True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-02
KANSAS CONSTITUTIONAL CON.
VENTION, .....

VEIN 44VNS
It's marvellous 10 read the conflicting
accounts which we have respecting the
action of the Kansas Constitutional Con
venlion. .....t...
One thing to our mind is pretty cleal
viz; that whatever the character may be,
Of the instrument that Convention has
produced in The shape of Constitution
they were afraid to submit lis fate to. the
action Of the people of the Territory
Our belief, is that Congress will send
the instrument back to the people Of tht
Territory without any action upon il'
merits. The Democratic party is toe
anxious 10 retain the strength which i
now has in the North TO place itself il
position which must inevitably throw
it greatly into the minority in every Statt
North ofsMason and Dickson's line.
We give below, the expressions o
some of The leading Democratic Organ:
North and South-upon this subject
Should matters turn out different, a
Washington. from our expectations, il
will be an easy thing for these editors to
("Jump Jim Crow'') as the Lisbon editor
and the entire northern Democracy did
upon the Kansas Nebraska bill. The
Ohio Patriot'Says.
The Democratic press and the Dem
ocralic party is unit on this point-lhat
Congress should reject any constitution
that has not been subm itted TO the people
Of Kansas for their adoption or rejection.
From the Philadelphia Press, Forney's Paper.
The drift of all the news from Kansas,
by mail and telegraph, shows conclusively
that the so-called pro-slavery Constitution
al Convention, like other bodies of whom
we have read, is another formidable in
stance of the adage that "whom the gods
wish 10 destroy they first make mad"
some Of the propositions presented TO that
Convenlion--which, be it remembered,
a mere fragment of the voters
of the territory--would disgrace despot-
ism ; others are merely ridiculous, while
the whole affair looks 10 US, at this dis.
,ance, as if the parties engaged in it had
entered into coniracI 10 mortage the new
State to their own individual interests
for a century to come.
There is consistent disregard of the
people manifested, cool resort 10 trick.
and an utter shamelessness, which alto
gether, make up a satire upon representa-
tive bodies such as we have never before
had the luxury 10 enjoy. The leading
spirit in this Constitutional Convention
seems TO be person called General
Calhoun" who we regret TO say, was ap
pointed from the free State of Illinois, by
General Pierce, as Surveyor General of
his actions, indicates desire to initiate
rather the character of a member of the
French senate, employed to carry out the
designs of Louis Napoleon, than the rep
resentatve Of an honest American con-
slituency, We give IN another column,
some Of the doipgs of this convention
and have only 10 say, that if the Constilu.
ton fabricated by this body, is sent to
Congress, we trust that short work will
be made of it 1t deserves nothing bu,
contempt. Ifit has single merit, it is
its consistency with the fraud and wrong
which it is intended to perpetrate, and
from which in great part it has grown.
The idea of a set Of men chosen as dele
gates 10 this Convention; attempting to
bind poslerily to their work, and daring
to nulify in advance. the will Of the ma.
jority, is SO monstrous, that we wonder
the outrage did not excite the whole peo.
pie to civil war. The usulpa.ion be.
comes the more amazing. when we reflect
that these very men who were trying to
fix upon the Territory the rule of mi-
nority, wese vociferous in denouncing the
Topeka Constitution, which set out with
asserting similar principal, and was re.
pudiated by Congress and The country.
In speaking Of doings like these. we
feel that il is idle TO mince phrases, and
we sincerely hope that ifihe Constitution
of Kansas is anything like the instrument
it promises 10 be, from the intelligence
we Law before our readers this morning, it
will when presented 10 Cue Congress of
the United States, be thrown out of both
branches by unanimous vote. A, any
rate, we trust that the Senators and Rep.
resenlatives from Pa, will boldly and at
once put their feet upon il, and spurn it
as it deserves 10 be spnrned.
The Richmond Enquirer IL very posi-
tive in its expressions in favor Of a pop
ular vote by the citizens Of Kapsas upon
their constitution. Such we believe to
be the general sentiment Of the Democracy
Of the nation certainly no government
can stand IN this country that does not
receive thesanclion Of . majority ofthe
governed. The Enquirer says: