Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-12-24
THE KANSAS QUESTION - THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LEC0NPT0N C0NSTiTU FI0NAL
CONVENTION = SPEECH OF
HON. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS,
IN THE u. S SENAIk.

1s in hh message. tbsl be had unequiEo-
csIly expressed bis oPiniOBS in the form
Ot instructions 10 Goy. Walker, assuming
ths the CO0stitution was 10 be submitted
20 the people for ratification. When We
look Il Governor Walkers letter Of pceep.
tAnee q the Office Of Governor, We fnd
that be stated expressly that be accepted
Il with the understanding that the Presi.
dent and his whole cabinet cOneurred with
lin thAt The Constitution when formed,
vas 70 be submitted 70 the people for rsti-
fcation, Then look into the instructions
given by the President Of the United
States, through General Cas-, the Secreta
W Of Stsls to Governor Walker, and you
there And that the Governor is instructed
70 uAs the military power to protect the
polls when the Constitution shall be sub
mitted to the people Of Kansas for their
free acceptance or rejechon-Trace the
history little further and you will fud
that Governor Walker went TO Kansas and
proclaimed 10 his inaugural and his speech.
e. at Topeka and elsewhere that il was the
distinct understanding not only of himself
but Of those higher in power than himself
meaning The President and the Cabinet
that the Constitution was to be submit.
ted TO the people for their free acceptance
or rejection, and that be would use all the
power At bis command TO defeat It's &C.
eeptsnCe by Congress, il il we're not thus
submitted 10 the vote Of ths people,
Mr.. President, am not going 10 stop
and inquire how far the Nebraska bill,
which said the people Should be left per
fectly free to form their Constitution for
thsmSelvea, authorized lhs President, or
she Cabinet, or General Walker. or any
other Territorial Officer, TO interfere and
tell the Convention Of Ksnsas whether lhey
should or should not submit the question
to the people, | Sm not going to stop to
enquire how far they were authorized to do
that, it being my opinion that the spirit Of
thS Nebraska bill required it to be done.
1t is sufficient for my purpose that the Ad
miristration Of the Federal Government
unanimously, that the Administration OF
the Territorial Government; in all its parts
unanimously undt ntoOd the Territorial law
under which the Convention was assem-.
bled TO mean that the Constitution to he
formed by that Convention should be sub
mittsd to the people foT ratification or re-
lection, and if not confirmed by majority
OF the people, should be null and void,
without coming TO Congress iIr apOrcVal.
Not only dill the National Government
and the Territorial Government so under.
Gtand the law at tho time. but. as have
already stated, the people so understood il.
As further evidence Oh that point, large
number, il not the 'nsjority. Of the dele.
gates were instructe! in the Nominating
Convention to submit the Constitution 10
the people for ratification.
! know that the dele .aieS from Doug
las county, eight in number. Mr. Calhoun
President Of the Convention, being among
them, we're not only instructed thus to SUI :
init the question, but they signed and pub.
liShed while eandidateN, a written pledge
that they would submit il to the people
for ratification. know that men, high
in authority aud in the confidence VI the
Territorial and National Government, can
va|ed every part Of Kansas during the Q.
lection Of delegated, and each Of them
pledged himself TO the people that no snap
judgement was to be taken that the
Constitution was 10 be submitted to the
people, for acceptance or rejection; that il
would | e void unless that was done; that
the Administration would apurn and scorr
il Wa violation Of the principals on whicl
II came into power. and that = democratic
Copgre" would hur it from their pres.
enee, Ns an insult to democrats who stood
pledged TO ace the people left free to form
their domestic institutions for themselves
Not only that, Sir, but up to the time her
Che Convention assembled on the Ist o
September. 50 far as can learn, Il was uu
stool eyery~ here that the Constitution wal
10 10 sui mitsd for ratification or reiec
'ion. They met, however, on the lst o
6'ptemher, and adjou ned until after tbo
October ele"tion. think it wise and ptu
dent that they should thus have adjourned
They did not wish to bring any q"estior
into that election which would divide tn,
democratic party, and weaken our chances
Of success in the election.
| was rejoiced when l saw that the,
did adjourn, so as not to show their hanc
on any question that would divide anC
distract the patty until after the election
During that IeCesa. while the Convention
was adjourned, Governor Ransom, th,
democratic candidate for Congress, run
ning against the present delegate from
that Territory, WIS canvsssing every par
OF Ksnsas in favor of the doctrine Of sub
mitiing the Constitution to the people, de
elaring that the democratio party were il
favor Of such submission, and that il wa,
Islander Of the Black Republicans to in
innate the charge that the Democratic par
" did not intend 10 carry out that pledp,
10 good fsith. Thu' up TO the time of I'll,
meeting Of the Convention in October last
che Pretenee wss kept up, the profession
Ns Of emily made. and believed by me, anC
1thoUghi believed Ly them. that tle con
Ventio0 Intended 10 submit Cocatutio,
TO the people, and not attempt to put
C, vsrnment in operation, without sucl
AubmisSiot, Tha alactian I.a;ns o,ar Al,
Dsmt cratic party being defeated by al
overwhelming sote, the opposition having
trumphed, and get possession Of boil
branches Of tie Legsl"turS, aud haginc
elected their Territorial Deiesstes tb,
Convention assembled, and then proceedeC