Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-03-14
Speech of Oliver P. Norton,
TuE REPUBLICAN, CANDIDATE ron LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR,
Deliuered before The Ratification Meeting. phe!d
in the City of Teyre- Hssfe. :.on The 10Th day
of March 1860

Il
GOVERNOR,
Delipered before The Ratification Meeting. laeld
in the City Of Teyre- Hsufe. .on The 10Th day
Of March, 1860.
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
Popular Sovereignty. as defined by its
most distinguished teachers, is the right
Of people of a Territory to form and regu
late their domestic institutions in their
own way; or, in other words. it is the alb
solute right Of selfgovernment in the peo.
pie of Territory fthis right exists, it
is an inherent right; it is not derived from
any clause Of the Constitution OF the u. s.
If the people ola Territory have the right of
self-government, they have equally the
right to choose their form Of government,
organize and inaugurate il. They have
not only the right to elect their Legisla-
ture, but to elect their Governor, Judges,
aud all the officers Of State; and Congress
has no power TO provide for them a form
or Constitution Of government through the
medium Of the Nebraska Bill, or otherwise.
Thus II will be seen that the Territories,
instead Of being made mere dependen-
cies Of the General Governmental state
Of pupilage aud preparation for final adj
mission into the Union as States, aud for
the enjoyment of equal rights aud priv.
leges with the other States-would be alb
solute and independent sovereigpties. out.
side Of the Union. having rights aud pow.
ers greatly exceeding those Of the States
In the Union. The Constitution Of the
United States forbids any State TO enter
into any treaty. alliance or confederation
10 make anything but gold aud silver coin
q tender In payment Of debts; TO pass any
law impairing the obligation OF contracts;
or to lay any impost duties on imports OF
exports, except wbht may be necessary for
executing inspection laws; TO grant letters
Of marque and reprisal-but the Territories
would have power 10 do all these things.
for the Constitutional prohibition extends
only To states. and IL would require most
Naturalization construction To make IL APP
ply 10 the Territories. II seems TO be con
coded, theoretically at least. that the Don.
stitution should bs strictly construed. and
the Constitution says that no State shall do
these things; besides. II provides express
ly that "the powers not delegated TO the
United States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited by II TO the States. are reserved TO
the States respectively or to the people"
The Constitution Of the United States was
made for the Union. and applies In it,
terms TO the States In the Union. II was
not intended TO apply to and provide for
two classes OF States--one In the Union
aud tho other out Such form OF govern.
mept would indeed be complex and anon
alous. This view Of the Constitution was
conceded by all parties to be correct In
1920. In the passage Of the Missouri Com.
promise. being then admitted that the clause
Of the Constitution providing for the re.
capture Of fugitive slaves did not extend
to Territories. but was applicable only 10
States; and that, In the absence Of an act
Of Congress providing for such recapture
In tho Territories, the master would have
no such right. Mr.. Benton, in his great
essay, reviewing the bred Scott decision.
enters into an elaborate argument and
overwhelming citation Of opinions and au'
thorities, showing that the Constitution,
in its prohibitions. is applicable,
not to Territories, but 10 States. But
IL we adopt the other view Of the Coustitu-
tioa-that view which received the sane
ton Of all parties, all Congresses. all State
Legislatures, and all Courts, for more than
fifty years from its adoption-these diff.
fculties aud absurdities are swept away.
That view regarded tho Territories ss dc.
tendencies, as communities In n state
Of minority to be governed. trained and
prepared for admission into the
Union as States. The power of the
Federal Government 10 control the Terrific.
ries may be successfully derived from two
sources. First: M an inevitable incident
Of the right 10 acquire Territory. This
principle Ia so simple and familiar a.
scarcely TO require illustration; the power
to acquire without the power to govern,
whether In Individuals or governments.
would be most barren aud Improbable.
Secondly; from that clause Of the Consti.
tuition which provides that Congress shall
have power 10 dispose Of aud make all
ueedfui rules and regulations respecting
the Territory. or other property belonging
TO the United States. This clause, manifest
iy regarding the Territories M dependen.
cies and not m States or sovsreignties, con-
fsrs upon Congress plenary power TO make
all nesdful rules aud regulations for their
government.
WHAT IL A SECTIONAL rAarrf
The true definition Of q Sectional Party
lisa party which. IN Its principles aud pur.
poses, seeks 10 consult aud promote the
interests Of one section Of the Republic, re.
gardless oi. OF At the expsnseo Of tho interest
and prosperity Of all other sections. The
number and LEGALITY Of the members Of a
party have but iittle 10 do In determining
lie character The religion OF our Savior
could not with any proprIe,y have been
termed sectional, even while its professors
were limited 10 u mere handful ~ Jews. for
its spirit aud principles comprehended hu.
mainly everywhere. aud In all ages. The
great principles Of the Republican Party 10
the preservation ofthe Territories IN Free,
dom. aud tho protection and elevation Of
Free Labor. Surely d purpose no beneh.