The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-23

cured to the inhabitants OF the territory south u the
river Ohio appear TO be the right o forming permanent
constitution and State government, and of admission
State by its delegates into The Congress Of the United
States equal footing with the original States in all
respects whatever, when il should have therein sixty
thousand free inhabitants provided the constitution and
government to be formed should lie republican, and in
conformity 70 the principles contained in the articles Of
the said ordinance
AS proofs Of the eyer requisites to entitle the terrific
~ south Of the river Ohio to be admitted State into
the Union Governor BIount has transmitted return OF
the enumeration of its inhabitants and printed copy Of
the constitution and form o government which they
have agreed which, with his letters accompanying the
same are herewith laid before Congress n -. a. -
90 GEO WASHINGTON
It contained no special executive accommodation, asd
in that respect, hamonzes most beautifully with te po
sition taken by President Buchanan. The Territory thus
had organic form il people. Without any an
abiing act they met formed constitution, which
presented 90 Congress and approved and the State admit
ted into tse Union with much regularity, with N much
system with much order as has accompanied the moyc
mens Of any Territory and OF any people within the
pass of whole republic. M k
How is it with Arkansasi The senator from Illinois
would have understand that the movements In Arkan
seemed TO meet the disapprobson Of President Jack
President jackson, who had himself participated in
the convention in Tennessee is to be presented 90
though he condemned the proceedings in Arkansas An
examination of the opinion OF the Attorney General in
that will show the distinction, and make IL clear
the noonday sum- unless greatly deceived in regard
TO the prport OF that opinion 1.in
In the exercise OF this right the inhabitants of Ar
kansas may peaceably together in primary
blies in conventions chosen by such assemblies for
the purpose Of pettonng Congress 10 abrogate the terri
toral government and to admit them into the Union
independent State The particular form which they
may give 10 their petition cannot be material long
they conne themselves to the right of petitonng
and conduct all their proceedings in peaceabe manner
And the power Of Congress the whole subject is
plenary and unlimited they may acept any constitution
however framed which in their Judgment meets the
of the people to be affected by H. H. therefore, the cit
of Arkansas think proper to accompany their petit
ton with a written constitution framed and agreed on
by their primary assemblies by convention OF dele
gates chosen by such assemblies, perceive legal OBJ
lection TO their power To do 30, to any measures
which may be taken collect the Of the people in
respect to it provided always that such measures be
commenced and prosecuted in peaceable manner, in
strict snbordnation TO the existing territorial govern
ment and in entire subserviency to the power OF Con
gress TO adopt reject disregard them Mt pleasure
ho,reba rcy obrio1s that al Hsasss commented and pros
aca trah dssiq 20 Sryt the territorial gocerR aud
ebtiah and put ia orcs us place, government om
he oonNca Of Congress, wiu Be uLaacfd " @ .|
Kansas has never proposed to put in operation State
government without the consent OF Congress- They have
formed IL in subordnaon to the powers Of the territorial
government II Is but emanation OF the territorial
government 1t is TO be submitted to Congress IL adj
mited into the Union the constitution takes effect the
supreme law Of that State in snbordnation TO the federal
constitution only but if not admitted they do not pro-
pose to set up separate State government This 1t viii
be harnonizcs with what said on the subject Of the
takes to up territorial State government IN opposi-
tcn to federal authority, is rebellion. If the present
acting, claiming to net, governor of Utah should in
dertae 10 set mp separate government we have the
ndoubted right to refuse assent, and to subugate
him authority by the force Of the military OF
this government the people Of Kansas to under
take TO set up government " qposton to the federal
authority the power could be exercised there But
while they do not propose TO interfere with tho federal
government to interfere with the territorial govern
until the assent Of Congress is received it makes no
kind of difference whatever This too, harnoizes with
Se opinion of the Attorney General, which the honora
bic senator from Illinois introduced and read. sst a
There are therefore, eight States in the Union that
have formed their constitutions without enabling act
for two of those States the senator from Illinois voted
California had enabling act But the senator under
takes to show that though there enabling act yet
all the steps taken by the authorities of California were in
subordnation to the local government established there
in other words, under General Riley Whether that be
right wrongwhether his reference be correct or incor
rect-T shall not stop To inquire but this much is true
the action of the convention in the Territory Of Kansas
much in subordination to the federal authority as
was the action Of the Territory Of California and if he
could vote for the admission Of California; there be
why he may not vote for Kansas with the
Inopiety If he could for the admission Of Florida
there be assigned why he may not vote for
that of Kansas IL he could vote for Iowa, there be
good why he should not vote, under the
circumstances, for the admission Of Kansas. BY his
own deed he is estopped by his own act he is for
ever estopped from alleging necessary prerequisite
enabling act The assent of Congress may be given
any time either before or after the formation Of
stitution. ....--...r. ...sr .,r .sr
There is peculiar reason for it in the case Of Kansas
The Louisiana treaty defines and guarantees the rights Of
the people living in that Territory The law of Congress,
subsequently passed made additional pledge that the
people should have right to admission at the proper
time The authors and advocates Of the great Kansas
Nebraska act thought ii had added TO the rights
claimed the rights of the people living in organized Ter
rtoes It's trainers thought they had conferred prin
cpes heretofore denied to them 20, under the treaty
of Louisiana under the law Of Congress- under the Kan