Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-12-17

gress the evidence required by the organic act
whether for or against slavery; and in this man
ner smooth their passage into the Union. In
emerging from the condition of territorial de-
d ,ndence into that of sovereign State, it was
t leir duty, in my opinion, to make known their
will by the votes of the majority, on the direct
question whether this important domestic insti-
tuition should or should not continue to exist
Indeed, this was the only possible mode in which
their will could be automatically ascertained.
The election of delegates to convention must
necessarily take place in separate districts. From
this cause it may readily happen, as has often
been the case, that majority Of the people of
a State or Territory are on one side Of a ques-
tion while majority of the representatives from
the several districts into which it is divided may
be upon the other side. This arises from the
fact that in some districts delegates may be cleo
ted by small majorities, whilst in others those of
different sentiments may receive majorities sufi-
GENTLY great not only to overcome the votes given
f the former, but to leave a large majority of
the whole people in direct opposition to ma
jority Of the delegates. -
Besides, eur history proves that influences
may be brought to bear on the representative
sufficiently powerful to induce him to disregard
the will of his constituents. The truth is that
QO QUIET duticIGiC dlNl SATISFACTORILY uIUuc cASGS
of ascertaining the will of a majority Of the peo-
pie of any State or Territory on an important
and exciting question like that of slavery in Kan
sas, except by leaving it to direct vote. How
wise then, was it for Congress to pass over all
subordinate and intermediate agencies, and pro-
coed directly to the source of all legitimate power
under our institutions!
How vain would any other principle prove in
practice! This may be illustrated by the case
of Kansas. Should she be admitted into the
Union, with a constitution either maintaining
or abolishing slavery, against the sentiment Of
the people, this could have no other effect than
to continue and to exasperate the existing agita-
ton during the brief period required to make
the constitution conform to the irresistible will
of the majority.
The friends and supporters Of the Nebraska
and Kansas act, when struggling on recent oc-
casion to sustain its wise provisions before the
great tribunal of the American people, never
differed about its true meaning on this subject.
Everywhere throughout the whole Union they
publicly pledged their faith and their honor, that
they would cheerfully submit the question of
slavery to the decision of the bona fide people
of Kansas, without any restriction or q1ali6ca-
ton whatever. All were cordially united upon
the great doctrine Unpopular sovereignty, which
is the vital principal Of our free institutions. !
!, Had it then been insinuated from any quar-
ter that it would be sufficient compliance with
the acquisitions of the organic law for the MEM
bers Of convention, thereafter to be elected, to
2 withhold the question of slavery from the peo-
pie, and to substitute their own will for that of
legally majority of all their consti-
tuents, this would have been instantly rejected.
Everywhere they remained true to the resolu-
: ton adopted on celebrated occasion, recognis-
ing ssthe right Of the people of all the Terrific
ries-including Kansas and Nebraska acting
through the legally and fairly expressed will Of
majority of actual residents, and whenever the
number Of their inhabitants justifes it, to form
ascohstitution with Or without slavery, and be