Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-01-24
The Great Political Humbug.

The Great Political Humbug
When Mr.. Douglas procured the passage Of
hansasN ebraska Act, DECLARING, its "true in
tent and meaning to legislate slavery into
any territory, not to extend 1t therefroin but to
leave the people thereof free to form and regu-
late their domestic institutions their own way
1t was seized upon by the Democratic party as
the true doctrine of self-governmeut and made
fundamental principle ofthe Democratic creed
hr BUCHANAN, in his letter accepting the
nomination Of his party for the Presidency. in
abiding to the Kansas y cbraska Act, said
This Legislation is founded upon PRINCIPLES
as ancient IS free government itself and in ac-
cordance with them has simply d, cIared that
The people OF a Territory, like those OF State,
shaii decide for themselves whether Slavery
shall or shall not exist in their limits
rms principle wall surely not be c"atroycrt-
ed hy any individual OF any party prnfessing
devotion 10 popular government. Besides how
vain aud lliusory would any other principle
prove IN practice IN regard to the Territories"
Mr.. Douglas WIS lool-r.l mon l,y many "a q
dcmi-God- -7rior OF the Union and thou
sands were ready to bow down and worship the
idol Of "Squatter Sovereignty"
The doctrine was met by the Republicans as
inconsistent, and looked upon. not only b Re
pubIicans, but by thinking Democrats, as a sq-
gar coating to cover the bitter principles of the
Democratic creed. The g-e,: cry Of self-sov-
eminent As applied to the Territories. was look
ed upon as an Inconsistency. while they had
not tie power of choosing their own Judicial or
executive officers and while al ;hose legislative
acts were subject to the revision OF n higher
Power Khan \ National Legislature. But Squat
ter Sovereignty won the race. and upon the
hobby Mr. Buchanan went into the Presiden-
tal chair
But where IS Squat;er Sovereignty now? 3Ir.
BucHASAy, the nucleus OF the Democratic party,
the man who rode into the Presidential chair on
the declaration that "the people Of a Territory,
like those ola State. shall decide for themselves
whether slavery shall or shall not exist ii their
hmits'---uow declares officially that neither
Congress. nor Zsrrjtorial Legislature. nor any
human power has authority to aunul the right
ofevery citizen to take his property of any kind,
including slaves, into tile Territories, and have il
protected their under the Federal Constitution
What has become Of the Squatter Sovereignty
principle, held so dear ny Northern Democrats?
They now humbly bow to the doctrine OF the
Message, and silently yield 10 the dictatates of
It author.
But we have another instance of the beauty
OF the working Of this Popular delusion In
the Legislature Of Nebraska. the principal has
been tended with just snch n result IS was pre-
dicted by the Republican press four years ago
The Legislature Of that Territory, in pursu-
ance Of the doctrine promulgated BY Nj Douc-
Las. and protested by the Democratic party,
that they could decide for themselves whether
slavery should or should not exist within the
limits passed a bill abolishing slavery in the
Territories Of y ebraska. BY majority of four
votes IN the Assembly. and one in the Council
Here was an exercise Of the principle Of Popu-
lar SOyrei ynty. which Mr.. BUcuAxAv said was
derived from the original and pure fountain Of
legitimate political power. leaving the people
Of the Territories free - regulate their domestic
institutions III their ovB Wv, subject only +,
the Constitution OF The United Safes Tn.
same S.us;;er Sovereignty gpou the ,l.uai;,,. Of
winch GeH. CAS- Congratulated The Uuitei
States Senatc upon the Irinci le 81 the Kansas
Nebraska act-car.ie,. ult IL fair and le,,fi
mae manner. The tlN Vas sent to Gov. 81. ,ck
"Lo received A.9 o.hce from. and Lul : II stI1isc,
II tae VII Of i.eSsieat Bu,uAyAx and by I!iu
seEt b-ek Win his veto. = hat become. Of thc
fisht Of The people Of iae Territory 10 -e.-,,l;,
tHsiF daiae~..c in,tat.0as ID ,AcIs ovn way in
'4'' instance 1t Is 40: The people of The Terri
tory. but the creature Of Mr. BUcu.sAx-
'f'T BLArk-~ho holds his once. not by the
vote II ne people. but by the wall OF the P.esi-
dent Who decides the matter. aud opposition
10 the Nil ofthe people expressed through