Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-12-17

suuetons 10 Governor Walker, in favor
submitting the constitution to the neon
terms. @''4'
=, In the kansas-Nebraska act, however
ths requirement as applicable 10 the who'll
constitution, had not been inserted. an
the convention we're not bound by il
terms to submit any other portion of IN
instrument to an election, except that Whiel
relates to The domestic institution" of sla
Yeiy. This will be rendered clear by
simple reference to It's language. II wa,
mot TO legisla!e slavery into any territor,
or state, OF to exclude Il therefrom. bur 4
leave the people thereof perfectly free tc
form and regulate their domestic institu.
tons 10 their own way" According "a
the plain constructions Of the sentence, The
words domestic institutions" have a al.
rect as they have an appropriate reference
70 slavery. domestic institutions" are
limited to the family. The relation be.
tween master and slave and few Others
are domestic institutions and are entire.
y distinct from institutions Of "a political H;iosI
character. Besides there was no Question
then before Congress, NOR indeed has tbera
since been any serious question before the
people OF Kansas or the country, except that
which relates TO the domestic institution
of slavery.
The convent, after an excited and an.
CRY debate, finally determined, bv a ma
Jority Of only two, though at the last for
ty-three of the fifty delegates present afsx.
cd their signatures 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 scbed
ule, however providing for the transition
from a Territorial to State government.
the question has been fairly and expedite
ly referred to the people, whether thew
will hayea constitution "with or without
slavery" 1t declares that, before the con.
stitution adopted BY the convention "shall
be sentto Congress for admission into the
Union as a State" an election shall be
held to decide this question, at which all
the white male inhabitanti of tie Terri. |
tory above the age of 81 are entitled to
vote. They are to vote BY ballot ;and qhe
ballots cast at said election shall be endor- |
sed consultation with slavery and 'eonsti |
tuition without slavery II there be a ma |
jority in favor ofthe Constitution with sla. |
very" then it is to be transmitted to Con.
gress by the president of the convention in
Its original form. II, on the contrary,
there shall be majority in favor of the
constitution with no slavery" "then the
article providing for slavery shall be stick.
on from the constitution by the president
o: this convention;" and it is expressly de-
clared that "no slavery shall exist in the
state OF Kansas, except that the right of
property in slaves now in the Territory
shall in no manner be interfered WITH"
and in that event it is made his duty to
have this constitution thus ratified .rans.
mltted to the Congress of the United
States for the admission of the State into
The Union.
at this election every citizen will have
an opportunity of expressing his opinion
BY hisyote whether Kansas shall be re.
selVed into the Union with or without sla. !,
'ery," and thus this exciting question may .
'e peacefully settled in the very mode re- |
lured by the organic law. The election {
will be held under the legitimate authori c
y, and if any portion of the inhabitants ,
nal refuse to vote, fair opportunity to 9
10 SO having been presented, this will be t
helr own voluntary act, and they alone Y
vii be responsible for the consequence. I
Whether Kansas shall be Free or /
'lAve State must eventually, under some 4
uthorlE, be decided by an election; and c
le question c'n never be more clearly or d
lsthctly presented 10 the people than it y
at the present moment. Should this CD. h
orunity be rejected, she may be involved "
u years in domestic discord, and posi- h
ly IN civil war, before she can again |
lake up the issue now so fortunately ten. a.
cred; and again reach the point she has tr
ready attained. II
Kansas has for some years occupied TOO h
luch otthe public attention. 1t is high HI
me this should be directed to far more W
nportant objects. When once admitted 70
to the Union, whether with or without ",
avery, the excitement beyond her own de
nits will speedily pass away, and she will mi
EN- for the first time be left as she ought
have been long since, to manage her in
Vn affairs in her own way. If her con. "
tuition on the subject of slavery, or on sp
y subject, be displeasing to majority isat,
the people, no human power can pre- III,
mt them from changing it within brief Te
Rod. Under these circumstances it may III,
III be questioned whether the peace and ne
st of the whole country are not of great. Il
importance than the mere temporary Il
umph of either Of the political parties in sue
lnsas. 49,
Should the Constitution without Sla- ba
y be adopted by the votes Of the major bio
, the rights ofproperty in slaves now in vim
Territory are reserved. The number the
these is very small; but if it were great Chi,
the provision would be equally Just and to
sonable. These slaves were BROUGHT rails
o the Territory under the Constitution ear
the United States, and arenow the prop. the
y of their masters. This point has at rev,
9Th been finally decided by the high oLl