Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-17


Territory, preparatory to it's admission to the
Union as State, had been submitted to the
people. | trust, however, the example SGT by
the last Congress, requiring that the constltu-
ton of Minnesota ''shoud be subject to the
approval and ratification of the people OF the
proposed State, may be followed on future oc-
casions. took it for granted that the Conven-
ton of Kansas would act in accordance win
this example, founded, as il Is, on correct prln-
ciples; and hence my Instructions to Governor
Walker, in favor of submitting the constitution
to the people, were expressed in general ana
unqualified terms
In the Kansas-Nehmska act, however, this
requirement, as applicable to the whole eonstl-
tuition, had not been inserted and the conven-
ton were not bound by its terms to submit any
other portion of the instrument to an election,
except that which relates to The - domestic IN
sttu ton y of Slavery. . This will be rendered
clear by a-simple reference to its language 1t
was " not to legisIate Slavery into any Terrific
ry or State, moi to exclude it therofrom, but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way" According to the plain sconstruc-
ton OF the sentence, the words, domestic in.
situations have direct, as they have an APP
proprate, reference to Slavery. g Domestic
institutions are limited to tho family. The
relation between master and slave, and few
Others, are domestic institu tions," and are
entirely distinct from Institutions of political
character Besides, there was no question then
before Congress, nor, indeed, has there since
been any serious question before the people of
Kansas or the country, except that which re-
lates to the I" domestic institution 3" of Slavery.
The Conye9ti1s, after an angry and excited
debate, finally ~bterminei, by majority Of
only two, to subiait the question of Slavery to
the people, though at their last forty three Of
the ifty delegates present affixed their sigma
lures to the constitution
large majority of the convention were in
favor OF establishing Slavery in Kansas They
accordingly inserted an article in tho Constitu,
ton Tor this purpose, similar in form to those
which had been adopted by other Territorial
conventions. In the schedule, however, pro-
viding Tor the transition from territorial to a
State government. the question has been fairly
ana explicitly referred to the people, whether
they Will have u constitu ion . with or without
slavery. 1t declares that, before the constitu
ton adopted by the convention 50 shall be sent
to Congress for admission into the Union as a
State, an election shall be held to decide this
f"N''iO"t "V NhlCu Tune all GDe WHITE male In
habians ct the Territory above the age of
twenty-one are entitled to vote. They are to
vote by ballot; and s the ballots cast at said
election shall be endorsed constitution with
Slavery and constitution with no Slavery. -
II there be majority in favor of the :" eonsti-
tuition with Slavery" then it is to be transmit
ted to Congress by the president of the conven-
ton, In its original form. If, on the contrary
r there shall be majority in favor of the " con-
stitution with no slavery - then the article
providing for Slavery shall be stricken from the
constitution by the president Of this conven
tion; and 1t Is expressly declared that "n
Slavery shall exist in the State Of Kansas, ex
cept that the night of property in slaves now ir
!, tte territory shall in no manner be interferre(
with " and in that event it is made the duty
to have the conslitu ton thus ratified transmitted
to the Congress of the United States for tn,
admission OF the State into the Union.
At the election every citizen will have al
, opportunity of expressing his opinion by hi
vote s. whether Kansas shall be received int,
the Union with or without Slavery" and thu
this exciting question may be peacefully settlet
in the very mode required by the organic law
The election will be held under legitimate au
thorlty, and if any portion of the inhabitant
shall refuse to vote, fair opportunity havin,
been presented his will Iye their own valuntar,
act, and they alone will be responsible for tn
consequences
Whether Kansas shall be u free or a slav
State must e1Astually, under some authority
be deci led by AZ election and the question
can never be more clearly or distinctly pre-
scented to the people than it is at the presen
moment Should this opportunity be rejected
she may be inve lived, for many years in domes
tic dlscord, and possibly in civil war, before sh
can make up the issue now SO fortunately ten
. dered, and again reach the point she has al
ready attained,
:, Kansas has Tor some years occupied too muc
OF the public attention, 1t is high time thi
should be devoted to move important objects
When once admitted into the Union, whethe
with or without Slavery, the excitement beyon
her own limits will speedily pass away, and sh
VIII then Tor the first time be left, as she ough
to nave been long since, to manage her own al
fairs In her own way. If her constitution o
, the subject OF Slavery, or on any other subject
9 be dlspleaslng to a majority of the people, n
:, human power can prevent them from changin
1t within u brief period. Under these crcun
q stances, 1t may well be questioned whether tn
y peace and quiet of the whole country an
E not OF greater Importance than the mere tempo
rary triumph OF either Of the political partie
. in Kansas
Should the constitution without Slavery b
: adopted by the votes of the majority, the righ
!, OF property in slaves now in the Territory sar
: reserved The nhmber of these is very small
: but II 1t were greater the provision would
= equally just and reasonable, These slaves wei
. brought into the Territory under the consttr
= ton OF the United States. and are now tn
. property OF their masters. This point has q
y length been finally decided by the highest il
: dicial tribunal Of the country-and this upo
u the plain principle that when confederacy {
sovereign States acquire u new Territory
= their joint expense, both equality and justic
u demand that the citizens of one and all {
Il them shall have the right to take into it wha
. soever is recognized as property by the commo
- constitution, To have summarly confscate
y the property in slaves already in the Territor,
~ ~ would have been an act of gross injustice, an
u contrary to the practice of the older States {
:, the Union which have abolished Slavery.
} UTAH
y A territorial government was established {;
, Utah by act of Congress approved the 9th
: September, l85Q--4aa4s the constitution an
q laws of the United States were thereby extent
h ed over it 3" SO far as the same, or any provi
q ions thereof may be applicable" This a
# provided for the appointment by the Presiden
~ by and with the advice and consent of the Sci
n ale, of governor, who was an ex-ofhcio Supe
h. ntendent of Indian Affairs, a secretary, thru
|, Judges of the Supreme Coart, Marsha and
~ District Attorney Subsequent acts provide
= for the appointment of the officers necessary
ID extend our land and our Indian system over IL
H. Territory Brigham Young was appointed Il
70 first governor on the Goth of September, 1851
10 and has held the Office ever since Whilst Go
10 Young had been both Governor and Superb
Of tendent of Indian Affairs throughout this per
ar cd, he has been at the same time at the hes
10 OF the church called the Latter-day Saints ar
v processes to govern its members and dispose