Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-07-15


aaeI aasssE 60 ! s6s vd 6sis
will get it by the Convention submitting the
Constitution to the vote Of the whole people.
CA voioe--r Who is to elect the Convention?
That is the grand question vD Gentlemen,
it is a comparatively small point by whom the
Constitution is to be submitted Don't let
US run away after shadows. Do not refuse
to register and then say you can't vote. The
great substantial point is this. will the whole
people of Kansas next fall, by fair election
impartially and fairly conducted by impartial
judges, have an opportunity to decide for
themselves what shall be their form Of gov
ernment and what shall be their social insti-
tutious say they will, but I 60 step
farther-( A voice" Have YOU got the pow
er ?") If have not the power to bring it
about, if the Convention viii not do it, viii
join you in lawful opposition to their proceed
ings. (Cries of 6 good, good" A voice,
" we will hold you to your promise An
other voice, chow are we to vote for this here
Convention? p Another voice. nothing can
be iairer than what he says.") Well, gen.
tlemen, l have no power to repeal the laws
that have been passed in reference to tho Con-
vention, and if those laws have not been fair-
ly executed it is simply no fault of mine. ca
voice Has not James Buchanan power to
repeal those laws ?" Another voice" Has
not be sanctioned them?2) lie has had moth
ing to do with them, but the Congress of the
United States has authorized the Territorial
Legislature to pass laws. Tho President of
the United States has taken an oath to carry
the laws into effect, and it is for you, if you
are opposed to these laws, through the peo.
pies vote to repeal them. \ voice We
cannot get at them" There is not the least
difficulty about your getting at them. ca
voice" Keep out Missouri and we will do
we'll enough.") Well, gentlemen, pledge
myself to you, that so far as my power is con-
cerned-and do not doubt that you are not
in any event to have re- enacted here the scenes
of the past-but SO far as my power is con-
cerned, pledge myself that the people of
Kansas, and of Kansas alone, and not the
people of Missouri or of Massachusetts,, or any
other State, shall interfere by one single vote,
to decide for the people of Kansas what shall
be their institutions. ca voice. That is
my doctrine" Cries of good, good W
But, gentlemen. they shall decide it for them
selves. When these views Of mine are not
carried into effect, when you see that you will
not have a full and fair opportunity to decide
for yourselves what shall be your form of gov
ernnlent, and your social institutions, it will
then be time enough to complain of me, but
not till then. Several voices g That is
right ;" Another voice, 80 What about The
bogus laws ?rl Aud now am asked, what
about the bogus iawsi2 Why. your very Gov
e-ner. Mr.. Robinson, has acknowledged those
bogus laws b. putting into effect charter
passed by that bogus Legislature, and SO have
many of you, and nearly all the people of
Kansas. And # the bogus Legislature has
power to pass charters 1t has power to pass
any other law not in conflict with the Consti-
tuition of the United States. { a voice, How
are those inspectors to be appointed ~ They
must be appointed fairly and impartialy, of
course CA voice, Who is to appoint them?)
I doubt not that the Convention will prescribe
fair, Just and impartial method. as they do
in other States. A voice, "They did, IN
giving us $50 voters in this county.') Well.
gentlemen, let us look at this question. What
have these 2S0 voters to do, if you have all
fair voice next fall on the Constitution
voice, ..Thcre has been no census, taken-"-
That has nothing to do with the question. :
But while [ must deeply regret and deplore
the circumstance that there has been an in
sufficient census, what am | to think when
told by those who profess TO represent the he
publican party of this territory that tell you
that YOU should neither register nor vote
You were kept from registering as you all
know by following the advice of these party
leaders of yours, and then complain they can
not vote. You could have registered here if
you pleased, and hundreds in this Territory
since hearing my plan have expressed to me
their deep regret that they had not registered
and many of your county. since my arrival,
have changed their position and resolved to
vote. Every man who responds that he will
not acknowledge those laws has been deprl-
we'd of no privilege in not being registered,
because he declares that whether registered
or not he will not vote. If you dislike the
Convention, do you best oppose it by stand
ing aloof and allowing majority of other per
sons to adopt their Constitution, or by voting
down that instrument If you do not vote
next fall for or against that instrument when
YOU have fair chance. Congress will ac. as
though you had. No, you cannot mot defeat the
Constitution by refusing to vote. @ voice,
The Governor is right. and We will vote
tben.") Now, gentlemen l really believe L
have detained you too long: There is moth
ing on earth l love more than free opinion, a
free press and popular discussion. Cries OF
right Instead of objecting to it, love
to hear some few of you differ from me or ask
Questions. Come, let US reason tegcther. -
Discarding passion and prejudice, regrettting
as YOU and I do, all the difficulties that have
occurred in the past, let US ask ourselves this
great practical question--What is the best for
the great future of Kansas ? Ca voice-the
Topeka CONSTITUTIONAL Well, gentlemen. !
hope no one will say so, unless the man who
believes that1 .73l rioters should deprive some
90, 900 or 80, 600 voters now in tho Terr,te-
ry, or that soon viii be here, of deciding their
own form of government for themselves. .