East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-10-18
NUMBER II.
spuattcr sovereignty ia Oregon.

"
In December, 1854, the Territorial
Legislature of Oregon adopted series OF
resolutions approving the Kansas Nebraska
Bill, which had passed Congress the ses-
sion previous, from which we copy tho
following. They were introduced by q
Democrat, and voted for by the members
OF that party in the Territorial Legisis
ture. i 1t would be difficult to find =
stronger Endorsement of the naked ques-
ton Of Popular Sovereignty. In fact,
Oregon maintained Squatter Sovereignty
government for ten years before Terri-
tory was organized there by Act of Con-
gress. For Oregon to deny the doctrine
now, would be equivalent to repudiating
the action of her people for series of
years. The strongest illustrations which
can be given Of the Inherent right of the
people Of the Territories, as citizens of
the United States, to organize a. govern
nent and administer it for their own pro-
lection, is presented in the early histor
of Oregon. The people there foun
themselves m a country without goverl
ment and without laws. They organize
a government, framed code Of laws, de
cided upon the rights OF property, az
punished crime, even to the extent
taking life. This was pure, unadalte
ated Squstter Sovereignty. The sam
kind of government exists at Pixies Pea
and Dacotah, and will always be resorte
to by Americans, whenever they fiji
themselves in country without Cover
ment and laws. American citizens mu
have law and order, as community; the
feel it to be their--birthright, and hent
their first impulse is, when surrounded
circumstances calling for action, to viE-
dicate their title TO be classed as Ameri-
can citizens, by demonstrating their ca
pacity to govern themselves. The peo-
pie of Oregon did this in their early his
tory, and 50 did the people of California.
.Squatter Sovereignty reigned triumphant
ly in California until the State Govern
ment was formed, and this was urged 10y
jeff Davis and other Southern Senators,
as a reason5why She ought not to be ad-
mitted into the Union. Our entire sys-
TEN ofmin;ng laws is founded exclusively
upon the principle Of Squatter Sover-
eignty-the rightsof the people to legs-
late upon and regulate local matters in
which they alone are interested. This
right is inherent in o Citizens Of these
United States; it cannot be delegated by
Congress, for that body possesses no sdch
power, and it is right unquestioned, ex-
cept when property in slaves is involved.
The three resolutions which so broadly
lay down the doctrine of.SG Guatt Sow
ereignty, and which we copy from the
series adopted by the Oregon Territorial
Legislature, as published in Jthe Times,
read as follows;
RSsOlsea; That we greet With especial
satisfaction that feature in the bill REFER
ed to, which interdicts the interference of
Congress in the domestic affairs of The
States, and which establishes its inability
to legiSlatc slavery into, or out Of the or
ganized Territories of the nation, but
which leaves the people Of the Territories
free to choose and to control their. own
domestic institutions a3ito0 l9difnl doidW
Resolced, That, in the judgment ofthis
General Assembly, the people OF this, or
any other ferritoryCof the nation, would
stultify themselves, if they,werc- not TO
acquiesce in the doctrine Of Squattcr Sow.
ereignty; and that, proclaiming the same
judgemont, the present inhabitants oftllfs
territory have lost none of their love Of
country, or Of their capacity for sef-gov.
ernnIent, in emigrating from the "Statcsp
to this coast, and are, therefore, capabie
Of, and vastly moro interested In choos.
ing the laws and institutions which they
need and viii have for their government,
than are the people of the States.
10 oRssolred, That the people of thesTerri-
tories TASK for nothing that is not clearly
right, and they submit to nothing wrong;ns
that we claim for ourselves what we free
ly concede TO our brethern ym the States,
the right to decide for ourselves what we
will adopt, and what we will not. adopt.
in the governments Of our local affairs;
land though organized under the Wiz
mot Proviso, we look upon that portion
Of our 0rgaui: Act as Superseded and
rendered null and void by the latter pro-
visions Of the Nebraska Kansas Bili---
Sacramento J,Rioa.. r. -tr41
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