Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-12

'i0hsa laws art Auiiy anu ialiay SASSutSu'
! see in this act calling the convention
no improper or unconstitutional restric-
tons upon the right of suffrage. / see
in it no test oath or other similar provis-
ions objected to in relation to the pre-
vious laws, but clearly repealed as repug-
nant to the provisions of this act, SO far
as regards the election Of delegates to
this convention. 1t is said that fair
and full vote viii not be taken. Who
can safely predict such result? Nor is
it just for majority, as they allege, to
throw the power into the hands of a mi
nority, from a mere apprehension-Q
trust entirely unfounded) that they will
not be permitted to exercise the right of
suffrage.
If, by fraud or violence, a majority
should not be permitted to vote, there is
a remedy, it is hoped, in the wisdom and
justice of the convention itself, acting I'M
der the obligations of an oath, and a
proper responsibility to the tribunal of
public opinion. There is a remedy also,
if such facts can be demonstrated, in the
refusal of Congress TO admit State into
the Union under a constitution imposed
by minority upon majority by fraud
or violence. Indeed, cannot doubt that
the convention, after having framed a
State constitution, will submit it for rati-
fication or rejection, by majority of the
then actual bona .fde resident settlers of
Kansas.
With these views, well known to the
President and Cabinet, and approved by
them, l accepted the appointment of
Governor Of Kansas. My instructions
from the PRESIDENT through the Secretary
of State, under date of the 30th of March
last, sustain the regular Legislature of
the territory" in assembling conven-
ton to form a constitution" and they ex-
press the opinion of the President, that
"when such a constitution shall be sub
mitted to the people of the territory, they
must be protected in the exercise of the
right of voting for or against that instru-
ment; and the fair expression of the
popular will must not be interrupted by
fraud or violence"
I repeat, then, as my clear conviction,
that unless the Convention submit the
constitution to the vote of all the actual
resident settlers of Kansas, and the cleo
ton be fairly and justly conducted, the
constitution will be, and ought to be re-
jected by Congress.
Gov. Walker then proceeds to argue
at great length some other reasons why
the people should all participate in the
election of delegates to the Convention,
embracing the proper settlement of the
public domain so as to enure to the high
est good of the territory. Coming again
to the slavery question, he earnestly urges
that the slavery agitation may be taken
from the halls of Congress and Presiden-
tial conflicts, and this he thinks is to be
done by the peaceful settlement of the
contentious in Kansas. He says:
There is a law more powerful than
the legislation of man, more potent than
passion or prejudice, that must ultimately
determine the location of slavery in this
country it is the isothermal line. it is
the law of the thermometer, of latitude
or altitude, regulating climate, labor and
productions, and as consequence profit
and loss. Thus, even upon the noun
tain heights of the tropics slavery can no
more exist than in northern ATTITUDES. be-
cause it is Improbable, being unsuited to
the constitution of that sable race trans
planted here from the equatorial heats of
Africa.
Why is it that in the Union slavery
recedes from the North and progresses in
the South 1t is this same great climatic
law now operating for or against slavery
In Kansas. If the elevated plains of
Kansas, stretching to the base of our
American Alps-the Rocky Mountains
and including their eastern crest.
crowned with perpetual snow, from which
sweep over her open prairies those chill
ing blasts, reducing the average range Of
the thermometer here to a temperature
nearly as low as that of New England,
should render slavery Improbable here
because unsuited to the tropical constitu-
ton of the negro race, the law above re-
ferred to must ultimately determine that
question here, and can no more be con-
trolled by the legislation of man than
any other moral or physical law of the
Almighty. Especially must this law op-
crate with irresistible force in this coun-
try, where the number of slaves is limited.