Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-12-19

selves of their right could in no manne
affect the legality of the Convention.
This Convention proceeded to frame |
Constitution for Kansas, and finally ad
journed on the 7th day Of November. Bu
little difficulty occurred in the convention
except on the subject Of slavery. Tn
truth is that the general provisions of on
recent State constitutions are so similar
and, / may add, SO excellent that thu
difference between them is not essential -
Under the earlier practice Of the govern
ment, no constitution framed by the con
vention of Territory preparatory to it,
admission into the Union as q State hat
bccn submitted to the people. l trust
however, the example set by the last Cen
gross, requiring that the Constitution o
Minnesota "should be subject to the ap
proval, and ratification OF the people of "a,
proposed State" may bo followed on future
occasions. Ltook it for granted that the
convention of Kansas would act in accord
anee with this example, founded, as il is
on correct principles; and hence ms in
structions to Governor Walker, 10 favor o.
submitting the constitution to the people
were expressed in general and unqu ,lifed
terms.
In the Kansas Nebraska act, however
this requirement, as applicable to the whole
Constitution, had. not been inserted, and
the convention was not bound by its terms
to submit any other portion Of the instru-
ment to an election, except that which
relates to the " domestic institution OF
slavery. This will be rendered clear by a
simple reference tp its language. 1t was
mot to lesislate slavery into any Territory
or State, per to exclude it therefrom, but
to leave the people thereof perfectly free
70 form and regulate their domestic insti.
tutions in their own way" According to
the plain construction of the sentence, the
words domestic institutions hava.a 1rect,
as they have an appropriate, reference to
slavery. "Domestic institution" are limi ed
to the family, The relation between mas
ter and slave and few others are g. do
mestic institutions, and are entirely distinct
from, institutions of political character.
Besides, there was no question then before
Congress. nor indeed has there since been
any, serious question before the people Of
Kansas or the country, except that which
relates to the "domestic institution" cf
slavery"
The convention after an angry and excl
ted debate, finally determined, by ma
joriiy of only two, to submit the question
oil slavery to the people, though at the last
forty-three of the fifty delegates present
affixed their sigDitures to the constitution.
A large majority of the convention were
in favor of establishing slavery in Kansas.
They accordingly inserted an article in the
constitution for this purpose similar in
form to those which had been adopted BY
other territorial conventions. In the |
schedule, however, providing for the tran.
sition from territorial to State govern.
men', the question has been fairly and
explicitly referred to the people, whether
they will have constitution "with or with
out slavery" 1t declares that before the
constitution adopted by the convention
shall be sent to Ccngle ess for admission
INTO the Union as State" an election
shall be held to decide this question, at
which all the white male inhabitants of the
Territory above the age OF 81. are entitled
70 vote. They are to vote by baiict and
he "ballot cast at said election shall be
,ndored Constitution with slavery and
Constitution with no slavery" Ii there
oc majority in favor of the Constitution
with slavery, then it is to be transmitted
to Congress by the President of the Con.
venlion in its original form. If, on tie
contrary, there shall ba q majority in favor
of the Constitution with no slavery" ""then
the article providing for slavery shall be
stricken from the Constitution by the
President of this Convention )" and it is
declared that mo slavery shall
exist in the State of Kans,s except that the
right of property in slaves now in the
Territory shall in no manner be intcrfered
with, and in thai event it is made his duty
to have the Constitution thus ratified
to the Congress of the United !
States for the admission of the State into
the UDion.
AT this election every citizen will have
an opportunity of expressing bis opinion
by his vote "whethcr Kansas shall be re-
ceived into the Union with or without
slavery" and thus this exciting question
may be peacefully settled in the very mode
required by the organic law. The election
will be held under legitimate authority, and
if any portion Of the. inhabitants shall re-
fuse to vote, fair opportunity to do SO
having been presented, this will be their
own voluntary act, and they alone will be
responsible for the consequences.
Whether Kansas shall be free or a
slave State must eventually, under some
authority, be decided By au election and
the question can never be more clearly or
distinctly presented to the people than it is
at the present moment. Should this op-
portunlty be rejected, she may be involved
Ior years in domestic discord, and possibly
in civil war, before she can again roach the
point she has already attained.
Kansas has for some years occupied too
much of the public attention. 1t is high |
time they should be directed to far more
important objects. When once admitted
into the Union, whether with OF without
slavery, the excitement beyond her own
limits VIII speedily pass away, and she