The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-09-26
WHOLE NO. 2O6.


1
The General Congress of the American
Colonies which assembled at Philadelphia
IVA, adopted declaration of rights and
grievances, which two years after formed
the basis of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence. 1t is a most interesting document
and may be found in the appendix to the
I'd volume of the Life and Works of John
Adams, by Charles Francis Adams. This
declaration shows the similarity, Of the
principal question at issue between the Col
onics and the British Parliament, to the
question now at issue as between Congress
and the territories. The principles involved
are identical. The Colonies then insisted
on their constitutional rights as British
subjects" as "Englishmen," to manage their
| local affairs in their own way, at the same
| time conceding to Parliament the right to
legslate in all national affairs. While they
protested that they were ''loyal loving sub
jects' of the British crown, they demanded
this right to control their own "internal
policy free from interference by Parlia-
ment or any other outside power-the ex-
| act position now maintained by the Demo-
cratic party in reference to the territories
Let us quote one of the resolutions from
this declaration of 1774 in proof Their
preamble began in this wise: "Whereas,
since the close of the last war, the British
Parliament, claimiag pocer, of right, to
bind the people Of America By statutes in all
cases arhatsoeyer," &C., referring to the odi-
Gus "Declaratory Act" as it was called
The fourth resolution read as follows:
"That the foundation of English liberty,
and of all free government, is right in the
people to participate in their legislative
council; and as the English colonists are
not represented, and from their local and
| other circumstances cannot be properly
represented in the British Parliament,
THEY ARE ENTITLED TO A FREE
AND EXCLUSIVE POWER OF LEGIS-
LATION IN THEIR SEVERAL PRO-
VINCIAL LEGISLATURES, WHERE
THEIR RIGHT OF REPRESENTATION
CAN ALONE BE PRESERVED, IN ALL
CASES OF TAXATION AND INTER
NAL POLITY, subject only to the mega
| tive of their sovereign, in such manner as
has been heretofore used and accustomed
But, from the necessity of the case, and a
mutual regard to the mutual interests of
both countries, we cheerfully consent to the
| operation Of such acts of the British Parlia-
ment as are, bona tide, restrained to the
| regulation Of oar external commerce., for
the purpose of securing the commercial adj
| vantages of the whole empire to the mother
country, and the commercial benefits of it's
respective members; excluding every idea
| of taxation, internal or external, for raising
a revenue on the subjects in America, with
out their consent"
1t will be seen from this, that our fathers
before the revolutionary war, fully comprc-
hended the true policy, in reference to the
| objects of general and local governments,
which the Democratic party maintain at
this day More, they demanded the observ-
ance of this policy toward themselves, Just
as Democrats insist that it shall be observed
in reference to the territories now The
above resolution, with the mere change of
names, we'll expresses the great Democratic
doctrine of Popular Sovereignty, to estab-
lish which-atter it had been denied them
by the British government-theyf fought the
| revolutionary war! Will the people of
America deny to their brethren IN the ter
rltorles the exercise of the same rights for
which their fathers, against all odds, fought
bloody and victorious war;! Are our
brethren in the territories to be denied the
rights established by the revolution? If
so, let US know it-say it boldly Those
who vote against the doctrine of Popular
Sovereignty, say they shall be deprived of
them.--Eastern Argus.