Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-05-02

able purposes, aud not win view to pre-.
sent TIE consultation hero. Indeed, I think
the Senator from Illinois said il would be-
news to them, derived from the minority re-
port, that such was thepurpose which they
entertained. Uesays Uieir purpose was lrea-
son against the Unned States. ! dffar en-
tirely with the Senator about That natter
J take the ground that they did all this for
the purpose OF forming constitution to be
presented to Congress for its action. do
not wish to be- understood IA denying that
large body Of the people have considered
that the laws Of the Territorial Legislature,
the fruits Of usurpation and violence, had no
legal binding force but that was not the
purpose for which they assembled and made
a constitution How IN candor arc we To- got
at the purposes Of body of mens am a-
ware that there is In the world a sort Of NOR
bid species Of adventurous credultv ia men
who refuse 10 follow the open beaten track OF
of truth, and prefer rcsortlng To the inprob-
abilities of circumstances AZ a better aud
safer ground Of duty. Such men in the or
dinnry walks Of life always sec a great deal
further into a milestone than anybudy else --
If they agree with You, they never do for the
reason which you give. They always have
wiser reason. Perhaps, sir, you have heard
the story Of the old Dutchman who SAID that
a horse could draw more down hill than no.
aud 1t stood to rea son, because he cold get
better foot-hod then. Il,aughierl lie
could not be satisfied that It was by the at
traction Of gravitalion.
say that in this case the character Of tho
majority report is much like ths. The plain
and beaten track OF candor, il seems 10 me,
is always TO Judge Of the purposes Of peo-
pie as they ayow them and present them
When we talk OF the doctrines Of a party, or
the creed or faith Of religious sect, we take
their own version, and not pcryersion.-
Now let MS see what the people Of Kansas
state 10 be their object The frs, meeting
which they held was befo.e the legislative
session terminated, while that body was vet
cittng. A notice was issued signed Many
Citizens" calling for meeting of the peo-
Pile without regard TO party distinctions, 10 be
held at Lawrence on the 18th Of August, to
discuss their situation. Now let us see what
the people at Lawrence said about their pur-
poses. Among their proceedings find this
resolution:
BE stte.o' 'rei That We, the people of Kansas Tor
rtofy boo fs meeting assemhlet irrespective of patty
distinctions, Influenced by O. common necessity, nud
gfeat4 drsfous ut puutng ihc common good, do hcre-
hy ,f uppo ai .,ai-.t m bona f4- citig.. of K,nsa.
Territory, of whatever political views or predictions,
90 cousu together u their spectve election dsiuas,
and, in mass convention o o.cfwte, elect three der-
gatrs for each representative "f ihe Lg.nve Assem-
oily. 10y proclamation Of Govcfnpf Eeedar uf date i0th
OF uatch 1850 sHid delegates 90 assemble 60 coutcn-
uon az me town of Topeka, on the - diy Sepcn-
bnf. IT, %, then and there 10 consider and dstermine
upon all subjects public Interest," nud plwcuitdy w.
on that having reference 10 he speedy 70 nation Of
State constitution, with an intention Of sn immediito
Application bee admitted state toto the Union Of
toe tnilci s,utes of America
Here their purposes are clearly stated.
They called a meeting 70 assemble at Topeka
on the 10Th Of September, to consider wheth-
er II was not best to form State constItu-
ton, with view to application to Congress
for admission into the Union. That is dis
tlncty printed IN their published proceed
ings. Now, what would 6c the natural
conrse of investigation; take 1t that it
would be to look al the action of the meet
ing of the 10Th of September, which the
Lawrence meeting called. ! take 1t that the
national way is not to run Off into collateral
and party meetings, held in the mean time,
but 10 90 to the meeting which this one
called, and see what was there said. The
people met at Topeka on tho 18Th of Sep
tember, and what did they say there
beiUfs x" ns'.ier Uu tiiis Irutut, I'vrLapS
It may be proper to inquire what had the
people a right TO do IN order TO obtain re-
constitution? know there are many cases
where there has been in the first an enabling
act of Congress 10 authorize the people Of
the Territory to form a state constitution,
but there are many cases where the Terrific
rles have formed State constitutions without
any law of Congress authorizing II. Could
the fact, that the Territorial Legislature
called constitutional convention, give II
M "a ala | al
nature of things beyond their power 10 do
anything Ia create government paramount
t. themselves. So said Attorney General
Butler, when consulted BY President Van
Blren IN relation to the Arkansas case. lie
stated, that If a Territorial Legislature pass
ed such a law It would be utterly void.
Now, what has been the course in regard
to the formation Of state constitutions by
Territories The first Territory which we
ever had, Tennessee formed a state con-
stltuton without the authority OF previous
act Of Congress- They organized govern
ment, chose Senators, sent their constitution
with their Senators, who presented it,. and
were admitted. The State OF Arkansas form.
ed It's constitution without any enabling act
OF Congress. Michigan, Florida, and Iowa,
formed their constitutions in the same way.
W "'' "'''N~ w. '"''' "'N""'0 N'"
counulng myself 10 those cases where terri
tnrial rovernments pxtsted bv nuthoritv or
a. -
Nou9Tess'
Attorney General Butler said, in the Ar
ko,,as r,sc tb, ,h, ,a,t ,,nJ. ,l
",'"'"' 80 "'' w PS'P''f u"uN' NiV
clause OF tle Uultei states Constitution al
lotVto,y thafn IN assofnhlp ftr rpdreas nf trrtov
..'7 -. -. g.. ....,! 49,
or,,,n,z, n c,nvorn,ron, =, ,as ,s nec.ssa.
20 10 cboose o,on,s ,a ren,esen, tbe,n bora
tvbn, IA ,hs5, ,,,,,l,, dp NJ, ,i,,n', or,h,
calI n,ade hy m. Iaw,cnco ,nee,ing ,bero
,y,s convSo,ion beI1 NJ To,eL, an ,6a Io,5
N, Sa,,smbor MA ,hav nrnnose to nrocoed
W ~ ~ F'NF w. f'
against tne dcuoD OF congress Let US see
what thew say
80.
Nhefeas the Non.h'u,inn OF lhe u =, guA'nnloa
TO the people OF lh's hepupNo 9he tsh' Of a's"mu,n ng
loselhr ~ ptaoeaui WAnnnt l1f tue common f"ul 20
establish justice, insure duucHtic tranquility, provide uT