The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-09-22
Popular Sovereignty in oIden Time.

The General Congress OF the American
colonies which assembled 1t IuIl-deIl l.i.a
la aiop;ed declaration Of rights and
grievances. y hieh TWO wears after formed
The ba>i, OF the declaration OF Inuel en-
dence II i most Interesting document
and may bs found III the appendix - the
"a volume of the Lie and " Orh- of John
Adams. bv Charles Francis Adams This
declaration shows the similarity Of the
urincIual question ~ i->Ue between the
colonies and British Parliament to the
question now al issue between Con.res,
and the Territories, The principle Iuyo!-
we'd is Identical The co.ouie, then insist
ed on their constitutional night - Brit
i,h subjects, a. EUG.snuen. 10 manage
their local affairs in the:g own way. at tne
same time concel.nC to Parliament the
right 10 legi>late III all national affairs
" hile they protested that they were
loyal loving subjects Of the British
crown, they demanded this right TO con
troll their own internal po.lty. free from
Interference bv Parliament or an other out
side l,owcF-tAe exact position LOW main
tanned by the Democtatic party in refer
ence to the territories Let Is quote one
Of the resolutions from thi, declaration Of
l7-f in proof. Their preamble began IL
wise: Whereas since the close OF the
last war the BRITI,H PARLIAMENT, '.LAIMING
4 POWER. og RIGHT TO EED THE PLoPIE OF
AMERICA N srATCrES ~ ALL CASES NHATSO-
EvER,' .Sc., referring to the odloEs Dec
laratory Act as it was called The fourth
resolution read as follows
That the foundation Of English hber
ty, and OF all free government, Is right
jim the people to participate Ill THAR legis-
latiye council; and a. the English colo
nists are not represented and from their
loca. and other circumstances cannot be
properlv represented in the British Parlia
inent, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO A
FREEAND DEXCLUSINEFOW Err OF LIE
GISLATlON N THEIR SEVERAL PRO
VINCIAL LEGISLATURES, WHERE
THEIR RIGHT OF REPRESENTATIONS
CAN ALONE BE PRE~ERN Ed IN ALL
CASES OF TAXATION AND INTER
NAL POLiII, subject only 70 the mega
tive of their sovereign, in such manner
has boeu heretofore used and accustomed
But. from the necessity OF the case, and
regard to the mutual interest of both
countries we cheeliully consent to the OPP
Grafton of such acts oi the British Parila-
meut az are iona fjg, ra'-aos! t1 tie rcyitl
ton ot o,g external r7Dlsccr, for tho purpose
of securing the commercial advantages Of
>
and the commercial benefits Of It's rcsPec
tive members, excluding every idea OF tax
alton, internal or external, for raising II
revenue on the subjects in America, With
out their consent.
II will be sern from this, that our faith
ers before the revolutionary war, tuisY com
prehended the true poll '. IN reference to
the objects of general and local govern
,nents, which the Democratic party main
tain at this day More thsy demand the
observance Of this policy toward them
selves. lust AS democrats insist that it shall!
be observed in reference To the territorie.
now. The above resolution, with the mere
changes of names, will express the great
Democratic doctrine of Popular Soveignty
to establish whici1--atter il had been de-
MED to them by the British Government
they fought the revolutionary war =
VIII the people Of America deny To their
brethren in the territories the exercise OF
the same rights for which their fathers,
against all odds. fought a bloody and vic
torious war? Are our brethren in the ter
ritories to be denied the rights established
by the revolution If SO. let us know IL
say it boldly Those who vote sgainst