Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-12-29

l.
posed TO the Constitution is disfranchised
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 ma
jority. if You allow negative vote. This
shows that majority are againstit. They
disqualfy and disfranchise every man who
is against it, thus referring the Slavery
clause to a minority of the people of Kan
sas, and leaving that minority free to vote
for or against the Slavery clause, rs they
choose.
Let me ask you II that is "a fair mode of
submitting the Slavery clause? Does that
mode of submitting that particular clause
leave the people perfectly free to vote for
or against Slavery, AS they choose =? Am
free to vote as l choose on the Slavery
question, if you tell me shall not vote on
! il until vote for the Maine Liquor Law?
Am free to vote on the Slavery question,
if you tell me that shall not vote either
way until vote for bank? Is it free
dom of election to make your right to vote
upon one question depend upon the mode
in which you are going to vote on some
other question which has no connection
with it? Is that freedom of election? Is
that the great fundamental principle Of self
| government, for which we combined and
struggled, in this body; and throughout
the country, to establish as the rule of ac-
ton in all time to come? The President
of the United States has made some re-
marks in his Message which, it strikes me,
it would be be very appropriate to read in
this connection. He says:
.. tsTha friande and aunnOrtara of tho Me-
braska and Kansas Act, when struggling
on a recent occasion to sustain its wise
provisions before the great tribunal of the
American people, never differed about it's
true meaning on this subject. Everywhere
T throughout the Union they publicly pledg-
ed their faith and honor that they would
cheerfully submit the question of Slavery
to the decision of the bona tide people OF
Kansas, without any restriction whatever.
All were cordially united upon the great
doctrine of popular sovereignty, which is
the vital principle of our free institutions"
Mark this I.F ..t... Oh. '. -.
f Had it then been insinuated from any
quarter, that it would have been a sufficient
compliance with the requisitions of the or
ganic law for the members of Conven-
ton, thereafter to be elected, to withhold
, the question of slavery from the people,
and to substitute their own will for that OF
/. legally ascertained majority of their con-
Q stituents, this would have been instantly
t rejected"
? The President tells us in his Message
] that the whole party pledged our faith
s and our honor that the slavery question
should be submitted to the people. with
b, out any restriction or qualification what
e ever, Does this schedule submit it with
j out qualification? 1t qualities it by say
n ing, "You may vote on slavery if you will
s vote for the Constitution; but you shall
e not do so without doing that This is 8
: very important Qualifications qualifica-
- ton that controls mans vote and his ac'
= ton and his conscience, if he is an honest
S man-a qualification confessedly in viola
h ton of our platform. We are told by the
o. President that our faith and our honor are
!. pledged that the slavery clause should be
It submitted without qualification of any kind
O whatever; and now am to be called upor
It to forfeit my faith and my honor in order
r to enable small minority of the people o.
n Kansas to defraud the majority of tha
n people out of their elective franchise? Sir
v nv honor is pledged; and before it shal
be furnished, will take whatever conse
d quences personal to myself may come; bu
i never ask me to do an act which the Pres
v ident, in his Message, has said is a forfeit
J. ure of faith, violation of honor, and tina
5, merely for the expediency of saving thu
l. party. ...
e 1 will 90 as far as any of you to save
It the party. 1 have as much heart in th'
it great cause that binds us together as ,
d party, as any man living. Twill sacriGc'
(, anything short of principle and honor TO
l, the peace of the party; but if the party
+? will not stand by its principles, its faith
d its pledges, will stand there, and abid'
re- whatever consequences may result from
re the position. Let me ask you, why fore
r. this Constitution down the throats of tn
m people of Kansas, in opposition to thei
n- wishes, and in violation of our pledges
IN What great object is to be attained? Cn
,e bono! What are you to gain by it? Will
Is you sustain the party in violating its prln
" ciples? Do you propose to keep the part
ID united by forcing division? STAND o.
to the doctrine that leaves the people perfect
in ly free to form and regulate their institu
or tions for themselves, in their own way, ant
ey your party will be united and irresista6l
it in power. Abandon that great principle
to and the party is not worth saving, and can
te not be saved, after it shall be violated.
,u trust we are not to be rushed upon thi
Sc question. Why shall it be done? VIII
is to be benefited? Is the South to be tn
tie gamer? Is the North to be the gamer?
IT, Neither the North nor the South has tn
tie right to gain sectional advantage 62y tricl
H. ery or fraud. But am beseeched to wa
he until hear from the election on the 2l'
ls- of December. am told that perhaps TIN
Iy. will put it all right, and will save the who
nv difficulty. How can it Perhaps thel
We may be large vote. There may be
we large vote returned. Laughter. But
les deny that it is possible to have a lair vo
Iry on the Slavery clause; and | say that it
as not possible to have a vote on'the CoIs'