American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-07-17

ton of Delegates chosen by the people
will act in accordance with the will of
their constituents. When, therefore,
there is no serious dispute upon the
Constitution either in tho Convention
or among the people, the power of the
Delegates alone may put it in opera
ton. But such is not the case in Kan
sas. The most violent struggle this
country ever saw, upon the most i'm
portant issue which the Constitution is
to determine, has been going on there
for several years, between parties so
evenly balanced, that both claim the
majority, and so hostile to one another,
that numerous lives have been lost in
the contest. Under these circumstan-
ces there can be no such thing as as
pertaining clearly, and without doubt,
the will Of the people in any way, ex-
cept by their own direct expression of
of it at the polls. A constitution not
subjected to that test, no matter what
it contains, will never be acknowledged
by its opponents to be anything but
fraud. a plausible color might be Civ
en- to this assertion by the argument
that the members Of the convention
could have no motive for refusing 70
submit their work to their constituents,
except consciousness that majority
would condemn it. We confess that
we should find some difficulty in an.
swering this. What other motive could
they have So
We do most devoutly believe that,
unless the Constitution of Kansas be
submitted to a direct vote of the people,
the unhappy controversy which has
heretofore ragged in that Territory will
be prolonged for an indefinite time to
come. We are equally well convinced
that the will Of the majority, whether
it be for or against slavery, will final
ly triumph, though it may be after
years Of strife, disastrous to the best
interests Of the country, and dangerous,
it may be, to the peace and safety of
the whole Union.
But acho are the people,? What
shall be the qualifications of voter on
tho CONSTITUTION Whom Il comoS - ho
snhmittnd? We on s,rc, that Jz;o 90
for the Conre,,t;o,, ~ eetIs TEoso
who tb;nk tIot the Convnnt;o,, Wifi
declare the Constitution in fnn fo1cc
by virtue Of their own will, can hardly
deny that they might append it to u
vcd hv tho noonTo II t%oH od rpd 40
this tIcv can also saw what classes If
VERSIONS Shall hc conHtod 90 bo;nn nort
IF tho nnonlo Tbo Conyont;on9 TO-
forned Tho fcJoroI Co,ot;trt;on oyorn;s
oil this nowor WHOM thov rororrod + 80
thoir constituents Itho StatoN onI nr~
scr;hcI tbot thc;r onnrohat;on shdpnI1
bc civcn or withhold NV Stoto Cove
t;oSs rho Conot;trt;on nf Virn;O;a
WIS Submitted 70 tho votos If mnS nn
frnnchiscd bv the CONSTITUTION for.tbo
first time Of comse tho Konsos Con,
vonriop will 500 that ovorv nronor ,,,ord
l. tbrown around tho local vptor ord
tbot h;s Lono GJo ;rton1;or 80 o,,,o;,
in the Territory is tested bv 4 nreyions
residence Of sufficient length. We
should saw that the qualifications renui-
red to make a LEGAL voter q.uaer The
Constitution ouo6t TO cntitlc an inhob-
liant to vote u0ou it-for or AGAINST
it's adoption."
The /Jnjoo f. will no soon docs NOT
fully sustain Gov. Walker, who has dc.
cloroa that +ho Const;+ut;on ,,,uet ho
submitted to the whole pcoplc of Kan
sas-not only to those who we're req
istcrcd rs voters under the late cens1s
act and who arc now in the Territory
but all who shall come no for approval
or rejection The administration, on
the other hand thronob tho If,,;o,,
=, l,,., 49, 10 ..:..,,:.,