True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-16

mitted as State" was to /" oe received
into the Union, with or without slavery,
as their Constitution may prescribe at the
time of their admission"
Did Congress mean by this1auguage that
the delegates ele,ted to frame constitu-
tion 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 this subject
i confess had never entertained serious
doubt, and, therefore, in ny instructions
to Governor Walker of the 18th of March
last, merely said that when ga constiu-
ton shall be submitted to the people of the
Territory, they must be protected in the
exercise of tneir right of voting for or
against that instrument, and the fair ex-
preston of the popular will must not be
interrupted by fraud or violence"
In expressing this opinion it was far
from my intention to iuterfeEe with the
decision of the people Of Kansas, either for
or against slavery. From this l have al
ways carefully abstained Entrusted with
the duty of taking care "that the laws be
faithfully executed" my only desire was that
the people Of Kansas should furnish to
Congress the evidence required by the or.
ganic act, whether for or against slavery !;
and In this manner smooth their passage
into the Union. In emerging from the
condition of territorial dependence irto that
ola sovereign State, it was their duty, in
my opinion, to make known their will by
the votes of the majority, on the direct
question whether this important domestic
institution should or should not continue
to exist Indeed, this was the only posi-.
BILE mode in which their will could be
authenticity ascertained,
The election of delegates to a convention
, must necessarily take place in separate dis
, tricts. From this cause it may readily
happen, as has often been the case, that the
majority of the people of State or Ter.
ritorY are on one side of a question, whilst
majority of the repl esentatives from the
several districts into which it is divided
may be upon the other side. This arises
from the fact that in some districts delegates
may be elected by small majorlties, whilst
in others those of different sentiments may
receive majorities sufficiently great not
!, to overcome the votes given for the former
but to leave large majority of the whole
people in direct opposition 70 majority Of
the Delegates. Besides, our history proves
that influence may be brought to bear or
the representative sufficiently powerful to
, induce him to disregard the will of hi'
t constituents. The truth is, that no other
authentic and satisfactory mode exists Of
ascertaining the will of a majority of the
, people of any State or Territory on an i'm
portant and exciting question like that o
slavery in Kansas, except by leaving it tc
J a direct vote. How wise, then, was it fol
, Congress to pass over all subordinate and
intermediate agencies, and proceed directly
to the source of all legitimate power under
our institutions.
How vain would any other principle
prove in practice This may be illustra-
ted by the case of Kansas. Should she be
admitted into the Union with c0nstitu-
ton either maintaining or abolishing Sla-
very, against the sentiment of the people,
this could have no other effect than to con-
tinue and to exasperate the existing agita'
ton during the brief period required to
make the Constitution conform to the ire.
sistible will of the majority.
The riends and supporters of the Kan
sas and Nebraska act, when struggling on a
recent oc casion to sustain its wise provis-
ions before the great tribunal of the Amer
lean people, never differed about its trne
meaning on this subject. Everywhere
throughout the Union they publicly pledged
their faith and their honor, that they would
cheerlully submit the question of slavery
to the decision of the bona fde people Of
Kansas, without any restriction or qualifi-
cation whatever. All we're cordially united
upon the great doctrine of popular sover
eighty, which is the vital principle Of our
free institutions. Had it then been insin-
uated from any quarter that it would be
sufficient compliance with che acquisitions
of the organic 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 will for
that of legally ascertained majority OF all
their constituents, this would have been
instantly rejected. Everywhere they re-
mained true to the resolut ions adopted on a
+, celebrated occasion recognizing "Che right
of the people Of all Misunderstanding
Kansas and Nebraska-lcting through the
legally and fairly expressed will of ma.
jority of actual residents, and whenever the
, number of their inhabitants iustifios it, to
{ form Constitution, with OF without sla-
very and be admitted into the Union upon
terms of perfect equality with the other
States"
y The Convention to frame Constitution
u for Kansas met on the first Monday Of Sep
!, tember last. They were called together
e by virtue of an act ofthe Territorial Legs
lature, whose lawful existence had been
Q recognized by Congress in different forms
!. and by different enactments. A large pro-
q portion of the citizens Of Kansas did not
think proper to register their names and to
vote at the election for delegates; but an
opportunity to do this having been fairly
: afforded, their refusal to avail themselves
s OF their right couldin no manner affect the
S legality of the Convention.
!. The settlers Their proceeded to frame q
IS constitution for Kansas, and finally ad
journed on the 7th day of November. But
little difficulty occurred in the convention
y except on the subject of slavery. The
.e .s truth is that the general provisions of ou
II recent State constitutions are so similar
1T and, may add, SO excelent-that the diff
of ference between them is not essential
10 Under the earlier practice of the govern
is ment, no constitution framed by the con
m vention of a Territory preparatory to it