The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-11-07
"My Great Principle.|

"My Great PrtncfPle'
This is favorite qut tation with Republl-
can editors. Its original use is ascribed to
Senator Douglas. The language of Doug
las is "The Great Principle"-its inventor,
If anything so plain is in want of paten-
tee, was Henry Clay, Of Kentucky. He
applied the language to the non-ntcrvention
doctrine of the Compromise measures of
1850. 1t is great principle" The idea
of leaving the settlers in territory to pro-
vide that sort of government for themselves
which shall best meet their wants, or be in
approval of their judgments, may be derid-
ed for time by those who have Interior
notions in view, but it is inst as sure to win
as that Liberty survives. The destruction
of one is as certain as that of the other
In all this canvass, and in that also of 1856,
the same line Of argument has been gone
over by both parties, viz: Non intervention
on one hand and Intervention on the other.
1t is now palpable to the plainest under
standing that however the election of Tues
day may result, the Democracy with the
gallant Douglas at the head, have won the
victory of PRINCIPLE. The Offices NAV
possibly 60 into other hands, but the main
question at issue, that of territorial settle
ment and law-making is already decided
In proof Of this we have the frequent and
every day admission that "Mr. Douglas
yiews are correct enough, but we fear he is
not honest'-we have Greeley's Tribune in.
dorsement Of Eli Thayer as an Independ.
ent Popular Sovereignty candidate for Con-
gress in Massachusetts,. We have the re.
mark of the New York Times in speaking
of the probable action of the Republicans
if in power:
While they will resist, therefore, any at.
tempt Of the South to pass laws for the pro.
lection Of slavery in the territories, they
will ask none for its prohibition.
Whatever party may be in the ascen.
dant, therefore, it seem altogether probable
| that the princip le-or at all events the prac.
tice-of popular sovereignty will practical.
| ly settle the question of slavery in the ter.
| ritories. The refncments of constitutional
| law will have but little influence upon the
subject. Whatever lawyers may argue, OF
courts decide, it will, after all, remain for the
people of the territories to say for them
selves whether slavery shall, or shall not
find a foothold upon their soil.
And now comes the Springfield Repu5li.
can, one of the most influential, as it is the
most able and readable of all the opposition
papers in Massachusetts,. This sheet is
printed in Thayer's district, and opposes
him on personal grounds because he was
not the regular nominee, but it cautions its
party to beware of opposition to him for
his adhesion to Popular Sovereignty. 1t
says:
For Congressional prohibition has ceased
to be test vote in the Republican party;
many Republicans, East and West, North
and South, believe it unnecessary and un-
wise; and very few sagacious men in the
party have any idea that it will ever be
practically brought into servic. The Re-
publcans must and do tolerate differences
Of opinion as to the means by which the
end of their being is to be attained; and
the means suggested by Mr.. Thayer are
much more likely to be employed than the
"Wilmot Proviso' so called
Having yielded to the justice of the
Great Principle" which they affect to con-
denim, it is matter of but little difference
to the masses who may hold the offices.
Where is there Republican principles