Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-09
PIaIndeaIer and Popular Sovereignty.


The issue of the Dealer Of the 9Th, con-
tains an article in the editorial column that is
strikingIy characteristic Of the unsound phi
csOphy, ilberal sentiment and puerile logic
with which articles from that source usually
abound. The editor seems to have lost sight
I-if indeed, he ever was within sight-of the
real object Of government. He speaks Of
| Congress in contradistinotiOn to the People,
as though the acts of that body might be
substantially inlmical to the interests of the
People He need but reflect moment to know
that, since Congress is the creature of the
People, by the very genius of our government
the voice of Congress is virtually the voice of
the People.
He seems never before to have realized the
fact that, in our National Councils msjority
rules but,as do all narrow minded politicians,
he losss sight of the probabilities in the case,
and, tOrturing himself with some terrible pos
slbility, or rather fmpossibiity, he eLclsims,
''If Congress has power to determine that 4
man shall not have . multitude of wives, it has
power to prohibit his having one" He GER
certainly can't imagine that he is thus rudey
to be torn from the bosom OF his only solace
on earth
Power to legislate must reside somewhere,
and by the Popular Sovereignty doctrine it
must exist in the People. This phrase, with
out quaifcatiOn,s synonymous with the phrase
'Pu1e democracy" which, by the records of
the past, is abundantlY shown to be a short.
lived institution. Popular Sovereignty must
mean pure democracy, OF representative demoe-
racy, if indeed any definite meaning attaches to
the phrase as used. II the former, its utter in
efficiency need not be shown; if the latter,
then is Popular Sovereignty already in our very
uidst, and the Democracy need not fOist upon
the public az new, soLethinR that has been
recognized nnder another name The ostensible
object Ofths Popular Sovereignty doctrine is this
regulation of Territories; but how long after
the Territories shall have ceased to acknowledge
the power Of Congress to legiGlate for them,
will It be before the Democracy, alias Slaveoe-
racy, emboldened by success, will attempt eff
fectually to assert State Sovereignty
Every effusion Of this editor is replete with
the most illogical deductions. Speaking of
PolygalIy he says "If Congress eau legislate
al all on this subject It's powers of legislation
are unlimited " This is taking for granted that
the Legislation of Congress is regulated only
by the eapTiee Of its members National, not sec.
tOHGI interest," is the true object of and
when it becomes apparent that any institution,
whether political OF religious, is calculated in
its very nature to sap the foundation of govern
ment, that organization not only EzGp, but
should be legislRted out Of existence.
Again. "lf Congress can put down Polygamy
as a religious dogma, Congress can put down
ShakeriBm, Quakerism, Presbyterianism, Meth
odism, or any other ism not believed in by q
majority of its piouS members" Hers is a
most objectionable and reckless disregard of
distinction. By this doctrine, if our National
Legislature has power to suppress the opera.
tons of any ProfssSsd Religious Institution
whose influence is manilsstly demoralizing and
whose practices are in direct antagonism with
the spirit Of government, it therefore has
right TO crush out every Religious Organize
tion, however pure and benign is influence up
on society! Uf cOurse, should disciples of fMahom-
ct be found among US and they should attempt to
propasste their doctrines by foree Of arms, they
would be permitted to do so unmolested! WHY
mott They would be carrying out their cons
victions Of right. If one religion is patron
lied, why not another It is a manifest insult
to the sound judgment Of the people in any
community 70 offer Such doctrine for their cons
sideratiOn.
The predicament Of our Editor is sad indeed
il he really believes what be advocates.
G, E. s.