The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-12-16

no Cu4lntltutlOu Iauttu the Aouftulluu VI a
Territory preparatory TO its admission into the
Union as a State, had been submitted 10 the
people. I trust, however, the example set by
the last Congress, requiring that the Constitu-
ton Of Minnesota should be subjected TO the
approval and ratification Of the people ofthcpro-
posed State" NAV be followed on future occa-
sions. took it for granted that the convention
of Kansas would act in accordance with this
example, founded as it is, on correct principles;
and hence my instructions TO Governor Walker
in favor Of submitting the Copsutution to the
people. were expressed in general and unquali-
fed terms,
In the Kansas Nebraska act, however, this
requirement as applicable TO the whole constitu-
ton, had not been inserted, and the convention
were not bound by its terms to submit any 9th
er portion OF the instrument to an election, ex-
cept that which relates to the domestic inStitu
tom Of slavery. This will be rendered clear
by SIN pie reference to its language. 1t was
mot to lesiSlate slavery into any Territory or
State, nor to exclude it thcreirom, but To leave
the people thereof perfectly free TO form ami reg
ulate their domestic institutions in their own
way" According to the plain construction OF
the sentence, the words domestic Institutions
have direct as they have an appropriate refer
ence to slavery. Domestic institutions, are lin
tied to the family The relation between master
and slave and a few others are domestic insti-
tutions'' and are entirely distinct from instltu-
/ tionS of a political character. Besides there
was no question then before Congress, nor in
| deed has there since been any serious question
before the people Of Kansas or the country, eN-
cept that which relates to the domestic instu-
ton" of slavery.
| The convention, after an angry and excited
debate finally determined, by majority Of only
two, to submit the question oi slavery to the peo-
pie, though at the last forty three Of the. fifty
delegates present affixed their signatures to the
constitution.
! A large majority Of the convention were in IA
vor Of establishing slavery Kansas. They ac-
cordingly inserted an article in the constitution
for this purpose similar in form to those which
| had been adopted by other territorial conven-
tons. In schedule, however, providing for
the transition from territorial to State gov
ernment, the question has been fairly and ex
plcitly referred to the people, whether they will
have constitution "wth,or without slavery
1t declares that, before the constitution adopt
ed bv the convention "shall be sent to Congress
ios admission into the Union as q State" an
election shall be held to decide the question at
which all the which all the white male inhabit-
ants of the the Territory above the age of q
are entitled to vote They are to vote by ballot
and the ballots cast at said election shall be en-
idorsed constitution with slavery, and 'conStitu-
ton without slavery" If there be a majority
in favor of the Constitution with slavery" ther
it is to be transmitted to Congress by the pres
ident ofthe convention in its original form. |
on the contrary there be a majority in favor 0
the constitution with no slavery" "then the ar
ticle providing for slavery shall be striken from
the constitution by the president of this conven'
tom" and it is expressly declared that mo sla
very shall exist in the State of Kansas, except
that the right Of property in slaves now in the
Territory shall in no manner be inte'tered
WITH" and in that eventi it is made his duty tc
have the constitution thus ratified transmitted
to the Congress cf the United States for the ad.
mission of the State into the Union.
At this election every citizen will have an
opportunity of expressing his opinion by his
vote "whether KansaS shall be received into the
Union with or without slavery" and thus this
exciting question MAJ be peaceably settled in
the very mode required by the organic law
I The election will be held under the legitimate
authority and if any portion of the inhabitants
shall refuse to vote, a fair opportunity to do so
having been presented, this will be their own
voluntary act and they alone will be response
| ble for the consequences.
| Whether Kansas shall be free or slave
State must eventually, under some authority, be
decided by an election and the question can
never be more clearly ar distinctly presented to
the people than it is at the present moment -
Il Should this opportunity be rejected she may
be involved for years in domestic dscord, and
possibly in civil war, before she can again make
~ nNpt,,Oafal,r ,nt
again reach the point she has already attained
Kansas has ior some years occupied too mucl
Of the public attention 1t is high time tha
$ this should I've directed to far more importan
r objects When once admitted into the Union
t whether with OF without slavery, the exll
ment beyond her own limits will speedily pas
{ away and she will then for the first time b
G LETT, as she ought to have been long since Il
manage her own affairs IN her own way
her constitution on the subject of slavery, or oil
any other subject, be di+pleasing to a majority
OF the people, no human power can pfeven
= them from changing it thin brief PERIOD
: Under these circumstances. it may we'll be ques
. toned whether the peace and quiet of the who'll
$ country are not of greater Importance than th
: mere temporary trunphs Of either of the po
S litcal parties of Kansas
Should the constitution without slavery b
1 adopted by the votes of the majority, the right
, ofproperty in slaves now in the Territory ar
D reserved. The number oft these is very small
a but ifit we're greater the provision would be e
: quaiy Just and reasonable These slaves wer
S brought into the territory under the constitu
t ton of the United States, and arc now the pre-
rertv of their masters. This point has at lengt
been finally settled by the highest judicial tril
: unal Of the cOnntry--and this upon the plai
+ principal that when a conlederacy Of soyereig
Y States acquire new Territorya at their joint e1
pense, both equality and justice demand tn;
: the citizens of one and all of them shall hay
c the right to take into it whatsoever is recogn
: zed as property by the constitution. To ha,
4 summarily coniiseated the property IN slaves a
!. ready in the Territory, would have been an az
of gross injustice and contrary to the practit
n of the older States of the union which have al
e olished slavery.
o A territorial government was established f
T. Utah by act ofCongrcss, approved the 9th Sci
1t tember, 1850, and the constitution and laws
It the United States were thereby extended oYe
n it 80 far as the same, or any portion thereo
le may be applicable" This act provided for ii
1f appointment by the President by and with I'll
advice and consent Of the Senate, OF a governo
"a who was to be ex. Cfficio Srp rnenderto Ind
1t an affairs, secretary, three judges of the 81
e preme court, marshall, aud district attorne,
p Subsequent acts provided for the appointmer
i Of the officers necessary to extend our land an
n our Indian system over the Territory, Brig
II ham Young was appointed the first governor 0
n the twentieth day Of September, 1850, an
has held the Office ever since. Whilst Cover
/ or Young has been both governor and Superb
tendent Of Indian affairs throughout this periot
, he has been at the same time the head Of II
Il church called the latter-day- Saints and prole
n ses to govern its members and dispose Of the
d property by direct inspiration and authorit
s from the Almieety His mower has haen Their