Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-07-19

at most inauspciOus time, and proposing to
establish the institutions Of state when the
country is under the government Of an armed
aud irresponsible mob. What mockery Of
popular rights And what q fraud upon I,eo.
pie whn we're induced to emigraie TO the terri.
tory Under pledge from the government tina,
they should be len perfectly free to establish
their own in stiiutions."
VII. In addition 10 this, the bill, as far az
il is intended ITO authorize the people Of the
territory Of Kansas TO form a constitution and
isked for no such authority. We contend, as
democrats, that we have authority Whenever a
majority Of the people may so determine to call
a convention, form constitution and state gov
eminent, aud to apply for admission into the
Union as free and sovereign state. We hold
that the people are better judges Of when this
shall be done, than Congress can be, and that
10 judge Of, and to do this is ore Of the rights
expressly reserved to the people by the consti-
tulion of the United States, and therefore, we
have not asked Of Congress al authority that
expressly belongs to us under the constitution I;
but what we do ask, is, that Congress should
fulfill all the requirements Of the constitution
and extend over US the protecting hand Of the
national government.
We ask Of Congress no impossbilities--no
unconstitutional intermeddling with our domes-
tic affairs. Congress cannot "gire US back our
dead" but it can wipe out legislative govern
men, established by fraud and violence, and in
stilute another that shall reflect the will Of the
people. II can refund to our people all the
losses and damages they have sustained by res-
son Of this fraud, and restore and secure 10
them what is more valuable than gold, and
sweeter than life, Me free enjoyment Of oil their
political rights as American citizens. We ask
nations disapprobaiion Of fraud unparsl-
leled in The history Of our country let the ma
ton wash her hands Of the disgraceful act, and
let the history Of ii go down To posterily with
a nations condemnation iudellibly engraven
upon its forehead.
Let Congress. in the place Of repeating Ger.
tain laws of the territorial legislature, because
of their inherent defects, set them all aside be-
cause Of the inherent defeats in the power that
made them. Let this be done, and the whole
subject is open to Congress--ihe wrong OF the
people may be redressed, their constitutional
rights restored. and peace restored to the coun-
Try and to the territory, and the Constitution
itself vidcaled, the theory Of non.intcrference
saved. The grea, principles Of popular sover-
eighty aud self-government re-esiablished, an
unmitigated fraud upon the sacred ballot-box
branded with marked disapproba,ion, the char
acier of OUT free institutions preserved unfair
nished, the confidence Of the people in the per-
psiniiy and strength of free government stimu-
lated and confirmed, and the bonds Of the Un-
ion strengthened and established upon the rock
Of eternal justice; but refuse to do this, and
all these propositions are reversed.
IL the bill was designed TO effect these OBJ
jects il will mos, certainly fail of its purpose,
but oil the other hand tend most directly 10 the
reverse Of all these desirable results, and there
fore, finally, as democrat, a citizen, and friend
Of Kansas, one who loves the Union, and the
and peace of all sections of the coun-
Try, l must most earnestly protest against lis
passage into law.
Very truly, &c, w. Y. ROBERTS.