The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-12-17

Mhere throu ghout the Union then public
" pledged feeir faith and their honor'
that they would cheerfuly submit the
question Of slavery to the decision Of the
bona 6de people of Kansas, without any
restriction or qualification Whatever
All were cordially united upon the great
doctrine of popular sovereignty, which is
the vital principle of our free institutions.
Had it then been insinuated from any
quarter that it would be suficien, COM
pliance with 4he requisition OF the organ
ic law for the members of convention,
thereafter 10 be eected, 10 withhold the
question of slevery from the people, and
to substitute their own will for that of
legally ascertained majorito OF all their
constituents, this would have been instan-
dy rejected. Everywhere they remain
ed true to resolution adopted on ce leb-
rated occasion recognizing the right Of
the people Of all the territories -includ-
ling Kansas and Misunderstanding
through the legally and fairly expressed
will Of a majority of actual residents, and
whoneves the number of their inhabit-
ants jusLifes it, TO form a constitution
with or without slavery, and be admit
ed into the Union upon terms of perfect
equality with the other States"
/ The convention to frame a constitution
for Kansas met on the first Monday Of
September last. They were called toge-
ther by virtue of an act Of the territorial
Legislature, whose lawful existance had
been recognized by Congress in dner-
ent forms and by different enactments. A
large proportion Of the citizens Of Kansas
did not think proper to register their
names, aad to vote at the election OF del
egates; but an opportunity to do this ha-
wing been fairly afforded, their refusal to
avail themselves Of their right, could in
m nner effect the legality df Il . OouAea-
ton. .si
This convention proceeded to frume
Gonstilu,on for Kansas, and finally ad-
iou4ned on the 7th day Of November
B 1t little difficulty occurred in the Con-
vention, exsept on the subject Of slavery
The trute is that the general provisions Of
our recent State constitutions are so SINH
iar-and mey add, so exaelent-that
the difference is not essential. Under
the earlier practice of the Government,
no constitution framed by the Convention
ofe Territory, preparatory to its admiss-
ion into the Union as a State had been
submitted to the people. trust, howev-
e., that the example set by the last Con-
gress, requiring that the Constitution Of
Minnesota " "should be subject to the ap-
proval and ratification of ihe people of
the proposed State," may be followed on
future occasions. I took it for granted
that the Convention Of Kansas would act
in accordance with tdis example, found
ed, as it is, on correct principles, and
hence my instructions to Governor Walk
er, in favor Of submitting the Constitution
t. the people, were expressed in general,
and unqualified terms.
Iu the Kansas s-Nebrska act, however,
this requirement, appllable to the whole
constitution, had not been inserted, and
the convention were not bound by its
terms to submit any portion of the in
srument to an election, except that which
relates to the domestic itstitutio." of
slavery. This will be rendered clearly
simple reference to its langu 'ge. 1t was
not to legislate into any State or Terrific
ry, nor.t to exclvbe it therefrom, but to
leave the people free to form and regu-
late lhir domestic institutions in their
own way" According to the plain con-
struclion Of the sentence, the words .do-
: mestic institutions" have direct as they
have an appropriate reference to slavery.
: "Domestic institutions" are limite to the
family. The relation between master
and slave and few others are "domes
tic institutions" and are entirely distinct
from institutions of political character.
Besees, there was no question then befo-
re Congress, nor indeed has there since
been any serions question before the peo-
pie or the country, except that which rel
ates t. the domestic institutions" Of sla-
: very.
The convention after ap excited and