as nickname invented by the
Senator and those with whom he acts,
which have never recognized, I must
leave him to define the meaning of his own
term. i have denounced Squatter Sover-
eighty when you find it setting up Gov
ernment contrary to law, as you do now at
Pixies Peak. I denounced it this year.
When you find an unauthorized: Legisla-
ture, in violation of law, setting up Gov
ernment without sanction Of Coug gress or
Court, that is Squatter Sovereignty which
| oppose. There is the case of Dakota,
where you have left whole people without
any law or Territorial organization, with no
mode OF appealtrom Squatter Courts to the
United States Courts to correct their de-
cisions-that is Squatter Sovereignty in vi
| violation of the Constitution and laws OF
the United States. There is similar Gov
ernment set up over part of California
and part Of the Territory Of Utah, called
Nevada. 1t has delegate here claiming
to represent it. have denounced that as
unlawful. lam opposed to all such Squat
ter Sovereignty. If that is what the Sen
ator referred to, l am against it AllIsay
is, the people Of Territory, when they
have been organized under the Constitution
and laws, have Legislative power over all
rightful subjects Of legislation, consistent
with the Constitution OF the United States
That is the language of the law, and if they
exercise Legislative powers on any subject
inconsistent with the Constitution of the
United States, the Courts, to whom ap.
peal may be taken under the laws, will cor.
rect their errors. That is all.
GwES-I ask the Senator whether he
says the people Of California set up g
Squatter Sovereignty like that at Pixies
Peak?
DoUGLAs-I state this: see from the
newspapers, and suppose it to be true, that
an organization has been set up in Carson
Valley. called Nevada Territory, and the
people have elected Governor.
GwlN-That is in Utah Territory.
DoUGLAs-Ycs; but it is said portion
Of the settlers are over the line in Califor
MIA and some in Utah, but it matters not
1t does not change the effect, for if it al
be in Utah, it is an act of rebellion agains
the Territorial Government, established by
the Government. That is the Squatte1