Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-03-14
Speech of Oliver p. Morton,
TAX HsrtsLlcAs CANDIDATE Foa LIEUTENANT
ccvkk>ohs
Delivered before the Rsf.6esfios Msetiny. lhsid
In A< City Of Terve Hssfe. ON The l0A day
Of Msreh. 1860.


Deiisered before the Raf,fcsfios Msetiny lhsid
In fk< City Of Terrs Hssfe. ON The i0fh day
Of March. 1860.
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
Popular Sovereignty. as defined by It's
most distinguished teachers. Is the right /
n people of Territory TO form aud regu
ate their domestic institutions IN their
'wn way; or. Ia other words. IL Is the ab |
'olute right Of self government ia the peo'
PIE OF Territory Ifthis right exists. 1t
i an inherent right: 1t IL not derived from
any clause Of the Constitution OF the u. 5.
II the people ola Territory have the right Of
self.governmens. tsey have equally the
right to choose their form Of government.
organize aud inaugGrate Il. They have
DOT only the right TO elect their Leglsla.
ture. but to elect their Governor. Judges,
aud all the officers OF State; and Congress
has no power to provide for them a form
or Constitution Of government through the
medium Of the Nebraska Bill or otherwise.
Thus 1t will be seen that the Territories,
instead OF being made mere dependen-
eies OF the General Government-in a state
of pupilagr and preparation Tor final adj
into the Union as States. aud for
the enjoy ment OF equal rights aud privi-
legcs with the other Stales-would be alb
solute aud independent sovereignties. out
side Of the Union, having rights and pow
ers greatly exceeding those of the States
in the Union. The Constitution OF the
United States forbids any STATE to enter
into any treaty. alliance or confederation
to make anything but gold aud silver coin
tender in payment OF detts; 10 pass any
Law impairing the obligation OF contracts;
or to lay any impost duties on imports OF
exports. except what may be necessary for
executing inspection laws; 10 grant letters
Of marque and reprisal-but the Territories
would have power 10 do all these things.
for the Constitutisusl prohibition extends
only TO States. aud il would require most
latitadinarlan construction To make IT APP
ply to the Territories. Ii seems to be con
coded. theoretically at least. that the Con
stitution should be strictly construed. and
the Constitution says that no STATE shall do
these things; besides, it provides express
ly that 1.-The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited by it to the States, are reserved to
the States respectively or to the people"
The Constitution Of the United States was
made for the Union. and applies in ito
terms to the States in the Union. 1t was
not intended to apply TO and provide for
two classes OF States-one in the Union
and the other out. Such form of govern
ment would indeed be complex and anon
alous. This view Of the Constitution was
conceded by all parties to be correct 10
1920. in the passage Of the Missouri Com
promise. being then admitted that the clause
of the Constitution providing for the re
capture Of fugitive slaves did not extend
to Territories, but was applicable only to
States; and that. in the absence Of an act
Of Congress providing for such recapture
in the Territories, the master would have
no such right. Mr. Benton, in his great
essay, reviewing the bred Scott decision.
enters into an elaborate argument and
overwhelming citation cf opinions and al
thorities, showing that the Constitution,
in its prohibitions. is applicable,
not to Territories. but to States. But
il we adopt the other view of the Constitu-
tion--that view which received the sane
ton Of all parties. all Congresses. all State
Legislatures, and all Courts, for more than
fifty years from its adoption-these diff
ficulties aud absurdities are swept away.
That view regarded the Territories as de.
tendencies. az communities in a state
Of minority, to be governed. trained and
prepared for admission into the
Union rs States. The power Of the
Federal Government TO control the Terrific.
ries may be successfully derived from two
sources First: as an inevitable incident
Of the right 10 acquire Territory. This
principle is so simple and familiar as
scarcely to require illustration; the power
to acquire without the power TO govern.
whether in individuals or governments.
would be most barren and Improbable
Secondly: from that clause Of the Consti
tuition which provides that Congress shall
have power to dispose of and make all
ueedful rules and regulations respecting
the Territory. or other property belonging
to the United States. This CLAUSE. manifest
ly regarding the Territories rs dependen-
cies aud not as States or sovereignties. con-
fsrs upon Congress plenary power to make
all needful rules and regulations for their
government.
WHAT 10 A SECTIONAL PARTY
The true definition Of a Sectional Party
10 party which. IN its principles aud pur
poses. seeks TO consult and promote the
interests OF one section Of the Republic. re-
yardless Of. or at the expense Of the interes,
Ind prosperity Of all other sections The
number and locality Of the members Of n /
party have but little TO do IN determining
to character The religion OF our Savior
'ould not with any propriety have been
armed sectional. even while its professors
> ere limited TO a mere handful of Jews. for
t. spirit and principles comprehended hu.
nsnity eyerysh here. aud in all ages. The
yrsa, principle of the Republican, Party is
he preservation Of the Territories to Free
lon. and the protection and elevation Of
free Labor. Surely a purpose so beneh.
isnt as this cannot he either selfish or sec
ionsl IL eootsmpls,es aud eomprehsnd-
he hlghes, interests Of large nnsjori,y Of
hose living Ia the slave States. az we'll a.
4 the people Of the free States. u issfsct
oe pslpsble and notorious 10 be denied.
hat there - but q small minority Of the
} hite Inhabitants Of the slave States Who
re really interested in the rressrvsiion
nd enlargement Of the institution Of sla
cry; and IL 10 equally palpsbls and noio
ious that the Institution rests as . horr,d
nj crushing ineubus upon the prosperity
the large msjori,y In such states. The
rosperiiy Of every par, Of our beloved
ountry IL intimately bound up with the