Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-12-25

This result was superinduced by the fact
that the Territorial Legislature had ap-
pointed all the Sherifis and Probate Judges
IN all these counties to whom was assigned
the duty, by law, of making this census
and registry. These officers were political
partizlns, dissenting from the views and
opinions of the people of these counties,
as proved by the election of October last.
These officers, from want Of funds, ,as they
sllese, neglected or refused to take any
ccnsus,or make any registry in these couu-
ties, and therefore they were entirely dis
franchiscd, aud could not and did not give
single vote at the election Of delegates
to the Constitution Convention.
And here wish to call attention to the
distinction which will appear in my inau-
gural address, in reference to those coun-
ties where the votes were fairly registered,
aud did not vote. In such counties, the
question is very different from those coun.
ties where there was no census or registry,
and no vote was given or could be given,
however anxious the people might be to
participate in the election Of delegates to
the Convention. Nor could it be said
these counties acquicsced, for, whenever
they endeavorcd, by a subsequent census
or registering of their own, to supply this
defsct, occasioned By the previous neglect
Of Territorial cfzccrs, the delegates thus
chosen were rejected by the Convention.
l repeat, that in niaeteen counties out
Of the thirty-four, there was no census !;
aud in fifteen counties out of the thirty
there was no registry, and nOs solitary
vote was given or could be given for dele
gates to the Convention, in these counties.
Surely, then, it can not be said that such
a Convention, chosen by scarcely more
than one tenth Of the present voters OF
Kansas, represented the people Of that
Territory, and could rightfully impose the
Constitution upon them without their con-
sent. These nineteen counties, in which
there vas DO census, constituted majori.
iy Of the counties Of the Territory; and
these Gfteen counties in which there was
no registry, gave much larger vote, at
the October election, even with the six
months qualification, than the whole vote
given to the delegates who sigued the Lee
compton Convention on the 9TH of Noyem-
Der last.
Is, then, the sovereignty can be delega-
ted, and conventions, as such, are soycr-
eign, (which l deny,) surely it must be
only in such cases as where such convcn-
iions are chosen by the people which we
have seen was 10. tie case as regards the
late Lecompton Convention. 1t was for
this, among other reasons, that in my IT,
augural and other addresses, insisted that
the Constitution should be submitted 10
The people by the Convention as the only
means Of curing this vital defect in its or
gauiza,ion. 1t was, therefore, among other
reasons, when, as you know, the organiza-
tiou of the SO called Topeka State Govern
men', and, as consequence, an inevitable
civil war aud coufict with the troops must
have ensued, these results were prevented
by my assuring, not the abolitionists as
has been enormously stated, for my address
was not to them but to the people of Kan
s,s, that, in my judgement, the Constitu-
,icn would be submitted fairly and freely
for ratification and rejection by their votes,
and that, if this was not done, l would
unite with them, the people, as | now do,
in "lawful opposition to such procedure.
The power and responsibility being de-
veloped exclusively upon me, by the Pres
ident, Of using the Federal army in Kan
sas to suppress insurrec.iOn, the alternative
wa, distinctly presented to me by the ques.
,ions propounded at Topeka, of arrestiug
revolution by the slaughter of the people,
or Of prcventiDgit it, together with that civil
war which must have extended throughout
the Union, by the solemn assurance ther
given. that the right of the people to frame
ih,ir own government, so far as my power
extended, should be maintained. But fol
iii. assurance, it is conceded fact tina
the ToI, ka State Government, then asse N
bl,d i'll Lccompton, would have lcen pu
into immediate and actual operation, aut
that sanguinary collision with the Fed
eral army and civil war must have ersued
extending, it is feared, tbroug hout th'
Union Indeed, the whole idea Of an in
augural address originated in the alarming
Intelligence, which had reached Washing
ton City, Of perilOus and incipient rebel
lion in Kansas. This insurrcction wa:
rendered still more formidable, On my
reaching the Territory, by the near ap
proach Of the assembling Of the revolution
ary State Legislature, and the very numer
Gus mass conventions by which it was sus
taiped. In truth had to choose between