The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-12-17

Congress declared it to be " the true int
ent and meaning of this act not to legis
late 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" Under it Kansas,
"when admitted as State" was to "be
received into the Union, with or withoul
slavery as their constitution may pres
crlhe at the time of their admission"
Did Congress mean by this language
that the delegates elected to frame con-
stitution should have authority finally to
decide the question of slavery, or did
they intend by leaving it to the people
that the people of Kansas themselves
should decide this question by direct
vote? On tins subject 1 confess | had
never entertained serious doubt, and,
therefore, in my instructions to Governor
Walker on the 18th March last, merely
said that when "a constitution shall be
submitted to the people Of the Territory
they must be protected in the exercise OF
their right OF voting for or against that in
strument, and the lair expression OF the
popular will, must not be interrupted
by fraud or violence.
In expressing this opinion it was far
from my intention TO interfere with The
decision OF the people Of Kansas, either
for or against slavery. From this have
always carefully abslained. Innusted
with ii Q duty Of taking "care that the
laws be faithfully executed" my only de.
sire was that the people Of Kansas should
furnish to Congress tn evidence requr-
ed by the organic act, whether for or ag-
ainst slavery; and in this manner smooth
their passage into the Union. In emerg'
ing from the condition Of Territorial inde-
pendence into that Of a sovereign State, it
was their duty, in my opinion, to make
known their will by the votes of the maj
ority, on the direct question whether this
important domestic institution should OF
should not continue to exist. Indeed,
this was the only possible mode in which
sher will could be authenticity ascertal-
ned.
The election Of delegates to a conven-
ton must necessarily take place in separ-
ate districts. From this cause it may re-
adily happen, as has often been the case,
that majority Of the people of State or
Territory are on one side OF question;
whilst majority Of the representatives
from the several districts into which it is
divided may be upon the other side.
This arises from the fact that in some dis
tlicts delegates may be elected by small
maiorities whilst in others those OF differ
ent sentiments may receive majorities
sufficiently great not only to overcome
the votes given for the former. but to
leave a majority of the whole people in
direct opposition to a maj ority of the del
|egates. Besides, our history proves that
Influences may be brought to bear on
the representative sufficiently powerful
to induce him to disregard the will OF his
constituents. The truth is, that no other
authentic and satisfactory mode exists oi
oscertaining the will OF the majority OF the
people of any State or Territory GA an i'm,
portant and exciting question like that o'
slavery in Kansas, except by leavingi it to
a direct vote. How wise. then, was II
for Congress to pass over all subordinate
and intermediate agencies,A and proceed
directly to the source ofall legitimate po-
wer under our institutions!
How vain wonld any other principle
prove in practice! This may be illustra'
tad by the case of Kansas. Should she
be admitted into the Union, with Cons.
|titution either maintaining, or abolishlng
slavery, against the sentiment OF the peo'
pie, this could have no other affect than
to continue and to exasperate the exist
ling agitation during the brief period reg
uired to make the constitution conform te
he irresistible will of the majority.
The friends and supporters Of the Ne
braska and Kanras Act, when struggling 8
on recent occasion TO sustain its wise
provisions before the great tribunal te
The American people, never differed ac'
ou. its true meningitis subject. Every