The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-31

" submitted to the tree acceptance or relec-
ton Of the people Of Kansas, and that, mas
much as that was the exciting and para.
mount question, il they yet the right TO vote
Us they please ON that subject, they ought
to be satisfied and possibly il might be
better if we would accept il, and put an end
10 the question. Let me ask, sir, is the
slavery clause fairly submitted, SO that the
people can vote Tor or against it. Suppose
were citizen OF Kansas, and should go
up to the polls and say. - desire TO vote TO
make Kansas slave State here is my bal
lot" They reply TO me, "Mr Douglas, just
vote for that constitution first, if you
please" "Ol, no.. answer, =" cannot
vote for that constitution conscientiously.
| am op POSED TO the clause by which
you locate certaia railroads in such way
as to sacrifice my county and my part of the
State. | am opposed TO that banking sys-
TEN. | am opposed to this Know Nothing
or American clause in the constitution,
about the qualification for Office. | cannot
vote for it, Then they answer g iou
shall not vote on making it a slave State.
! then say, ] want to make it free State
They reply" Vote for that constitution first,
and then you can vote TO make il n FREE
State; otherwise you cannot
Thus, they disqualify every free State
man who will not first vote for the constitu-
ton they disqualify every slave State man
who will not first vote for the constitution.
No matter whether or not the voters state
that they cannot conscientlously vote :or
these provision, they reply, You cannot
vote for or against slavery here. Take the
constitutions AZ we have made il, take the
elective franchise as we have established it,
take the banking system us We have dictated
it take the railroad lines as We have located
them, take the judiciary system a. we have
formed il. take all "a we have fixed It to suit
ourselves, and ask no questions, but vote for
it, or you shall not vote either for slave or
Il free State" In other words, the legal ef.
feet Of the schedule is this All those who
are in favor OF this constitution may vote
for or against slavery, as they please; but all
those who are against this constitution are
DISTINGUISHED and shall not vote at all. That
is the mode in which the slavery proposition
is submitted Every man opposed 10 the
constitution is DISTINGUISHED On the slavery
clause How many are they! They tell
YOU there is majority, for they say the
constitution will be voted down instantly,
by an overwhelming majority. if you allow
Il negative vote. This shows that "a majority
are against it. They disquaify and dlsfran
chlse every man who i against II. thus re-
ferrng the slavery clause TO II minority of
the pcoplc OF Kansas, and leaving that mi.
nority free TO vote for or against the slavery
clause a. they choose.
Let me ask you if that IL fair mole Of
submitting the slavery clause, Does that
mode OF submitting that particular clause
leave the people perfectly free to vote for or
against Slavery ~ they choose Am free
TO vote as | choOse on the Slavery question.
if you tell me | shall not vote on IL until
vote for the Maine i.iqnor Law, Am free
TO vote on the Slavery question, if you tell
me that | shall not vote either way until ]
yoteo for a bank! IL il freedom OF election
TO make your right to vote upon one ques-
ton depend upon the mode in which you
are going To vote on some other question
that has no connection with il! IL that
freedom OF election Is that the great iun-
damental principle of selfgovernment, Tor
wbic we combined and struggled, in this body
and throughout the country, TO establish as
the rule Of action in all times TO come!
The President OF the United States has made
some remarks in his message which, 1t strikes
me, il would be very appropriate to read IN
biz connection. lie says:
The friends and supporters Of the Nebraska
aul Act when ztrueVltuu A recent
occ aston to sustain It's wise provisions before
the great tribunal OF the American people, HeY.
er differed about it, true meaning on this sub
iect. Everywhere throughout the | mon they
publicly pledged their faith and honor that
they would chesrfully submit the question Of
slavery to the deci-ion Of the bOna fids people
OF kan.as, without any restriction or qualliica
ton whatever. All were cordially united upon
the grea, doctrine Of popular sovereignty,
which Is the vital principle Of our free ln-iiin
tOn-.
Mark this
Had II been in-inua,ed from any quarter
that il would have been sufficient comp liance
with the acquisitions Of the organic law for the
members OF a convention. thereafter To- be
elected. 10 withhold The question Of Slavery
from the people, and substitute their own viii
for that Of legally ascertaiHsd majority Of
their constituents. Ibis would have been IN
.tanty rejected.
I,-- SIR, and ! will add further, had il
been then intimated from any quarter ard
believed BY the American people. tina, We
would have submitted the slavery clause in
-ucl manner a. 10 compel a man 10 vote
for tina, which his conscience did not ap.
prove M order 10 vote on the slavery clans
not only would The idea have been rejected
bu, the Democratic candidate for the Pre.i.
iency would have been rejected and every
man who backed him would have bcen re
jected too.
The Presid-n, tells ia in biz message that
the whole party pledged our faith and our
honor tina, the slavery question should b.
Submitted 10 the people, without any re-
stric,ion or qualification whatever. Does
TIN. schedule submit il without qnalihea.
tiots' IL qualijes j, by saying, YOu may
vote On slavery If yoa will vote for the Con
sti,u'ion bu, you shall not DO 80 without
doing that That il very impor,an, quaI-
iisatlor--a qualification that f,ntrois "A