The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-08-10
A Few Ideas for the Lovers Of Popular
Sovereignty.

/. The right of the people Of every
State and Territory 10 "form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own
way" as guaranteed by the Kansas.
Nebraska Bill, has this important quail.
fcation "SuIject only 10 the Constitution
Of Tie United tStotes."
g Tn his speech in the Senate in Feb
ruary last, Mr.. Douglas, the author OF the
Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and the reputed
"author and fnisher" Of the Popular
Sovereignty faith. said
IL do not hold that Squstter Sover.
eighty is superior TO the Constitution. l
/ HOLD THAT NO SUCH THING AS
! SOVEREIGN POWER ATTACHESTO
! A TERRITORY AS A TERRITORY.
hold that Territory possesses Whatever
/ power it derives from the Constitution,
under tie organic act, and no more"
An excellent idea truly, and one that
shows Mr.. Douglas not TO be so great a
dupe as lie would make all OF his fol-.
/ lowers.
3. Mr.. Douglas said at New Orleans,
in December, 1855:
"Sla0cs are regarded AS PROPERTY,
and placed on an EQUAL FOOTING
with all other property. Hence the owner
Of saves-the same as the owner OF any
other sTecies of property. HAS \ RIGHT
/ TO REMOVE TO ANY TERRITORY
AND CARRY HIS PROPERTY WITH
/ HIM."
Mr.. Douglas does not, we presume,
contend that u Territorial Legislature,
eny more than Congress, has power to
destroy the right Of property in cattle and
horses. How, then, has i; power 10 de.
stroy the right Of property in slaves, il
slaves are property, and "placed on an
equal footing with other property ?" Will
MIR, Douglas, who claims TO be states
man, or any Of his friends, tell us how it
is that Territorial Legislature derives a
right. through an organic act, from the
Constitution, to destroy, by "unfriendly
legislation" or otherwise, a Conslitu.
tionaI right? Is not the idea somewhat
paradoxical
4, BY reference 10 IIoward's Reports,
vol. 10, page 395, it will be seen that the
following principles were affirmed by The
Supreme Court of the United States, in
the case OF Dred Scott:
81. every CITIZEN HAS A RIGHT TO
TAKE WITH nlM INTO THE TERRITORY ANY
ARTICLE CT PROPERTY WHICH THE CoNsTI-
TUITION OF THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES
AS PROPERTY"
4!h. "THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UEI.
TED STATES RECOGNIZES SLAVES As PROP
ERTY. AND PLEDGES THE FEDERAL GOVERN.
MENT TO PROTECT 1T. And Congress can
not exercise any more authority over
property of that description than il may
consIiIulionaIly exercise over property Of
any other kind"
9Th. Tho act of Congress therefore, pro-
hibitng n citizen of the United Status taking
with him his slaves when no removes to
the Territory in question TO reside, is AN
EXERCIsE OF AUTHORITY ovRR PRIVATE Prof.
ERTY WHICH Is NOT WARRANTED BY THE Con-
sIITUTION, and tho removal of tho plaintiff
by his owner to that Territory gavo him no
title tn freedom"
9th. "Whilo it remains q Territory, Con-
gress may leglelato over it within tho scope
OF its constitutional powers in relation to
citizens Of tho United States, and mny es.
tubIish Territorial Government, and the
form of this loca! government must bo rceu-
lated by tho discretion of Congress Jut
todh porers not 'rcrrding those rhich Con.
gress ITSELF BY III" Constitution ia authorized
10 er'rc'sr orPr citizrns of The United States
IN respect TO their rights ofproper'y.'
5. These principles are virtually en-.
dorsed in the following resolutions OF the
Convention which nominated Mr.. Douglas
for the Presidency:
ReSolVed. That the Democratic party
wW abide Ly the decision of tie Supreme
Court G Me United States over Tie inSti.
tution Of Slavery Vithin tie Territories.
Reso!ved, That it is in accordance with
the true Interpretation OF the Cincinnati
platform that, during the existence OF the
Territorial Government, the measure OF
restriction, whatever it may be, imposed
by the Federal Constitution on the powers
of the Territorial Legislature over the
subject Of domestic relations, as the same
hds been, or shall hereafter be. finally de-
termined By the ,Supremc Court Of the
United States, shall be respected by all
good citizens, aud enforced with prompt
ness and fidelity by every branch Of the
| Federal Government.
6, Mr., Douglas. in his letter Of accept.
ance, endorses the above resolutions.