Freeman's champion., 1857-06-25

-S'i 'iioNii"i ASso o'Di"VhiO ~ "i'N P""Ni
ordained for this purpose By The United
States, aud in opposing it, you oppose
the authority Of the Federal Govern
ment?"
Well knowing the complaint, that
the Legislature" referred to did not
derive its power from the people of
Kanzas, he makes up for its lack of
popular legitimacy thus; "Ihat Leg
|islature was called into being by the
Congress Of 1854, and is recognized
in the very latest Congressional Leg
islation. 1t is recognized by the pre-
sent Chief Magistrate of the Uhion."s
There is not much of popular
sovereignty" and "self-government"
here. This usurpation is repudiated
by the people but, it is recognized
by Congress" and the president !"
Its pretended enactment ave dead
letter. All the official proclamations
and bulletins of President and Ter
ritorial Governors cannot make them
law tof nothing is law, or can have
the authority thereof, save the legiti-
mately expressed will of the people.
But;if the Federal authorities can
not make these usurpations laws,
they seem bent on preventing the peo-
pie from having a~y law, except they
will stoop to accept of this. Never
let it be said that the people Of Kan
zas were so recreant to the principles
OF self-government as to accept the
laws thrust ON them by body of in
vaders. Such a fatal precedent would
SOW the seeds that would spring up
to the ultimate ruin of our govern
ment. An insignificant minority in
Kanzas may cooperate with the in
vaders outside, to perpetuate their
usurpation; but, as Governor Walk
er says, "ihe minority, in resisting
the will of the majority, may involve
Kanzas again in civil war. They
may bring upon her rcproach and OBJ
loquy, and destroy her progress and
prosperity. They may keep her for
years out Of the Union, and in the
whirlwind Of agitation sweep away
government itself. But Kanlas can
never be brought into the Union,
with or without slavery, except by a
previous decision, fully, freely and
fairly made by majority Of the peo-
pie, in voting for or against her State
Constitution"
This has already been done in the
adoption Of our State Constitution ;
has been done in accordance with the
very principles and requirements OF
this Inaugural itself. And we may
we'll ask, in the language of Gov.
Walker: "Why then should this
just, peaceful and Constitutional
mode OF settlement meet with much
opposition from any quarter?"
cannot dismiss this Inaugural Of
the Territorial Governor sent among
us by the Federal authorities, with
without noticing one or two 9th
er points He says there is a clause
in the Constitution forever eX-
cluding tho African race, bond or
free from Kan&s. There is no such
clause in the Constitution, and it is
to be regretted that Governor Walk
or, who talks so much about the twill
of the people," should not have Civ
en- a Constitution OF emanating from
them, more careful investigation.
At the time the Constitution wab
submitted to the people, a resolu-
tion from the people to the first Leg
islature was also submitted. This
was neither "in," nor connected
with the Constitution, and has Just
as much force as the first Legislature
may choose to attach to it. IL orig.
mated in an anxious desire to show
favor to the PECULIAR institutions OF
her sister States, especially her
Immediate neighbor, the State
of Missouri" And how has this
compromise spirit been met? By
invasion, or usurpation, rapine. fire
and sword. Sach clauses as that
which he has sarcostically said were
in our Constitution, he explicitly de-
nies in another paragraph.
How much more deeply he must
feel for the interests OF Missouri
than Kanzas, is apparent when he
recalls the debt of gratitude that tho
people of Kanzas owe that State
which has stripped our people of
every constitutional right, has in
volved us in the confusion Of civil
diScord, and which is trying by the
aid Of the General Government to
place its foot upon our necks to-day.
The first cause Of political strug-
|gle in Kanzas was, whether Kansas
should be free or q slave State. Af-
ter the invasion Of 1865, a still moro
| A.. nj tA..- -. ... IL AZ 80 Al . 4 = a