Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-24

himself meaning the President and his
Cabinet-that the constitution was to be
submitted to the people for their free ac-
ceptance or rejection, and that he would
use all the power at his command to defeat
its acceptance by Congress, if it were not
thus submitted to the vote of the people:
Mr.. President, am not going to stop
and inquire how far the Nebraska bill,
which said the people should be left per-
fectly free to form their constitution for
themselves, authorized the President, or
he Cabinet, Or Governor Walker, or any
other Territorial officer, to interfere and tell
the convention of Kansas whether they
should or should not submit the question
to the people. l am not going to stop to
inquire how far they were authorized to do
that. it being my opinion that the spirit Of
the Nebraska bill required it to be DONE
1t is sufficient for my purpose that the ad
ministration of the Federal government
unanimously, that the administration of the
Territorial government in all its parts unan-
imously understood the Territorial law an
der which the convention was assembled to
mean that the constitution to be formed by
that convention should be submitted to the
people for ratification or rejection, and, if
not confirmed by majority of the people,
should be null and void, without coming TO
Congress for approval.
Not only did the National government
and the Territorial government so under
stand the law at the time, but, as | have al
ready stated, the people of the Territory so
understood it. AS further evidence on
that point, large number, il not MAORI
ty, of the delegates were instructed in the
nominating conventions to submit the con-
stitution to the people for ratification.
know that the delegates from Douglas coun-
ty, eight in number, Mr. Calhoun, presi-
dent of the convention, being among them,
were not only instructed thus to submit the
question, but they signed and published,
while candidates, a written pledge that they
would submit it to the people for ratifca-
ton. know that men, high in authority
and in the confidence of the Territorial and
National governments, canvassed every part
of Kansas during the election of delegates,
and each one of them pledged himself to
the people that no snap judgment was to be
taken; that the constitution was to be SUBJ
mitted to the people for acceptance or re-
lection; that it would be void unless that
was done; that the Administration would
spurn and scorn it as violation of the
principles on which it came into power, and
that democratic Congress would hurl it
from their presence as an insult to demo-
Gratis who stood pledged to see the people
left free to form their domestic institutions
for themselves.
Not only that. sir, but up to the time
when the convention assembled, on the 1st
of September, so far as can learn, it was
understood everywhere that the constitu-
ton was to be submitted to the people for
ratification or rejection. They met howev-
er, on the list of September. and adjourned
until after the October election. l think il
was wise and prudent that they should
thus have adjourned. They did not wish
to bring any question into that election
which would divide the democratic party,
and weaken our chances of success in the
election. / was rejoiced when 1 saw that
they did adjourn, so as not to show their
hand on any question that would divide and
distract the party until after the election.
During that recess, while the convention was ad
journed, Governor Ransom, the democratic can
didate for Congress, running against the presen
Delegate from that Territory, was canvassing eve
~ part of Kansas in favor of the doctrine of sub
uniting the constitution to the people, declaring
that the democratic party were in favor of such sub
mission, and that it was SANDER of the black re
pubcans to intimate the charge that the democrat
ic party did not intend to carry out that pledge il
good faith. Thus up to the time of the meeting o
the convention, in October last, the pretence wa
kept up, the profession was openly made, and be
Eeved by me. and thought believed by them, tina
the convention intended to submit constitution b
the people, and not to attemptt to put government
in operation without such submission. The cleo
ton being over the democratic party being defeat
ed by an overwhelming vote, the opposition hav
ing triumphed, and got possession of both branche
of the Legislature, and having elected their Terri
total Delegate, the convention assembled and the
proceeded to complete their work.
Now let US stop to inquire how they redeeme
the pledge to submit. ne constitution to the people
They first 90 or I'D make constitution. The
they make schedule, in which they provide thi
the constitution, on the Dist of December pre-
emit month-shall be submitted to all the bona flo
inhabitants of the Territory on that day, for the
free acceptance or rejection, in the following mai
uer, to-wit: thus acknowledging that they WEI
bound to submit it to the will of the people, col
ceding that they had no right to put it into oper
ton without submitting it to the people, providin
in the instrume that it should take effect from ar
after the date of its ratification, and not befor
showing that the constitution derives its vitalit
in their estimation, not from the authority of IL
convention, but from that vote of the people
which it was submitted for their acceptance or r
lection. How is it to be submitted7 1t shall
submitted in this form: "Constitutian with slave
constitution with slavery" All men mu