The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-08-09
FOR CONGRESS-First Congregational Dis
JOHN f. POTTER.

FOR CoNGREsS-Ffrst Congregational Dist
JOHN F. POTTER.
Popular Sovereignty COihtraste'
The Douglas party papers abound il
raisesaof Popular Sovereignty; it j
eelared to be the only true principle
BON which the rights of the people Of
erritories, can be safely and properl!
busted 1t is fair of course, to judge
any theory of government by Its
tactical results, therefore it is proper
OBSTINATE the good Of popular SOW
,eignty, fit has any, by its own re
5rded history. If it has anywhere
reduced good results, let it be shown;
its workings have been only bad, lei
ie facts be stated. "lf
Wisconsin was organized as Terri
)ry and subsequently, admitted as a
tate, under the principle Of Congress
onal intervention against the introN
uction Of slavery. The Ordinance of
1871, expressly prohibited slavery in all
le then Territory north west Of the
yer Ohio. Congress at different pc
DDS subsequent to the date of this Or
nance, recognized its validity and
hiding force. The result of this inter.
ention was, the quiet and peaceable
ettlement Of Wisconsin; during its
e!ritolia period, there were no collisS
ions with the General Goyernment--no
indrances to territorial legislatiop--no
opplaints of Observation-Disclosures
it The proper time, Wisconsin was adj
nitted into the Union without opposi-
ion from other States. So much then
or Impractical working ofintervention
against Slavery. ia
Now let us see what are the practical
Illustrations, afforded by this vauntad
and much praised doctrine Of Popular
Sovereignty. The Missouri Compro-
mise was repealed for the purpose Of
giving the world an exhibition of the
workings of Popular Sovereignty. The
slavery prohibition which that compro
mise CONTAINED, it was commended, was
a great wrong, and an unjust restraint
on the fee exercise ofthe popular will
Under this new theory of Popular Sove
.reignty, or non-interyenhon, Kansas
was organized as Territory. The his
tory Of Kansas affords practical exhi
bition Of Douglas Squatterism. Tb,
collisions, the houso-burnings, the de
struction of property, the persecution
and driving of settlers from their homes
the cold blooded m urders and the bas
attempts to force upon the inhabitant
infamous laws, and practises contrar,
to the popular will, are all the legiti
mate fruits of Popular Sovereignty. Al
the blood stained violations of law an,
order, which marked the history 0
Kansas for several years, originated o
the question Of slavery in that Territory
Every sane man knows, that bu
for the repeal of the Missouri Comprom
Use, the exciting question Of slavery
would never have caused these troublou
svents in Kansas. Had the Missoul
Compromise never been repealed, IT,
Territorial history of Kansas would il
human probability, have been as peace
able as was that of Wisconsin. Their
existed no better reason for a conflc
between freedom and slavery in Kansas
than in any western Territory whicI
adopted free state constitution.
Illinois, especially the southern par
thereof, is better adapted to slave labo
than Kansas but the advocates Of FIRE
labor and o. slave labor, were kept fror
being brought into conflict, during thei
Territorial period, by the same Ordi
nance Intervention against the intro
duction Of slavery, which kept that ques
ton out of Wisconsin,. 'The same
true of Indiana and Ohio; their TER
torial condition aud their transition t
State Sovereignty was altogether peace
ful. and yet in perfect consistency wit
the rights of the people. The Ord
nance of 1887 had i1ateroened and Sc
tied the question on the side Of freedom
In view Of these facts ofhistory, VIII
will say the practical workings of POI
ular Sovereignty have afforded any do
sirable good? Are the Douglasite
pleased and satisfied with the blood
scenes in Kansas? Did the breakip
down # the barrier against slavery
which had been held sacred for NOR
than thirty years, in order to give POI
ular Sovereignty a chance to display il
boosted virtues, produce results to til
liking of the democracy? Put the mis-
rule, the wrongs and abuses of all tn
Territories together, since the confed'
ration Of the original thirteen States
and they do not amount to fraction {
what has TRANSFERRED in Kansas, undo
the application of Popular Sovereignty
What then has Popular Sovereignty {
the Douglas sort to commend itself t
the people? What has it done for an
Territory to entitle it 90 public favor
Contrast its history in Kansas, with il
tervention in Wisconsin, and which
most entitled to the approval of ever
friend of freedom, order and good go