Nebraska advertiser., 1860-02-16

ton which may have existed prior 20 e
act of March 6, 1920, either protecting,
establishing, prohibiting, or abOlishing
slavery"
"The 6th section Of the act March O.
1920" referred to ID the foregoings our.
readers are aware, is that known as the
"Missouri Compromise, I" which restricted
slavery beyond a certain boundary line,
viz: Sc 80 min. Can any thing be
palmer, as to what is the power Of our
Legislature on the subject Of slavery 3
There are those who, by their WI con-
~struction of that instrument, claim that the
Constitution Of the United States carries
slavery into, and protects il in Nebras-
ka while we are in territorial existence;
and that whatever is recognized as. pro-
perty in any State in the Union, a man
has a perfect right to bring to Nebraska
with him, and it is protected by the Con-
stitution Of the United States. Let US
cOncede this point, and see where it will
lead US.
The Constitution and all our laws are
said to be founded on JUSTICE; and
should, at least, be founded on common
sense. If the Constitution protects any
species of property, it protects all, and
that protection is ample and full it pro-
tects slaves, horses, mules, cattle, sheep,
swine, real estate, and the person.
If this be the case, why the farce Of meet
ing in a Legislative capacity at all? Why
elect Representatives and Councilmen,
and send them to the capital annually for
the purpose of legislating in regard to ev-
cry other species of property save slave
property Is there common sense in
such procedure +?
Then again, bank and lottery char
ters are recognized as property, eth
er of individuals or associations, in the
States of Missouri, Iowa, and many 9TH
ers. The owners of this species Of pro-
perty have, according to the conceded
doctrine, a perfect right to com to Neb-
raska, issue their bank notes, and dispose
of their lottery tickets, under protection
of the Constitution Of the United States!
Still again; as to our having 10 right
or power to prohibit slavery while in a
Territorial existence. Congress is I'M
der no obligations to ever admit us as a
State. To illustrate the principle ; sup
pose slavery did exist in Nebraska to such
an extent as to be obnoxious to four-ifths
or nine-tenths of the inhabitants, who be-
lieved that its presence degraded white
labor, and retarded generally the pro-
gress of the Territory; and Congress was
to say to US this year. as it has said, we
viii not admit you until you have a popu-
lation Of SO, 1000 inhabitants, That closes
the door against US for the present. We
plod along, and in the course of a few
years, we have the $4,000 inhabitants
but, says Congress, the ratio Of Repre-
sentation in our body is now $4,000 or
10000, which will very likely be the
case. The door of admission is again
shut in our face. Now, according TO this
programme, when and where are we to
find a remedy for an evil we desire to
get rid of And if we have no power
now, from what source do we derive any
additional power when we form a State
Constitution, and are actually admitted as
a State, to interfere with slave property?
In the doctrine which denies to thepeo-
pie Of Nebraska, while in a Territorial
existence, to either prohibit or establish
slavery, as they see proper, there is a
strange, WONDERFUL, INDUSTRIOUS
inconsistency.
The doctrine Of popular sovereignty
as we understand it, is just this--to quote
from another writer on this subject:
THAT the people of this country, as
individuals and as men, whether they hap
pen to live in a state already organized,
or in a Territory about TO be organized
in Illinois or in Kansas-possess the right
~inalienable, to make their own local laws
and municipal regulations, that this right
is plainly included in that clause of the
Constitution which reserves all rights to
the States and to ssthe people which were
not in that instrument expressly delegat-
ed to the Federal Government, Let eY-
cay man put this question to himself: /
live IN Illinois no law. an gainsay my
right to take part in forming the locallsws
and institutions Of the state in which l
live. Does my change of habitation de-
prive me of this right? DO / loose my
character and privilege al In American
citizen, By removing my habitatiOn from
Illinois to Kansas
In the states the people make their To-
cal laws, subject to and restricted by their
constitution, which is their organic law.
This organic law is also made by the
people: it is a fixed and certain state
ment of the principles and rules by which
they consent to be governed. In pur-
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