The Washington union., 1857-11-24

The ACTION OF THE KANSAS CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION. N.--OPINIoNs OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PRESS
That able and timc-honored organ of the democ-
racy of the Keystone State the Pennsylvanian, con
tnues TO sustain the action of the Kansas consiiu
tonal convention with great ability and zeal The
following appears in its issue of Saturday last :
We invite especial attention able article from the
Washington Union which will be found first page
called provisional OF Kansas and shows that
the election provisions which appear IN the Kansas
stution identical with those in the constitutions Of
Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, and every State constitution
which been adopted since 1902 1t u.s. therefore, a
parent that the Kansas convention followed safe and
pecedens for the rule of action they fit TO adopt
There seems to be settled conviction that the ac
ton Of the constitutional convention of Kansas has the
full endorsement of the national administration.
II 80, II affords another evidence OF determination on
the part Of the President TO carry out in good faith and
10 the very letter the great principles OF the Kansas Ne
braska BILL which received such emphatic endorsement
in his election The whole matter is in the hands
of the people of Karsas where every true democrat will
agree to leave it, The polls open 10 ALL and proy-
sions made to fair and impartial election Each
vote his judgment dictates II for slavery he
depose his ballot In favor OF that institution If OPP
posed TO slavery opportunity is extended for him to
testify in legal constitutional manner his opposition to
and just Does not the Kansas Nebraska bill provide
for just such exercise of power by the people of the
Territories and in precisely the same manner
Ii undoubtedly does, aud yet we hear those who
oudest in praise of the Kansas Nebraska bill echo
ing the arguments and invectves of the New York i-
buns against the democratic party of Kansas and urging
the democracy of old Pennsyvanathe home Of James
Buchanan, who was elected by united party-unted
upon the very principle which underies the action of the
Kansas constitutional conyentonto join forces with the
black k-repubcan party in the North repudiae the prin
cipc of intervention trample upon all those pledges
which they have given to the nation, and join in
holy war upon their political brethren in Kansas, who
are engaged in death struggle for the triumph Of dem
ocstic principles In that Territory which is to
become State Greeley does not like the doings
the democratic party in Kansas and because of that
fact democrats in the old Keystone to cry down
the action of their party. Ii this is to be the
course pursued the national administration will fall
under the ban of these newashioned democrats, for 1t
is not probable the sound democratic ideas Of dsn
guished President will please the editor of the Tribune
or his found disciples than does the action Of
the constitutional convention Of Kansas But the de-
mocmcy Of Pennsylvania have not sunk low TO de-
sert either their principles, those who coendin
for them In other sections Of the Union at the bidding
the New York Tribune its so-called democratic
laborers In the blackrepublican Pennsylvania is
true to tho principles of the Kansas Nebraska BILL and
her firm and gallant democracy will desert those
who are contendng for hen whether in Kansas else
where to fratcnize with traitors alike to the constitution
and the Union.
Again, in the same number of the Pennsylvanian:
Certain presses with black k-repubcan procliyites
endeavoring to prejudice the democracy of this State
against the constitution of Kansas by stating that
framed 1t ersie for years by its express terms
The plain to this point is stated by the New York
Times. .rhe language Of the schedule upon this point
ia this:
Ssc TO- "Aaer he year one thousand eighf hundred and
sidyom whenever the legislature shall think it
cessary to amend, alter and change this constitution
they shall recommend to the electors at the next general
election trokaird of the members of each house
curing to vote for against the calling of conventon
and n it appear that majority OF all the citizens of the
State have voted for convention, the legislature shall
at its next regular session, call convention"
This provision is expressly confined to amendments
that may be desired after the year 1864 Previous that
time the constitution even by its own terms, will be
tely in the hands of the people Indeed this must he in
any There is power which bind the people Of
sovereign State not to change alter amend their cons
tuition whenever they t This point has been tested
over and again. by the State of New York well
other States The old constitution of that State pre-
scribcd mode for its amendment similar in form to
this clause in the constitution of Kansas But the cgs
lature disregardng utterly this provision submitted to
the popular vote in lSi5 the question whether they
would have convention to make constitution,
and 1t voted by large majority. The convention
was called and the constitution of 1876 framed
Precisely the may be pursued In Kansas.
The ry rek after admission the legislature may
mon the people to declare whether they will have new
constitutional convention not The entire control
over Jnelr uOncstic analIs paSscS own
hands.
The Brooklyn New York; Daily News closes an
abiy-wrtten article the action of the Kansas con-
stitutional convention as follows
The question of slavery slavery is to be submit
ted to the people of Kansas entirely unembarrassed by
any side issues If they vote against slavery slave
will be held in Kansas except the few already there
hundred and fifty it is said, who were slaves be-
fore they introduced and who would have lived and
died in servitude had they Kansas
What then Does this satisfy the friends of "fee-
dom and the worshippers of the negro Far from it.
The quiet introduction of Kansas State would roll
stone the mouth of the grave where this infamous
faction lies entombed, which neither angel demon
could roll away Only let Kansas ask admttance
slave State, and howlng fanaticism would
split its throat with shrekng the broken fragments of
the Fremont platform would be patched and pieced and
the foundation would be laid for another sectional
pagn, with Its heated passions its blind and besoed
preudces and Its danger to the peace and welfare of the
oonfederacy.
The freeState party in Kansas are to the aggregate
population three to they have only to vote for
this eeSate constitution and Kansas enters at once on
Of peace and prosperity The rifle and the bowie
knife will be exchanged for the plough and the
pruning hook peace and order will take the place OF an
archy and disorder her Inhabitants instead Of depend
ing pauper donations of food and clothing may reye
in wealth the hum Of industry will drown the crack Of
the assassins rife and her SOIL too long stained with
fraternal blood, will cem with plenty and smile with
golden harvests.
VIII they do this or will they keep up the agitation
until the quarres that have taken place become chronic
feuds and hereditary hatres tainting the stream of her
political life for generations, simply to galvanize
"a