Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-12-16

provisions before The great tribunal O
the American people, never differed
about It's true meaning on this subject
Everywhere throughout the Union the,
publicly pledged their faith and thei
honor, thai they would cheerfully submit
The question of slavery 10 The decision o
the bona ide people of Kansas, without
any restriction or qualification whatever
All were cordially united upon !be greal
doctrine Of popular sovereignty. which i,
the vital principle of our free institutions
Had it then been insinuatel from any
quarter that il would be a sufficient com
pliance viii The acquisitions OF the organ
&c law for the members of a convention,
thereafter TO be elected, to withhold The
question OF slavery from The people. and
to substitute their own viii for that Of a
legally ascertainsd majority of all their
constituents. this would have been IN
stanlly rejected. Everywhere they re-
manned true 10 the resolutions adopted
on a celebrated occasion recognizing 1.-THE
right Of the pee pie Of all territorirs--in-
Guiding Kansas and Misunderstanding
through the legally and fairly expressed
will of a majority Of actual residents, aud
whenever the number of their inhabitants
j~ustiies i, 10 form a constitution. with or
without slavery. and be admitted into
the Union upon terms of perfect equali-
ity with the other States"
The Convention 10 frame a CJnsIilu
lion for Kansas met on the first Monday
of September last. They were called4o-
gether by virtue OF an act Of the Terrific
rial Legislature, whose lawful existence
had been recognized by Congress 10 diff
ferent forms and different enactmen;s. A
large proportion OF the citizens OF Kansas
did not think proper TO register their
Ua=ss and to vote Al the election for del
egates; but an opportunity to DO this hav-
ing been fairly afforded. their refusal TO
avail themselves of their right could in
nc manner affectthe legality OF the Con-
vention
The settlers then proceeded to frame a
constitution for Kansas, and finally ad-
jOurned on the 9TH day OF Nvvember.-
But little difficulty occurred in the con-
venfion except on the subject of slavery.
The truth is that the general provisions
of eur recent State constitutions are. SO
sinilar-and, 1 may add. SO excellent
that the difference between them is not
essential. Under the earlier practice OF
the Government, no constitution framed
by the convention ola Trrritorf prepare
tory to ais admission toto the Union as a
State had been subMitted 10 the people.
TRUST, however, the e example set by the
last Congress, requiring that the Consli!u
ton of Minnesota 'sshould be subject 10
the approval and ratification of the people
Of the proposed State" may be followed on
future ccisions. [ took it for granted
that the convention of Kansas W uid act
in accordance with this example. founded
as it is, on correct principles, and hence
my instructions 10 Governor Walker, in
favor of Submitting the Constitution TO
the people, we're expressed in general and
unqualified terms.
In the Kansas and Nebrask I'LL. how
ever. this requirement, as apple able to
the whole Constitution bad not been in
serted, and the convention was moi bound
by its terms TO submit any portion Of the
instrument 10 an election, except that
which relates to The domestic i%nstiIu-
ton" of 81 very. This Will be rendered
clear by 3 simple reference TO its Ian
guage. Ii was not ''iegisla'e slavery into
any new Territory ~. State, nor TO ex
oluIe il iherefrom. but to leave the peo-
pie thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way" According to the plain
construction of the sentence, the words
domestic institutions" have a direct. As
they have an appropriate. reference TO
slavery. "Domestic institutions" are
limited 10 tie family. The %relation be-
tween master and slave and a few others
are domestic institutions" and are Tn
tirely disiinct,from institutions OF a poli,i-
cal character. Besides, there was no
question then before Congress. nor indeed
has there since been any serious question
before the people of Kansas or the coun-
try. except tha. which refers to the "do-
mesiic Institution of slavery.
The convention, after au angry and {
excited debate. finally determined, by a $
minority of only two, to submit the ques- !
ZION of slavery to the people. though at
the last forty-three of the fifty delegates
present affixed their signatures 10 the ]
constitution. 4
A large majority OF the Convention /
were in favor OF establishing slavery ia {
Kansas. They accordingly inserted an (
article 10 the constitution Tor this purpose 7
similar A'form TO those which had been {
adopted by other territorial conventions. e
In the schedule, however, providing for I
the transition from a territorial 10 a ; ate {
government the question has been fairly J
and explicitly referred to the people. |
whether they will have a constitution |
with or without slavery" Ii declares G
that before the constitution adopted by [
the convention "sbsll be sent 10 Con-
yreSs ior admission iato the Union as a +
5, ate,'' an election shall be held TO de- c
eide this question, at which all the white '
male inhabitants, of the territory above [
the aye Of twenty one are entitled TO vote. q
They are TO vote by ballot; and the "bal- L
10: cast al SAID election shall be endorsed {
Constitution with Slavery and 'Consli [
with 20 Slavery. If there be a a
favor OF the Constitution
with Slave ry," then it is 10 be trans nit. c
ted to Congress by the President of Tie
Convention ia IFS original form. Ii, on J
the contrary, there shall be a majority in
favor of the ..CJnsiiiution with no Slave d
ry,""then the article providing for slave S
ry shall be stricken from the c asti;u!ion c
by the President of the Convention" 4,
and it is expressly declared that mo s!a- q
very shall exist in Kansas. except that t
the right of property in slaves now in the v
territory shall in no manner be interior
ed WITH aud in,tf at event it is made his c
duty t1have the Constitution thus ratified i
transmitted &c the Congress of the Uni
edsStat-s for The admission of the State a
into he Iloian 4