Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-02
KANSAS CONSTITUTIONAL coNvv,z7o--


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We publish in another column. the scbea,,,.
adopted by the Kansas Constitutional Conyen,
tion. Contrary TO what we conceive to he flo
true intent and meaning of the Kansas Nebras.
ka Act, the resolutions OF the Cincinnati Plat
form, the Inaugural Address OF Mr.. Buchanan
the recommendations of Governor Walker.
the pledges Of many of the members of that
convention. the general expectations of the
country, and In defiance of the true PRINCIPLES
OF liberal democratic government. that bodv
has refused to submit its work fairly to the cit
liens of Kansas. There is no honest suhmis
sion OF the new Constitution to the action of
the people. 1t IS provided that they may vote
for ''the Constitution with slayery'' or for
s'the Constitution without Slavery but they
cannot vote against the Constitution no matter
how much they may be opposed to its proyf-
sions. They are not allowed an opportunity of
saying whether they do or do not desire the
document framed By this Convention to be
their fundamental law, and by the abnegation
of this privilege they are deprived Of the full
exercise Of that right of forming their own in
stitutions to which they are entitled by every
consideration OF Justice and right. The pro-
posed election is in less complete and more
offensive form than that by which Louis Napo-
leon obtained the confirmation of his asSumr-
tion as Emperor from the French people
While he refused to give them an opportunity
to vote for such candidates as they preferred,
he still submitted the proposition whether he
should or should not be placed upon the throne.
He at last gave them a chance to rote him dolca
if they desired 10 do This right the Kan
sas Constitutional Convention has refused to
the people of that Territory. The peryading
idea OF democratic government is, that all pub
lie representatives and officials are mere ser
wants, whose highest duty is to guard the in
terestS and carry out the win of higher pow
er-that of the people, the only true sover-
eigns. The Convention has acted as though
it was the master instead of the servants
though it was determined to fasten and mako
binding its action upon its constituency. This
strange and unjust proceeding hecessitates the
cOnvictiOn-that it was afraid of popular con-
demnation, afraid TO trust its work to the
free action of the people-afraId to do its du-
ty. and to place the power of final judgment
upon its proceedings where it belonged-in
the hands of those most deeply interested in
them If the Constitution suits a majority of
the people of Kansas, they would vote for it in
any event, and it would become their funda-
mental law. II it does not conform TO the
views and requirements of majority of the
citizens of Kansas, they should have an oppor-
tuuity of voting against it. This proposition
seems clear, that We are surprised that il
should be questioned in any quarter. Z.
ven the Convention was not altogether dcsti-
tute of some idea of the justice of this princi-
pie, Tor it proposes to leave the people say
whether they are to have the Constitution Irifh
or ,citiout slavery. What right had ii to limit
the power of the people to action upon mere
ly one question, and to confiDe their Judgment
even upon that by narrow boundaries The
whole power belonged to the citizens of that
Territory. There was no warrant for dividing
1t. and we can conceive no just and proper Tea-
son for thus dwarfing their sovereignty. The
whole affair wears the aspect OF a mere trick
Gn unworthy expedient-which should meet
with no favor.