Warren telegraph. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1857-1861, 1857-12-12

other side. This arises from the fact that in some
districts delegates may be eleated by small maori-
ties, whilst in others those Of different sentiments
may receive mnjorities sufficiently great not only
to overcome the votes Of the former, but to leave
large majority ofthe whole people In direct op-
position to majority of the delegates. Besides,
our history proves that influences may be brought
TO bear on the representative sufficiently powerful
to induce him to disregard the will of his consttu.
cnts. The truth is, that other authentic and
satisfactory modo exists Of ascertanng the will Of
a majority Of the people Of any State or Territory
an important and exciting question like that OF
slavery in Kansas, except by leaving it to direct
vote. Hw wise then, was it for Congress to pass
over all subordinate and intermediate agencies, and
proceed directly to the source OF all Legitimate
power under our institutions How vain would
any other principle prove in practice"
How wise, then" ~ woll as how much more
consistent would it have been for the President to
"pass over all subordinate and intermediate agen-
" "cics, and proceed directly to the source Of all
Legitimate power" on m important and excit-
"ing question:" "How vain" will any other at
tempt "prove in practice"
The President trusts that the example set in the
cass Of Minnesots, where the Constitute wss sui
mtted to the people, " may be followed on future
occasions~ Indeed He might as we'll say. "We
won't have Popular Sovereignty in this Kansas
".business, because there has been so much said
about Slavery and, besides, ii is TO be disposed
" of non; but one of these days when some
Rocky Mountain wilderness wishes to be organ
izod as q State, as we now understand that Pop
" ular Sovereignty may be honestly supposed to re-
"iate to other things than household affairs, we
!" we will really let the people make Constitution
I" to suit them"
He goes on to ray
81 took il for granted that tho Convention of
Kansas would act in accordance with this example,
founded, it is, correct principles: and hence
my instructions TO Governor Walker, in favor of
submitting the constitution to the people, were ex-
pressed in general and unqualified terms"
Even the President :" took it for granted that
the whole Constitution would be subjected to
popular ratification or rejection, and made no pro.
vision for any other contingency in his Instructions.
How can he now expect his constituents to refrain
from expressing their Indignation in unqualified
terms," when he confesses turning such sharp
corner' How completely he betrays selfcondem-
nation in every paragraph
Besides other objections to the Lecompton Con-
stituton, there is the objection founded on the
fact that the Slavery Question is not fully and
fairly submitted, and this occasions great rejois-
both out of and within Kansas. To this submis-
sion Of the subject Of Slavery, only deceptive ap
Proclamation 10 made, and thus even Mr.. BUCHAN-
ANS psltering construction of Popular Sovereign
ty is not complied with The slaves already in
tho Territory aud their offspring Also for all that
appears to the contrary, are to remain slaves at
the option Of their masters.
The President knows, IS we'll as anybody that
the reason why the whole Constitution is not sub
mitted to the people 10 because an overwhelming
majority against it. This being the case, there
is manifest incongruity in his desiring them to
vote the Slavery clause, in order TO avoid years
spent in ~" domestic "a discord, and possibly
in civil war;; and then going TO say that if they
are displeased wish ths Constitution, :" no human
power can prevent them from changing it within
/" brief period ~ He thinks Kansas has occupied
too much of the public attention already. Since
public attention has been attracted thither because
'' the great doctrine of Popular Sovereignty " has
been in jeopardy there, il does not SAVIOR much of
respect for that great doctrine " for the Presi-
lent to speak so fippantly of rhe far greater i'm
portanoe of other objects. The irresistible i'm
preston made by this expression and the context |
8 that he really cares nothing for the great doc
rine" itself, but only to use it as a stalking
'orss, 70 be practically ham-strung when il stands
n tho way of sinister objscts instead of aiding in
heir accomplishment.
If this be not 50. why does he not leave Kansas
rec ito manage her own affairs in her own way,",s
10 says "she ousht.to have been long sincep Why
loes he remove his Acting Governor for calling TO-
,ether the freshly elected Legislature SO that they
nay do that very thing His tsrgiversation, or, to
Use shor ter phrase, his falsity, is plain enough,
md mono who have opposed Republicanism " as
upon Popular Sovereignty in the name
Of FREEDOM, can honestly and intelligently sup
port JAMES BUCHANAN when he infringes upon it
In behalf of SLAVERY. This declaration on our
part is e1torted from US by convictions which COM
mon sense prevents us from disregarding. We
were more than willing to do our part i'll support
ing him in bis manifest duty, but we are forced to
condemn his most important present acts, and to
distrust his future conduct.
The President and SO A Few Others.''
Secretary STANTON ctinq C,overnor of KIM