OCR Text |
Show WHAT WILL THE DEMOCRACY DO! It may be Unit a iK-.izvr solution of the Utah j'i(--:tion is at hand than is general 'y imagined, tv-vrr-i! - members mem-bers of congre.-;H seem inclined to dabble in special h-gialativo cnatt-oicnts cnatt-oicnts for the benefit of the territory, and if suae of them do not pass it 'wilt be on account either of a failure of a majority of both houses to agreo upon a measure, or a general disposition dis-position on the part of many members mem-bers to enter upon a species of legislation legis-lation which has proved so fruitless and barren of cood results whenever and wherever it has been tried under our constitution. Congress claims the exercise uf sovereign legislative power over the territories, and tho responsibility for their government therefore rests entirely with it. The bills of Representative Springer in the house and Senator ChrUtiaucy in tho senate are framed in this centralizing cen-tralizing view. Tho people of the territories are the mere subjects ol congress, and their excrciso of the rights of local government must bo confined strictly to the policy pol-icy of tho ruling party in congress. con-gress. Vo are aware that this view substantially was held by the Buchanan pro-slavery party before the war, which claimed that it was the duty of the general government to interfcro in favor of slavery in Kansas, but this doctrine received its death blow at the hands of Stephen A. Douglas, who practically gave lho coup de yracc to the southern institution institu-tion in the presidential campaign of 1S00. But for his break from tho democratic party on tho question of popular sovereignty, slavery might have been in existence to-day. Lincoln Lin-coln barely slipped in as a minority candidate in tho popular vote, and the policy of the government thereafter, there-after, instead of being framed on the principle of popular sovereignty, was placed upon the ligid rule of congressional con-gressional sovereignty over the territories, terri-tories, which became practically extended ex-tended to the states during tho war and since, pending the reconstruction reconstruc-tion measures. Now the democratic party is potential poten-tial in tho house of representatives, and will have to deal directly with the question of congressional sovereignty sover-eignty over the territories. It is not a mere sentimental question at this time, but a practical one, upon which depends grave constitutional issues. What will the democracy do with it? Will they follow up tho line of precedents prece-dents enacted by tho republican party, and grant the special legislation legisla-tion demanded by the Utah "ring" for this territory, placing the great majority of the people here in virtual subjection to the small minority, or will they reaffirm the Douglas principle prin-ciple of popular sovereignty, leaving the people of Utah free to manao their own local affairs, subject only to the provisions of the constitution of the United States? This is a very important im-portant question, which the majority in tho present house will be called upon to decide. It is worthy of the gravest attention of the great constitutional con-stitutional lawyers of the democracy, and should be discussed in the light ol our past history and with regard for the future welfare of the government and people of the United States. Upon iU decision must depend important consequences either for good or evil, and aa there need be no haste in the matter the majority in the house may deem it wise and pru dent to lake time to consider it seriously and exhaustively. |