The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-05

treiRnl engagements llEut
were without alteration Of consequence in quotations
The Lccompton COnstitution-Slavcry aud
the Squabblc for the Spells.
We publish to-day, in full the famous Lee
compton Kansas State Constitution, and, after
perusing it, we suspect that most of our readers
will be puzzled to comprehend how it is that
this thing has created this new and prodigous
Kansas sensation throughout the country, and
this fearful mutiny which has so suddenly de-
veloped itself in the democratic camp. In its
general provisions, and in most of its details,
this constitution, with an exception or two, is
But there was one little omission on the
part of the Convention, which, accord
ing to Governor Walker and Mr.. Douglas
is fatal omission; and there are some little
bitches and catches in this constitution and
schedule on slavery, which make the whole
thing bill of denominations TO the free State
party.
The omission referred to was the failure of
the Convention to submit their constitution
bodily, and every part of it, to the vote of the
people. As we have shown, however, that upon
this point the only really important practi.
cal question is submitted to the popular
vote We must adhere to our opinion that
the objections of Governor Walker and Senator
Douglas in the premises are only those
nice distractions and techncalities which
amount to nothing compared with the desirable
object of getting this Kansas squabble out of
Congress.
Next. with regard to the alleged thmble-rig-
gng upon the slavery question, let MS see what
il amounts 10. The constitution recognizes the
inyiolable right of the stakeholder to his slaves
and their increase and the right of the slave
holders Of other States to settle in Kansas with
their slave property so long as slavery shall be
fully recognized in Kansas. If this part of the
constitution shall remain in it. Kansas, thus adj
mittcd. TO all intcnts and purposes will he a
slave State. But the appended schedule pro-
yides that on the 2lst December the people in
a general election. shall vote by ballot for the
Constitution with slavery" or the "Constitu-
tion with no slavery" and that If a majority of
the legal votes cast at said election are in favor
Of "the Constitution with no slavery" then
the article providing for slavery shall be stricken
from the constitution by the President of the
Convention and slavery shall no longer exist
in Kansas
Thus far the case il perfectly clear; but al
though the schedule thus declares that slavery
shall no longer exist in Kansas" this exception
Immediately folows-"excepi that the right of
property in slaves now in this Territory shall
in no manner be interfered with The sche-
due further provides that after the year 1864
there may be a reconstruction Of the constitu-
ton, and prescribes the forms to be pursued,
but reiterates the exception that no alteration
shall he made to affect the rights Of property in
the ownership Of slaves
Here. we are told, lies the cat IN the meal
tub;' and If these assumptions Of this Convcn-
ton could be made binding upon the people of
Kansas we should be compelled to admit that
popular sovereig, is great humbug The
fact j. however. tina, all these pro-slavery reser
vations, and this Withholding from The peorl ~"
right to amend their Constitution ,ll fst ar.
all sheer r..rsp md f,~era tee3a.av fc
Ell H.r.toaf 1n7 ~ 7trlrHa.'.a 81
the election be-, alton STA
slavery and the COM a. . slavery"
should the result lie mo sla, there will be
no slavery in the new State.
But If "no slavery" constitution should be
officially construed to mean q constitution re-
cognizing the pcrpctuity Of slavery. the "sove-
reign" right Of the people to change II forth
with will still remain. Who can doubt 1t
Where did these Lecompton philosophers derive
the power to superscde the sovereignty Of the
people And If this Convention could assume
and stretch its power an absolute despotism for
seven years into the future Why not for seventy
Or D hundred years to come? They might just
a. well have said that the people Of Kansas
shall have no authority TO alter their consltu-
ton till the year 1864 as the year 1864. The
assumption in any shape Is sucn a miserable
raw-hpsd and bloody.bones that nobody need
~ frightened al H. II i not living giant Of
border ruffianism. but only scarecrow Of
rags ard straw.
Bui with all this clamor and uproar about the
slavery lodges Of this Lecompton Convention.
we suspect that the organization Of the new
state IN reference t. the State capital. the pub
JIG lands. banks, internal Improvement. &c. in
Nolying perhaps at least fifty millions of public
plumber, j. the great trouble between the con-
testing parties in Kansas. We suspect that
while The Lecompton Convention delegates are
at the head Of one set Of spoilsmen and specu-
lators, Governor Walker has been unwittingly
dragged into the interests Of the opposite set
and That the spectators who followed him on,
70 Kansas have been throwing political dust In