The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-10-09

bly, upon Territory as such, than it is
fastened upon South Carolina herself
The people of South Carolina in their
sovereign capacity may abolish Slavery
whenever they see fit. The people of
Kansas In their Territorial condition can
not. The people of South Carolina have
the right to discourage Slavery by un-
friendly legislation the people of Kan
sas are bound to guard and protect the
slave owner in his rights, and are re-
stricted from passing laws violating that
obligation. The Federal Government
has no power to interfere in South Caro-.
lima, but as soon as Kansas dares to dis
regard the restriction" Judge Doug
las, if he should become President Of
the United States, would stand pledged
to enforce that restriction with prompt
ness and fidelity" And after having
struck down the freedom of the Terrific.
ries, this champion Of freedom will
sneak behind the judicial despotism OF
the Supreme Court, and like the murderer
of Banquo, tell you that " Thou caus't
not say l did it -
But | say he d,d do IL. The charac
ter of his doctrine of Popular Sovereignty
was determined by the decision of the
question, whether or not slave properly,
as such, could be introduced into Ter
ritory before Slavery was established
there by positive act of Territorial leg
lslatlon. Ii this question was decided
IN the affirmative the doctrine that Slav-
cry, as the creature of local law, was to-
tally abandoned. If Slavery could ex
list in Territory without being establish
ed by local law, then it existed there By
law higher than local law and that
could be no other than the Constitution
of the United States. In this case every
sane man must see then that Slavery can
not be removed from Territory by a
mere act of the Territorial Legislature.
whether direct or indirect; and Mr.
Douglas need not affect any surprise at
the doctrines his Southern opponents
hold. They are the natural, the legiti
mate, the logical offspring of his own
position. When he conceded that all
important point-and he did conceie it
this champion Of freedom" was either
aware OF the consequence or he was not.
Ii he was not, he is liable TO the charge
OF gross stupidity if lie was, he is La
Die TO the charge of deliberate BETRAYAL
OF the cause of free labor, covered with
the grossest hypocrisy. In what char
acter do you like your champion of
freedom" best? As one who has not sa
gacity enough TO defend it, or as one who
deliberately betrays it There are cases
where stupidity is no less criminal than
hypocrisy.
This then is the great principle of
Popular Sovereignty" This is .'leav-
ing the people to form aud regulate their
own domestic institutions in their own
way" | am warranted in saying that.
# ever gigantic, unscrupulous, shame
less fraud was ever attempted upon free
people-if history ever furnished an ex-
ample of unblushing, scandalous revolt
ing hypocrisy, il is this i" true champion
OF freedom - TO faslen Slavery irremov-
ably upon the territories. and calling it
" leaving the people perfectly free 10 reg
ulate their own domestic institutions -
to strip the people Of every right 10
regulate their own affairs, and to cal! ii
Popular Sovereignty Strike the word
demago gueism' out of your dictiona
ries If you do not want to apply il here.
But although we may understand how
inordinate, desperate ambition should re-
sort to such frauds, il remains truly won
derluI that So many thousands have suf
fered themselves 10 be deceived by
them.
Is it surprising that the champion of
Freedom" who defends such theories
should be found little unreliable in
practice How clamorouS he was against
the Lecomption Constitution What
terrible idea, that Territory should be
formed into the Union a State with
Constitution not approved by the people?
AT last the people Of Kansas frame a
new Constitution 1t is submitted to the
people it is approved by large major.
ny All conditions IF admission risor.
ously complied with. they knock at the
door OF the Union. and we expect to see
our true champion OF Freedom rush
TO the rescue with umbated zeal-for
ms great point IS gained But where Is
Douglas ? The House of Representa-
tyes votes in favor Of the admission ihe
decision Of the question depends upon
the action Of the Senate That Commit.
tee consists of seven members Doug
las Is one Of them but he does not nj.
tend their meetings. The vote of tie
Committee stands ) to s. DuugIass
vote can decide the question in the Com
mlttee, IN favor OF the admission OF Kan.
sas. II is well known bow lar tie action
OF Committee goes 10 determine thea
ton Of the Senate but Douglas does MT
vote ! The question remaips IN has
stake for some time, Tho
country looks for the acton Of Tie Com.
mltIee the action OF the Committee is
blocked by a tie but Douglas does not
ro!e J Douglas who had declared SO
hcreely against the admission under a
Constitution which the people DID NOT
trdM. does not vote when the admission
IS applied for with q constitution which
the people do want Douglas the "truo
champion Of Freedom" holding the fate
OF Free Kansas in that Committee in his