Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-03
MR.. DOUGLAS IN NEW ENGLAND.

speeches, they ought TO become lively, II no.
hopeful. We notice that Mr.. Douglas man
ner of conducting the campaign is criticised
in some quarters but the critics should take
notice that he is not actually ION the stump;
he does not actually make political speeches
he talks to the people of popular sovereignty
the southern secessionists, the republicans, anC
slavery but the moment he approaches
politics, he bows adieu to his audiences, has
tens back into the car, and the train passes
on. Mr. Douglas is keen witted man, and
he is very clever at this peculiar business OF
non-poitical speech-making but, the other
day, they enticed him into the city hall in
Concord, n. H., and there he discussed squat.
ter sovereignty, enlarged on the political state
of the country, and paid his respects to James
Buchanan. He talked politics on this occa-
sion, without much coyness, and justified him
self by the presidents example. He talked
politics; but he did not express his own views
with entire frankness. He repeated there,
what he has said on all occasions in New En-
gland, to wit, that he maintains the right of
the people of territory to establish their own
Institutions, and be entirely free from outside
interference. His doctrine, he says, uphoIds
in the territories "the great principle of self
government" Here is paragraph from the
Concord speech
eve democrats demand that the people of
territory the same as those of colony shall
be permitted to make their own laws and es-
tabliSh their own institutions to suit them
selves (Applause.) But a republican of New
Hampshire will tell you the people of a terri
tory have no right to self government until it
becomes a state. Have no right7 Why not
Because they say congress has not given them
that right, | have yet to learn that any
American freeman derives his rights from
congress"
1t will be seen that he does not scruple to
msrepresent the views of the republicans
and yet he is quite as lar from frankness in
stating his own views. In the democratic
party, where leading men have rejected demo-
cratic ideas, and declared the declaration Of
independence selfevident lie" may be found
those who would compel new communities to
derive the right of selfgovernment from con-
gress. But this doctrine is an abOminaton
to all true republicanism. Who that had
never heard from Mr.. Douglas anything but
the Concord Speech would suppose that he
himself was accustomed 70 put forth in con-
gress the very doctrine which he seems to re.
ject? In the course of colloquy which he
had with Jefferson Davis, in the senate, May
II, 1860, the following passage occurred
Mr. Davis-I should be sorry to make an
argument againt my position which the sena-
tor does not hold, and therefore | should real
ly be obliged to him if he would tell me what
the difference is between non-interventon and
squatter sovereignty.
Mr.. Douglas-Regarding squatter sovereign
ty as nick name invented by the senator and
those with whom he acts which have never
recognized, mustleave him to define the mean
ing of his own term. l have denounced squat
ter sovereignty where you find it setting up a
government in violation of law, as you do now
at Pixies Peak. | denounced it. this year.
Where you find an unauthorized legislature in
violation Of law, setting up a government
without the saction of congress or the cOnst
tution-that is squatter sovereignty which l
oppose. There is the Gaze in Dakota, where
you have left whole people, without any Law
or territorial organization, with no mode
of appeal from their sqautter courts to the
United States courts to correct their decisions.
That is squatter sovereignty in violation of
the constitution and laws of the United States
There is similar government set up over a
part of the state of California, and a part of
the territory of Utah called Nevada. 1t has had
a delegate here claiming that he represented it.
have denounced that as unlawful. | am OPP
posed 70 all such squatter sovereignty. II that
is what the senator referred to, | am against it.
All | say is that the people of territory, when
they have been organized under the constitu.
ton and laws, have legislative power over all
rightful subjects of legislation consistent with
the constitution of the United States. That
is the language of the law, and if they exer-
else legislation on any subject inconsistent
with the constitution of the United States the
courts, to whom appeal may be taken under
the laws, will correct their errors. That's all.
And he said in the senate, on the 23d of
February, 1859 =
81 do not hold that squatter sovereignty is
superior to the constitution. l hold that no
such thing as sovereign power attaches to
territory as a territory. / hold that a ter
ritory derives whatever power 1t possesses
from the constitution under the organic act, and
no more"
And this doctrine, which is carefully elab
GRATED in this speech, is reiterated in other
speeches. He maintains in various forms of
expression, that congress conferred legislative
power on the territorial legislatures. His
doctrine, as declared in the senate, pressed SO
strongly against the right of selfgovernment
that even jefferson Davis was forced 10 enter
protest against it. Mr. Davis is the political
oracle Of the slave power He is nowise likely
to become republican, either of the red OF
the black stripe. But with all his disncina
ton to encourage free principles, he could no
sec either rebellion or dsorderly violation O
law, in the irregular organizations born of ne
cessity, which are sometimes formed in thu
territories, outside Of the federal government
1t is not the prerogative of congress to confer
rights on the people anywhere; but it is it
duty, within the limits Of the constitution, t.
protect the people in the enjoyment of thos
natural rights, by virtue Of which both con
gress and the constitution were created. 1t j
its duty to secure regular political organiza
tions in the territories but, if this duty isne
elected, the people of the territories must re
sort to those irregular aud incomplete govern
ments, which Mr.. Douglas pronounces "un
lawful and 'rebellious." The sublime doc
trine OF squatter sovereignty, as expounded b.,
the Illinois senator not only in New England
but, also, in congress, and at New Dreams. II
evidently one of the great mysteries
Ills doctrine would be sufficiently al wa
with democracy, if ii really meant no NOR
than declaration that the people of a terri
tory have right to establish slavery if the
choose to do so. When slavery is allowed t
enter a free territory AS the equal of freedom