The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-08


convention and clothed them with power to make
constitution. This the substance of their duties
and they have performed them. If the people did
not wish the persons who delegates to be made
SUCH and to frame such constitution as they have
done, they should have elected others. Not having
done 80, they have no substantial ground of CON-
plant
The convention framed constitution, and, look
ing to the great and only question long agitated
there and throughout the Union, it determined to
submit that question to a vote Of the people. Here
the substance of the whole controversy contain
ed in provision, and they, of their own accord,
in Difference to their supposed wishes, submitted it to
the voters in Kansas The very ph and marrow of the
whole matter in difference is plainly and distinct
y before the people, and the voters can determine it,
There is no law requiring any submission whatever,
but, desiring an expression of the people upon the
only known question subject of controversy, and
to allow their will to control the substantial difference
apparent among the people, the convention resolved
to waive all questions of technical power, and sub
nit it to popular vote. They knew that in the
States question alone, that of slavery had in
terested the peoplea the South in favor and at the
North and West against it, Nowhere out of Kansas
had the people expressed anxiety upon any other
point. In submitting this question the convention
conformed to the substance of things regardless Of
technical niceties.
The devotees of technicaities now assume that
they will not vote upon the question because other
mmateral and uncontroverted questions not also
submitted. Why not vote upon the real question,
and the only one to which the public mind has been
turned Why abandon the old substantial issue for
mere technical one? The only answer must be- that
upon rigid general principles the people have right
to determine the character of their institutions.
The reply is as obvious as substantial. The right
is not disputed, but those complaining have re-
fused its exercise first they refused to vote for
delegates to the convention, and, therefore, cam
not complain of what resulted from their own
failure to exercise this right--the presumption is
they cared nothing about what they did second,
they have now an opportunity to vote upon the
great and important question, if they choose so to
do and thereby determine it in conformity with the
will of the majority. If they refuse to act upon this
substantial ground, they then plant themselves upon
those techncaties which the sound common sense
controversy has been free slave State, and all
now concede that the will of the majority i'll Kansas
ought to govern. The voters of Kansas can de-
eide it for themselves. If one portion of them re-
fuse to act but leave the determination to others,
it is their own fault, and they cannot fairly justly
complain of the result. The only mode of deter
mining questions of this kind is by the votes given
upon them. This is substance. If portion refuse
to vote because they cannot also vote upon other
questions, this is mere technically 1t is abandon
ing the great question of principle upon formal
techncality. This is the real question now before
the public The substance has been secured. Shall
it be blown to the winds upon mere matter of form
required by no law and no necessity?
Until recently the enemies of the democracy
have repudiated the principle of regular self
government by the people of Kansas and de-
manded the control Of it by Congress. They DO
not recognise it except upon technical grounds
which would defeat the substance Of things' whlch
they have heretofore proassed wish TO con-
troll, They propose to refuse to vote upon the only
question of difference and then complain of the
suit upon that question upon technical grounds,
without technical law to rest upon. The peo-
PIE Ol halSaS have aH W oiSSs nueii
persons as they chose members of the convention,
and one portion would not vote and now they have
the question of free or slave State submitted to them
and those who would not vote for delegates refuse
to express their opinions upon the subject and sole
ly upon technical grounds Matters of form, and not
of substance control their action and they seek
to agtate the whole country because they choose to
act upon technicalities instead of matters of sub
stance. They seem to expect that the people will
engage in fierce struggle upon these non-es-
sential points, about which they nothing, when
those interested have had opportunity to act upon
them as matters of substance. They will be disap-
pointed and especially if they expect to divide the
democracy upon technicalities where substantial
merits are not involved 1t is poor compliment to
their understanding, and one which will be appre-
ciated by those whom it is proposed to dupe and
misead
The Hon. James Craig, of Missouri, has completed
the arrangement for daily mail service from Quincy,
ILL.,, to Hannibal and st. Joseph, Mo-, with the
Postmaster General and ID. +. Beeman, contract
or is to put it into operation Immediately.
From the promptness with which the MEM