The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-03-29
SPEECH OF
HON. O. p. MORTON
The Republican Candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor.
Deiicered before the Ratification Meeting an
tile City Of Ierre Haute, MareA 1Oth.
POPULAR GOVERNMENT.

/ POPULAR GOVERNMENT.
! Popular Sovereignty, defined by il
most distinguished teachers. is the right of
people OF Territory to form and regulat,
their domestic institutions in their own way
or. in other words. it is the absolute right o.
self-government in the people of a Territory
II this light exists, it is an inherent right; =
it is not derived from any clause Of the Con.
stitution OF the U. s. If the people of Ter.
ritory have the right Of self-government, they
have equally the right to choose their form
Of government, organize an inaugurate it
They have not only the right to elect their
! Legislature. but to elect their Governor,
Judges. and all officers of State; and Con-
gress has no power to provide for them a
form or Constitution Of government through
the medium Of the Nebraska bill or otherwise.
Thus it will be seen that the Territories. in
stead of being made mere dependencies of
the General Government-in a state of pu-
pilage aud preparation for their final admis
sion into the Union as States. and for the en-
Ijoyment Of equal rights and privileges with
the other States-would be absolute and in
dependent sovereignties, outside of the I'm
ion. having rights and powers greatly exceed
ing those Of the States of the Union. The
State to enter into any treaty, alliance, or con-
federation; to make anything but gold and
silver coin a tender in payment of debts; to
pass any law impairing the obligation of con-
tracts; or to lay any impost duties on imports
or exports. except what may be necessary for
executing inspection laws; to grant letters Of
marque and reprisal = but the Territories
would have power to do all these things.
for the Constitutional prohibition extends on
ly to States. and it would require most latitu-
denarian construction to make it apply to the
Territories. 1t seems to be conceded, theo-
retically at least. that the Constitution should
be strictly construed, and the Constitution
says that no State shall do these things; be-
sides, 1t provides expressly that ''the powers
not delegated to the United States by the Con-
stitution. nor prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the States respectively, or to
the people," The Constitution of the Unit
ed States was made for the Union, and ap-
plies in its terms to the States Of the Union.
1t was no: intended to apply to and provide
for two classes Of States-one in the Union,
the other out. Such form of government
would indeed be complex and anomalous
This view of the Constitution was conceded
by all parties to be correct in 1890, and in the
passage Of the Missouri Compromise, being
tuition providing for the recapture Of fugitives
did not extend to the Territories. but was ap-
plicable only to the 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 de.
cision. enters into an elaborate argument and
overwhelming citation Of opinions and au-
thorities. showing THAI the Constitution. in its
prohibitions, is applicable, not to Terrific ries,
but to States. But if we adopt the other view
of the Constitution--that view which receiv
ed the sanction Of all parties. all Congresses.
all State Legislatures. and all Courts, for
more than fifty years after its adoption; these
difficulties and absurdities are swept away
That view regarded the Territories as depen
denotes as communities in a state of minority
to be governed, trained and prepared for ad
mission into the Union as States. The pow
er of the Federal Government TO control the
Territories may be successfully derived from
two sources. First: as an inevitable incident
Of the right to acquire Territory. This prin-
cple is SO simple and familiar as scarcely 10
require illustration the power to acquire,
without the power to govern, whether in in
or governments, would be most un-
profitable. Secondly: from that clause OF the
Constitution which provides that Congress
shall have power to dispose Of and make all
needful rules and regulations respecting the
Territory. or other property belonging to the
United States. This clause msuiiestly re-
gardiug the Territories dependencies, and
not as States sovereigniies. confers upon
Congress plenary power to make all needful
rules and regulations for their government.
WHAT Is SECTIONAL PARTY?
The true definition of a sectional party is
q party which in its principles ard purposes
seeks to consult and promote the interests Of
one section of the Republic. regardless of, or
at the expense of the interest and prosperity
of all the other sections. The number and
locality Of the members of party have but
little to do in determining its character. The
religion Of our Saviour could not with any
propriety have been termed sectional. even
while its professors were limited to a mere
handful OF Jews. for its spirit and principle
comprehended humanity everywhere aud in
all ages. The great principle OF the Repub
lican party is the preservation of the Terrific
ries to Freedom. and the protection and ele-
vation of Free Labor. Surely purpose SO
beneficcnt as this cannot be either selfish or
sectional. 1t contemplates and comprehends
the highest interests of a large majority of
those living in the slave States. as well as of
the people Of the free States 1t Is fact too
palpsble and notorious 10 be denied that
there is but a small minority of the white in
hahitants of the slave States who are really
interested in the preservation aud enlarge
ment of the institution of Slavery: and it is
equally palpable and notorious that the insti-
tuition rests as horrid and crushing incubus
upon the prosperity of the large majority in
such States. The prosperity of every part OF
our beloved country is intimately bound up
with the prosperity of every other portion.
Our country is one. and our people are one.
and any damage suffered BY one portion is an
injury inflicted upon the body of the nation.
Tried by this test. the Democratic party Is
no, national. and is even less than sectional.
for its aim. policy and purpose is the promo
ton of the special interests OF minority
class in one section of the Union TO the man.
ifest disregard and injury of the majority in
the same section. The number OF slavehol-