The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-06-06
McGREG0R, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE g. 1850

which propose, by the action of Congress
to establish. Now, sir, is it safe to leav
poly gamy to the cure of democracy? Il
it safe to leave it to republican form o
government. made by the people themselves
in these two land districts? Every MAJ
acquainted with the history of the worlc
knows that polygamy never existed under
democratic or republican form Of govern
ment. Every man who knows anything
even without reading history, would decid,
decide beforehand that it never could exis
under such form of government where tin
sexes continue to be in equal numbers
Wherever it has existed-in Turkey, il
Arabia, among the chiefs of Central Africa
or among the aborigines of America, it has
always been protected by absolute military
dcspotism. 1t can be sustained under NJ
other system of government.
Then | hold that the argument is conclu
sive, that by subjecting polygamy to the ac
ton of the democracy of these two distr cts
it would most effectually put an end to it;
and therefore is one reason should vote for
the amendment to the bill as have propos-
ed it.
But, it may be inquired, why we do not
organize the Territories of jefferson and
Nevada, instead Of simply constituting them
districts; why do we not pass an organic
act. No, sir, am going to give you my
views on the subject; and am going to say
for the amendment have proposed, that il
neither affirms nor denies the power ol
Congress to legislatc for the Territories
But while pursuing that course, still hold
on my views upon the subject and if in
quired of why would not vote for Terri
torial organization. my answer is ready
that am opposed to the whole policy OF
organizing Territories by this Federal Gov
crnment. say here, and now, that | vii
never vote as believe have never voted
in the paSt-to organize any Territory un.
der this Government neither would &C.
quire another foot of land to be governed
by the Congress of the United States, to be
sold 10y authority of the Government The
purposes of this Government are few and
simple, as has before been said in this Hall.
1t is no part of the purpose for which this
Government was organized to exercise non.
resident jurisdiction, or traffic in real estate;
and, therefore, l am for getting rid of the
nuisance, and Of contining the Government
to its Legitimate purposes as soon as we pos.
sibly can do it.
Therefore, again, l am opposed to the or.
ganization of any more Territor:e; and ol
inaugurating again the old policy of the
Government, which has led to all the sec
tional quarrels which have existed, and now
exists, between the States of the Union.-
| tell you, we cannot afford to spend the
time Of this nation in quarrelling about
| IL h.ol !
not know. The Constitution knows nothing
less than a State; and why should we be
ever quarreling about Territories Sir,
am so much popular sovereignty man, tina
| deny that Congress can, by an organic
act, bestow sovereignty upon the people OF
a Territory.
Mr. SMITH, of Valet me ask the gen.
tleman a question. The gentleman says
that the Constitution does not recognize
anything less than State. Then, what
does he think Of that clause of the Consti
tuition wqich gives to Congress the power
to dispose of the territory and other prop.
erty of the U. S.?
Mr.. THAYER-I ought to have said as a
political community. The Consultation
speaks of territory as property, as land
but, sir, as political community it knows
nothing less than a State. Hereafter, as a
member of Congress, will know nothing
less than a State. | am opposed even to
granting permission to any Territory to
make any laws or to manage its own affairs
in its own way.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Val want to ask anoth-
er question. If Congress has no power
over the territory of the United States, ex-
cept as propcrty-not as political commu-
nty-then Congress has no power over the
people of Territory.
Mr.. TmAYER-Exactly, sir. 1t may he
that, under the construction of the Consti-
ton which has obtained, Congress would
really be decided to have the same right to
govern the people that George III had to
govern these Colonies. deny that it has
now or ever had any moral right to govern
American citizens in the Territories. To
be explicit: if Congress had that right,
where did it get it? Congress is the serv-
ant and not the king of the people. The
people, Mr.. Speaker, in this country, are
king. There is no other. Nobody else
has the attribute of sovereignty. If Con
gress can dispense sovereignty, certainly
Congress has either acquired that sover-
eighty or has created it. Nobody believes
that Congress creates sovereignty. If Con.
gress acquired it, then when and where did
it acquire it? Even the Church of Rome
pretends to give reason for what it has
and what it dispenses. When that church
sells indulg noes, it declares that it only
sells the superabundant merit of the saints
so that men that are not as good as they
ought to be may have their deficiencie.
made up by men who are better than they
need to be. Uaughter.) | would like t.
know where this superabundant sovereign
ty comes from, that Congress can dispense
it. Only think of what reservoir Of SOW
ereignty this Congress mus. be. that ha:
dispensed sovereignty to twenty sovereign
States since the formation of this Govern
ment, and has never had any sover, ignt,
itself, except what it must nave acquired
| from the sovereign people Of this country
No, sir; this thing is mistake. 1t il
worse-it is a fiction; it is a fallacy. Th'
gentleman from Alabama Mr.. Curry tn,
otiler day, wondered by what hoeus pocus
public land becomes tomorrow sovereign
ty. Public land does not become sover
eighty. Men are the sovereigns If thcr
is unoccupied lands to-day, and tomorrow
there is sovereignty there, assure yo,
that somebody has gone there-some either
who is himself so much above property
that he alone is Of more consequence thar
all the public land that this Government
ever did or ever will possess. He, sir, is tn,
sovereign; and you disrobe him of his SOW
ereignty because he has crossed a line ant
gone into Territory. BY what power, by
what law, Congress being his servant-by
what law can it do it? BY just as good au
thority your coachman, sir, might put OF
your coat and hat, and command you to ge
upon the box and take the whip in hand
while he takes seat inside the carriage
But, sir, if the possession of land confsrs
sovereignty, and if the sale of the land i'm
plies the power to govern, would like te
know whether the selling of the products O
tho 1orl 1oac not rriyo ho r;ubt tn royoc,