Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-04
acquiesced in by the Democracy o

the court and acquiesced in by the Democracy of
the Union
The time, then, for the people of Kansas TO de-
eide the question of slavery in that Territory is in
the adoption of their State constitution. They /
can make it slave or free State, they please; |
OF, following the example Of many of her sister |
States, say nothing about slavery in her constitu-
Ton, and leave the open for the future con-
Sderatlon and decision OF her people. This is their
right; and to the maintenance of that right of the
people OF Kansas the democratic party, North and |
South, East and West, is solemny pledged. 1t is |
the duty of the administration to see it, that the
principle thus recognised and approved shall be
fairly, fully and faithfully carried out to the extent
OF It's powers. How shall this be done? Let il be
borne 10 mind that the sole object to be attained is
to ascertain the will of majority of the people of
Kansas on the point Of making it slave or free
State.
The first step is the electionspf delegates to a
convention, who shall fairly represent the voice of
the people. This has been provided for in the law
OF the territorial legislature by which representa-
ton has been duly proportoned TO the different
counties. a fair election has also been provided
for, by requiring certan length of residence and
oy throwing around the voters every protection
against fraud aud violence. The required residence
OF several months necessary to prevent the in
fux of such persons might be induced to go to
Kansas to control her elections, but with no idea
OF becoming permanent citizens of the Territory OF
State 1t was wise and just provision, and has
EeC6iNSu the SdDCLlOu OF every one VINO desired to
see fair and honest expression of opinion by the
bona fds citizens of Kansas When the delegates
thus chosen shall have completed the business for
which they shall have assembled-to wit: the for
nation of constitution-there will remain but one
question for further division and distraction and
that question will be: Is the constitution thus form
ed approved by the people of Kansas, and does it
reflect their will on the question: only of slave
! ry, but upon all others! If il does, every will
say that with that constitution whether slave free,
/ rcifa hat rnip aha ha adm TODD
a State. If it does not, then 10 one will pretend
! for a moment that constitution condemned by
majority of the people should be forced upon them,
no matter under what forms and by what authority
| adopted
Granting the correctness of the position just sta.
ted, ask how can that fact, so important to be
! known, be ascertained? We will not say that
| there is no other mode of ascertaniUg it. but
will say that the most satisfactory and conclusive
| evidence that the Constitution is approved by the
people will be the ratification of it by them at the
polls. To those .Sho object to the submission of
the Constitution to the people for ratification,
PROFOUND the inquiry. Are you willing to abide
the decision of the bona tide citizens of Kansas
We put the inquiry, because, upon looking into the
complaints of those who oppose this course, we dis
cover what appears to be an unwillingness to sub
NIT to the decision that maj Orty of the citizens
of Kansas may pronounce. To that class of fault
finders We have no argument to offer. Our reason
ing is addressed alone to the advocates and defends
ers of the great principle of the Kansas bi-to
those who intend in good faith to stand by their
principles, whether it works out a favorable or uu-
favorable result to their personal views and wishes.
What objection is there submitting the Constitu-
ton to the people for ratification?
] We are told that fair election cannot be had;
and that horde of mere adventures will rush into
the Territory to defeat, by their votes the ratiffca
ton of the constitution, which had been adopted by
= the chosen delegates of the people. We grant
that there is some for, in the objection; but the
OhIeCOr f0rgets thai this Is objection
that was made by our opponents to every election
that hi Ahsd in the Territory, including the
electiof4 delegates to the constitutional conven-
ton If it is good objection it was eqASy
good when urged by the opposition. Our reply
: has been heretofore that fair election can anG
shall be bad, and we offer to those of friends
who have tai gen up this exploded argument Of 8h'
: opposition ~ same answer. When vote 10 b'
taken on the ratification of the constitution the poll
! aust As larded against fraud, violence and CO
: II zBhed how this shall be done, we answer
. as = ARs done in the election of delegates - VI
convention. Let the convention, in submtshg tn
y constitution to the people, provide againS the in
> fux of mere adventures by requiring, - Vie tel
ritoTial legislature did, sufficient residence on th
part of each voter to protect the bone de citizen
: of the Territory from the of any and all pei
- sons who may go there temporarily with view
~ voting, but not of remaining a resident of tn
y Territory and State. Every her guard necessar
for a fair and honest decision by the majority vOt
of the bona tide citizens OF Kansas should be prov
= ded When this has been done, and decision pr'
! nounced, which every sees and feels has bee
- fairly and honestly reached the whole country wi
acquiesce in it. whether that decision makes KaI
sas a slave free State.
- In reference TO the position of the administration
A feel authorized to say that it has not and WI
- not intimate desire either that one the Otht
IS results shall be reached As the representative
y the whole country, its duty commences and ends
= SO enforcing the law as will most certainly secuT
- to the bona tide citizens of Kansas tAe oppOrGunit
- of deciding for themselves this vexed questiO
- free from all outside and improper influences.