Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-12-17

stitution framed by the convention of a
Territory preparatory to admission into
the Union as a State had been submit
to the people.
1 trust, however, the example set by
the last Congress, requiring that the
constitution of Mignesota "should be
subject to the approval and ratification
of the people Of the proposed State"
may be followed on future occasions.-
l took it for granted that the conven-
ton of Kansas would act in accordance
with this example, founded, as it is, on
correct principles; and hence my in
structions to Governor Walker, III favor
of submitting the constitution to the
people, were exposed In general and I'M
qualified terms.
In the Kansas Nebraska Act, howev-
err, this requirement, as applicable to the
whole constitution, had not been insert
| ed, and the convention were not bound
by its terms to submit any other portion
of the instrument to an election, except
that which relates to the domestic in
situations of slavery. This will be
rendered clear by a simple reference to
its language. 1t was mot to legislate
slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it thereFrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way" According to the
plain construction of the sentence, the
words s:domestic institutions" have a
direct as they nave an appropriate ref
crence, to slavery.
domestic institutions" are limited
to the family. The relation between
master and slave and a few others are
domestic Institutions" and are entire
ly distinct from institutions of a politi-
cal character. Besides, there was no
question then before Congress, nor in
deed has there since been any serious
question before the people of Kansas OIL
the country, except that which results
to the domestic institution" of slave
ry.
The Convention. after an angry and
excited debate, finally determined, by a
majority of only two, to submit the ques-
ton of slavery to the people, though at
the least, forty-three OF the fifty dele.
gates present aft xed their signatures to
the constitution.
A large majority of the Convention
were in favor of establishing slavery III
Kansas. They accordingly inserted an
article in the constitution for this pur
pose similar in form to those which had
been adopted by other Territorial Con
ventions. In the schedule, however
providing for the transition from a Ter
r%itorial to a State government, the ques.
ton has been fairly and explicitly re.
ferred to the people, whether they will
have a constitution with or without
slavery" 1t declares that, before thu
constitution adopted by the convention
"shall be sent to Congress for admission
into the Union as a State an election
shall be held to decide this question: a
which all the white male inhabitants o
the Territory above the age of twenty
one are entitled to vote. They are to vot'
by ballot; and "the ballots cast at sal,
election shall be iudorsed 'constitutiol
with slavery and constitution with IL
slavery"
If there be a majority in favor of thu
constitution with slavery" then it is t.
be transmitted to Congress by the Pre-
sident Of the Convention in its origina
form. If, on the contrary, there shall
be a majority in favor of the "constitu
ton with no slavery" then the articl
providing for slavery shall be stricken
| from the constitution by the presiden
of this convention" and it is expressl,
5 declared that mo slavery shall exist il
the State of Kansas, except that tn
right of property in slaves now in tn
Territory shall In no manner be inter
fered WITH and in that event it is mad
his duty to have the constitution thu
ratified transmitted to Congress of tn
United States for the admission of tn
: State into the Union.
At this election every citizen vii
. have an opportunity of expressing hi
| opinion by his vote ''whether Kansa
shall be received into the Union wit
or without slavery" and thus this excl
r ting question may be peacefully settle
in the very mode required by the or
: ganic law. The election will be he'll
under legitimate authority, and if an
S portion of the inhabitants shall refus
| to vote, a fair opportunity to do so hay
ing been presented, this will be thci
f own voluntary act, and they alone wi
4 be responsible for the consequences.
t Whether Kansas shall be a free or
l slave State must eventually, under som
r authority, be decided by an election
and the question can never be NOR
clearly or distinctly presented to tn
people than it is at the present momen
a Should this opportunity be ~rcjectec
r she may be involved for years in domeS
tic discord, and possibly in civil wal
before she can again make up the issu
j now so fortunately rendered, aud agsi
: reach the point she has already attain
ed.
Kansas has, for some years, ~occupie
too much of the public attention. 1t
| high time this should be directed to ia
f more important objects. When ono
admitted into the Union, whether wit
, or without slavery, the excitement be
, yond her own limits will speedily pas
away, and she will then, for the frs
time, be left. as she ought to have bee
: long since, to manage her own affairs i
= her own way. IF her constitution o
the subject of slavery, or any other sub
C ject, be displeasing to a majority of tn
people, no human power can proven
them from changing it within a brie
t period. Under these circumstances,
e may we'll be questioned whether tn