The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-07-02

dent, through the Secretary Of State. unde'
date Of the Both Of March last. sustain
regular Legislature Of the Territory" ii
" assembling convention 10 form eoasti
tuition" and they express the opinion o! tbs
President, that wheo such Constitution
shall be submittoj TO the people OF the Ter
ritoyy, they must b. protected ia the exer
Csc Of their right OF voting fox or agans,
that instrument and the fair exprssion o.
the popular will must no, Be interrupted by
fraud and vio,eace.
! conc now 10 my own individual views
| repeat thea. a. my clear conviction, that
unless the conveatlon submit tho constilr
tuition 10 the vote Of all the actual resident
settlers Of Karsas. aud the elcction he fair
ly and Justly conducted. the constitution
will be, and ought to be rejected by Con
grcss, Cries Of Good
1entlemen. on this subject | wish tina,
there should be no mistake. no misapprc
henson as regards my opinions and the pol
icy which l sha deem il my duty to pursue
IN the administration OF the Executive De
partmeut OF the Territory Of Kansas lt.s
involved in a few simple words That the
majority Of the people Of Kansas must gov
eru-.Icrics Of right" that the majority
oil thu people Of Kansas must adopt their
own Constitution or reject that the ma
jority OF the people Of Kansas at the polls
must decide whether they will be Slave
State or Free State. Applausc
ladccd, under whatever specious disgu,ses
any other doctrine may be presented, be
Iieve tina, the man who deslrs that the mi
nori,y Of the people shall establish institu.
,ious for the majority, is, whatever he may
call himself, neither Democrat or Re
publican. but u monarchist or aristocrat
lie dcsirs that the few shall govern the
many, whereas the great fundamental doc
trine which lies ut the basis Of all our
American institutions, and upon which they
all reposc. and which has been carried into
successful operation III every other State bu,
h ansas, and which, gentlemen, with your aid
aud cooperation 10 sustain me, il is my sin.
,erc bope shall obtain its fullest realization
here, is the rule OF the majority.
Now, then, gentlemen, as u the mode in
which this is 10 be accomplished. pre-.
sumo We all agrce--at least hops W. do
US 10 the doctrine that the majority OF the
people .! Kansas shall establish their own
Constitution and introduce such social nsil-
tutions as thu majority prefer. Bu, how Is
this TO be done! The Congress II the Uni.
ted States has established for Kansas but
one mode Of action On the subject, and that
action is through the Territorial Legisla-
turc.
Now, none Of you can regret more than !
do any Of those dcplorable and calamitous
circumstances VIII CD have taken place in the
past. For myself | wish TO overlook the
pas, and look forward TO the better AMI
brighter future That Territorial Lrgisla.
ture has In respect 10 the authority over
this question, ben recognized by the acts o,
Congress Of 1856 aud 1887, That Leg,sla-
turc has called Convention TO assemble in
September neat. That Constitution they
viii or they will no, submit 10 the vote Of
the majority Of the then act al resident set.
tiers VI X ansas. II they do not thus submit
it. | will JOIN you. fellow citizens, IN lawful
opposition TO their course. Cries of"Good.'
aud chccrs And ] cannot doubt. gentle.
men. that one much higher than |, the Chief
Magistrate Of the Union, will join you in OF
position. But, gentleman, Tor myself. ! can
not doub, that that Convention will submit
such an ins,rumcn, rs they may frame, for
the adoption or rejection Of the whole peo
pie OF Kansas, to oil who row are or then
may be actual. bona fd<. resident settlers Of
the Territory OF Kansas Then, ut that
time, and in pursuance OF the method desig.
na,c' by the laws OF your country, by the
instructions Of the Chief Magistrate Of The
Onion. who vas placed there by the people
and sworn by them 10 execute the laws,
do not entertain doubt but that that Ton
veniion will submit 10 the whole Of the then
bona fd< settlers Of Kansas, the deternina
ton Ter themselves by an actual majority Of
the whole people whether they shall adopt
or reject that Constitution. II they reject
Il. there Is an end 10 that CONVENTION. 1t
has performed its Office. 1t has adjourned
never TO mc, again. A Volcr-Wbst
pcxttl What next, you ask, gentlemen -
There ore two other easy eSu from the d,i.
ficulty. and as the question isa practical opc,
| propose 10 answer il 10 October neat.
not under the act Of tie late Territorial
Legislature. tu, under the laws Of Congress,
you. the whole people Of Kansas, have a
figh; 70 elec; Delegate TO Congrss. and 20
cleo, Territorial legislature and through
that Legislature you can speak your views
ADD instruct them either to call new Con.
seution TO sgbmit new constitution Tor tie
consideration Of the people. or they can in.
s,rrc, their Delegate 70 congress- chosen BY
. majority Of their owB votes. 70 ask Con
grcs to pas a Law authorizing The people
Of kansas TO form State Constitution Tor
themselves