New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-17
reply, but was beaten upon bis own ground and
took refuge in personalities.


ton to distant rule and border outrage-into one Of
relative security and independence, BY tho formal
sdopto On Of State Constitution and their admission
into the Union under the same By C,DUesa Toe
main question that remains to be decided is this:
"Sball they have such Consultation a. Is preferred
"by great msjority Of themselves or must they
abe content with such che as may be more &C
"cep,able to certain outsders'' The answer to
this question will test the integrity Of those who
for years have been voeiferous 10 advocacy Of what
they cal popular Sovereignty" or "the right
"of each community to frame and adopt its own
Institutions"
The N. T. Times, we grieve to see, in pursuance
Of its established policy Of giving the Free State
men ten grains of dctatorid advc, to one Of aid or
cordial sympathy, now directs them not to re-sub-
NIT and crafty the Topeka Constitution. We
quote 90 much of its article a. will show the full
scope Of its logic:
"The new Legislature is a perfectly legal body
was elected in accordance with the Territorial law and
under the immediate supervision OF the Federal
officers CT the Territory. No hos ever denied that
the election was fairly conducted or that the Legisa
ture il true and accurate, as well az legal and au-
thotized, representation Of the people OF Kansas.
There NAV possibly be some legal doubt as to the va
lidity Of legislative acts which it may pass previous
TO the Let Of January but this could not In the least
affect the moral weight to be atteched to an election
bold under its direction. If the Legislature therefore,
should act upon the recommendation OF Mr stanton,
and the election should be held 10 that mode, Congress
would be rabled to act upon the Lecompton Consti-
tuition with full and accurate knowledge OF the GEN.
tnents of the people Of Kansas upon the subject.
They would then find it impossible, by any sophistry
or legal technicstes to profess ignorance OF what
The doctrine of Pepulsr Sovereignty really requires.
owe cannot help thinking that the Free State
party will make fatal mistake IL they bring fnward,
by any act of their Legislature the Topeka Copshtu
ton for submission to the popular vote. That ustru
the sanction OF any law the recognition OF any de-
partuent Of the Government II was purely and eX-
clusiveiy party movement, and has been regarded
as such by ali parties throughout the country The voc
which il would command would be very inadequate
approximation of the real opposition in Kansas to the
ItoOnpton movement, and it would encounter preJu-
oices II sent to Congress-, which would render certain
its rejection. ..
"Ibe President wa. quite right in saying in his
Message that Kansas bal occupied too much OF the
public attention. The whole country is tired OF hear
frg of tho subject, and will heartily Welcome any &C
ton which shall the affairs Of kausas from the
field of rational politics. But this cannot be done by
an act Of gross injustice to the people Of the Terri
tory, nor by repudiatng and outragng in their case
tbs fundamental principle Of popular sovereignty:
We do BOT believe the people Of Kansas will submit
to the imposition upon them of the Lecompton Const
tuiion sno Congress shouid take action which will
plunge the Territory into new conflicts and prolong
the agitation from which the country has suffered so
much already"
The above resolves itself into three PROPOSE.
tons
I. The People Of Kansas won't stand the LIE.
compton Constitution, and it must not be forced
upon them;
III. Their Legislature should not e.submit nor
the People re-adopt the Topeka Constitution; and
yet
III. The whole country is tired of Kansas, and
the SUBJECT should be 6usy disposed Of at the ear
hest moment
We'll: suppose the Legislature ignore the To-
peka Constitution and only provide for vote
against ss well as for the Lecon pton Constitution,
ard that Constitution is accordingly rejected By an
overwhelm rg mejorily-how will that dispose o!
the subjectl We must next have an Enabling Act
by Congress- then an Election of Delegates in Kal-
ras; then Constitutional Convention; then
Submission Of the result to the People and direct
vote thereon; then an Election OF q Legislature,
Congressional Delegation and State Officers; 6nally,
Oh Admission by Congress. We have no reason to
believe that the Border Rufiians would behave any
better with regard to these elections than with ref
ereLce to those hitherto held in Kansas, nor that
the Free. State nen would submit to fraud and
abuse any more meekly than they have hitherto
done. The consequence is inevitable-delay, e1-
element, collision, recriminatiOn, which cannot
fail to sgitate the whole country, and may induce
civil war.
The opposite course is AR more direct and
simple. Here are two Constitutions already
framed by delegates protesting to represent the
People Of Kansas. Each party denies the leglti.
macy and validity Of the others Convention and
Constitution; but there is a Legislature now in
session whose rightfui authority no one can dis.
pute. Suppose, then, that this Legislature sub
mts the two Constitutions folly and fairly to
direct vote of the People, at an election duly au-
thorized and honestly conducted, why should any
one object We .bould prefer to have ballots re-
ceiSed "FOr New Convention" from all who
choose to have one; and if there be not clear ma
jority for one Of the existing Constitutions, then
New Convention let it be- But if there is such q
majority-if msiOrity Of the People Of Kansas
should freshly adopt the Topeka Constitution
who ! as any right to say them Nay? Why incur
tie expense, the delay, the excitement, the Nation
al peril, If another Convention, and two or three
more elections What good end will thereby be
subseIytdl If the Country wants peace, and the
People of Kansas want the Topeka Constitution,
and the Democracy want the whole matter settled
so sOOn as may be on the basis Of Popular Sover
eighty, who can want q new Convention What
end is to be attained through it 1t has been re-
fadlp 1oc,1o1 hv rop hat sftufinn