Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-01-24

Ter The driver Of the "Slow Coach and
Dsed Adse<sissr'fprsaicts that before one
yest we wiz be willing to make an ''afida.
r. that We +were slwsysI in favor Of
popular sovereignty as contcndcd for by
Stephen A. Douglas since the repeal of
'fhe MissouriC ompsomiss. liae.''s
While we hive Awsys ceatc~dcd chat
Congress had the right and power to say
that slavery should not be allowed in the
territories, as they did in regard to the
northwest territory. aud other instances
since. we have never been very much OPP.
posed to popular sovereignty as a matter
Of expediency, provided both parties had
fair play, and the viii OF the majority fair
ly expressed allowed to rule 1t was the
Abuse and desecration. Of this principle
in Kansas by the Democratic officials,
rather than the principle itself, that we OBJ
jecse,l to. While making tho loudest pre-
lfessions in favor of popular sovereignty
the Democracy left no means untried to
thwart the known will, of the majority in
Kansas. Their shameful and unjust course
toward the Free State men in that terrific
ry during the years 1856 and 81, is too
wen remembered to require recital here. -
Popular Sovereignty. inlcc,l! The check
of every honest Democrat must tingle with
shame whenever the words are uttered in
his hearing Had the Democracy convin-
-ced the people by their acts that they were
really sincere advocates of Popular Soy
ereignty large majority Of the country
would have stood by them. but it was
their hypocrisy aud infielity to that prin-
ciple that caused their overthrow. Did
not Douglas even pledge himself to give
up the doctrin, in case the Supreme Court
decided it unconstitutional? and did not
the people know that that partizan tribunal
had already given anintimation that they
would so decide it, If they had not already
done so? 't'' - ~ ~ slrea
Although the Republicans in their plat
forms have usually insisted that Congress
possessed supreme and sovereign power an
] the territories, which we believe to be sound
doctrine. nevertheless. we predict row thai
they have the power, that they will prove
by their acts that they are more in favor o
letting the people Of the territories decid'
for themselves whether they will hav'
slavery or not than ever the Democrat
were. The Southern Democrats are vii
! ling they shall decide the question 70
themselves, provided Congress will pro
E Itect slavery in the territories until the PEG
. pie come to form State Constitution, bu
the Republicans understand too well tb
advantage the slave holder would have j
that case to agree to it. lie may take hi
: slaves into the territories il he chooses, br
e if he does he must run the risk Of the pee
n pie, deciding that he has no right to kee
n them. This is genuine Popular Sove1
If eighty, but not the kind "contended for b
i Stephen A. Douglas" When the Kar
n sas- Nebraska bill was before the Senat,
o no opposed an amendment giving the pee
# pie of those territories the right to cxclud
e slavery, and in the recent canvass pledge
J. himself to abide the decision of the 81
Q preme Court on this question, whatever
J. might be, we'll knowing that it would
y iversc to the right Of the people to do s
+ Now, what does ''my gur-reat pur-inc
d pie" amount to? A humbug-nothin
'e nore.-unless ron call il "Suprcme- Cou
y Sovereignty" TO which we greatly pref
e Congressional Sovereignty, both as n
e gards the right and expediency Of it.