The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-12-19
A Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON CRY, Nov. "a, 1856

endorsed the action Of the Constitutional
Convention, and approved of the plan tor
submitting the slavery clause to the Peo-
pie Gov. Walker pronounces it ian out
rage upon the people of Kansas, and a
shameless violation of all the principles
of free government" He declares him
self absolutely opposed to the Constitu-
ton. and stands pledged to defeat ii. /"
An effort on the part of Congress, he
saws. to force that Constitution on the
people of Kansas without their voice be-
ing heard for, OR against it, will surely be
followed by rebellion and bloody civil
war" He describes the opposition to it
as almost universal. Thus is the Cabinet
and Gov. Walker brought in direct oppo-
sition on the questions involved in the
government of our Territory.
1 saw Gov. WALLER to-day. He
gave me to understand that the President
and Cabinet are opposed to his views;
but the Governor declared to me that he
Mould fulfil has PLEDGES TO THE PEOPLE
AGAINST all opposition.
Whether Gov. Walker will be able to
impress his views upon the Administra-
ton in regard to Kansas is to be seen !;
he told me that the reason he did not call
a session of the Legislature before he left
Kansas, was that upon an examination
of the Organic Act he became fully salts
fed that call for special session of the
Legislature would not afford relief to the
people of Kansas, as the old members of
the House would convene under the
call, and that was not desired by U.S.
In the present aspect of things here, it
is certain that no State government can
be formed under that Constitution with
out division of the Democratic party ;
and in fsctin any event l cannot see how
that party can remain united. Some
here propose that as soon as the Kansas
Constitutions are presented to Congress,
that they refer them back to the people,
together with law framed upon the
model of the Minnesota Act for the form
alton of State Constitution, preparatory
to the admission as a State into the
Union.
But as the controversy between Wal
ker and the Cabinet will probably be
transferred to Congress, and the Constitu-
lions will be ''the bones of contention
for several months, it is believed here by
many that the people of Kansas will have
the matter in their own hands if the Leg
islature, when it assemblies in January
will do its duty. The Constitution pro-
vides that no amendments shall be made
for several years. One of the papers o.
this city suggests the following.
Con the face of these provisions, the
power to change their institutions seem;
to be absolutely denied to the people o.
Kansas for the long term of eight years
and such was, doubtless, the intention o.
the Lecompton Convention.
To repel the odium which would Justly
attach to such an attempt to fetter the
popular will, it is said that. although the
Constitution proposed for Kansas fixes {
particular time and particular method
for amendments to be submitted by tho
Legislature, amendments are still possible
in another mode, at any time, and by
mere majorities, viz: by q call Of neu
COnUeation to reuse the Constitution.
This view of the subject is clearly cor
rect IN principle, and is sustained by nu-
merous precedents, and, among others
by recent case in the great State of New
York.
While, therefore, we believe that the
Lecompton politicians intended to bind the
the people hand and foot, we are happy
to concur with Democratic authorities in
maintaining that, if the worst comes tc
the worst they have failed to do so, and
that majority of the people of Kansa:
may, at any time hereafter effect a change
of their fundamental institutions, with
only the delay and expense of revising
convention, to be assembled upon the cal
of mere majority vote of the Legisla-
ture.
Upon general principles, and looking
to general results, independently of this
partisan case of Kansas, it is indispensable
that the right of the people to alter theil
forms of Government, at all times, should
be maintained, as inalienable and indie
feasible. Especially does this duty de-
volve upon the Republican party, which
is the party of the People and of Liber-
ty, and which is burdened with the de-
fence of no vested wrongs.
Upon view of the whole matter,
therefore, it is with pleasure that we OBJ
serve the Democratic press familiarizing
the public mind with the true idea, that
all attempts to hedge in any particular
institutions beyond the popular reach,
by constitutional guards, are vain and fu-
tile.
We accept, cheerfully and without re-
serve, the political doctrine that State
Legislatures may, at any time, summon
Conventions to revise Constitutions, sub
ject only to the ratification of the people.
Il is a doctrine which, while it takes
away part of the sting of the Lecomp-
ton fraud, is good for all places and at all
times"
Will the Legislature and people of
Kansas act upon this suggestion ?
A post Office has been established at
.Moneka, Linn County, and O. E. MORSE
appointed postmaster. Yours,
W. F. NJ. Army.