Freeman's champion., 1857-07-02
No Authority to Submit the Consti-
tuition Of Kanzas to the Popular
Vote.

|
tuition Of Kanzas to the Popular
Vote.
Since the Free Soilsattlers in Kan
zas have resolved to adhere to their
illegal organizations, and to persist
in the purpose to take no part in the
election of delegates to the Septem-
Der Convention, 1t is obvious that
the fate of the Territory, in respect
to Slavery, will be determined by the
decision of the question, whether the
Constitution shall be submitted only
to persons recognized as legal voters
under the act authorizing the call Of
a Convention, or to all inhabitants, !,
without regard to condition or quail
fication.
Under the existing Territorial or
ganizatlon, Kanzas is undeniably in
in the power of the South. A very
large majority of the population en-
titled to vote for members OF. the
Convention are in the interest of our
section the Convention will form
ally adopt and legalize the institu-
tions Of the South an | unless the
natural and logical consequences be
arrested by some unfair interposition,
Kanzas will inevitably be admitted
into the Union as a slave State. We
make no account Of the probable
contingency that the Black Republi-
cans in Congress will resist its adj
mission as slave State for they
will hardly have the power to execute
their rebellious purpose; and if they
should succeed, the South would of
course regard the Confederacy as at
an end.
There is way, however, by which
the regular course of events may be
interrupted, and the South deprived
of the Legitimate alliance and support
of Kanzas. That way was distinctly
indicated in Secretary Stanton's ad-
dress, and is also ambiguously allud-
ed to in Governor Walkers speech,
in another column Of this paper
1t is, to take the sense of the entire
population ofKanzas on the question
Of Slavery or no Slavery, instead of
rsmitting its decision only to quail
fled voters, or accepting the act ofthe
Convention as the final and conclu-
sive organic law of the Territory
AS the Free Soil settlers are multiply
ing out of all proportion to the mum
Der Of immigrants from the South,
in a very short time the Abolition
Propaganda will accomplish their
object in securing complete ascenden-
cy in the Territory, unless meanwhile
the current of population from the
North be arrested by the establish
ment of Slavery.
AS the September Convention will
be composed exclusively of men in
the interest of the South, it is not al
lowable to anticipate that they will
wantonly Illustrate their own object
by submitting the work of their hand
to an alien and inimical population
But, ifthey had the disposition, woulG
such an insane act be within scope
Of their authority
: The powers OF the Convention ar'
ascertained and restricted by the Law
which calls it into existence and reg
, ulates its action. Our recollection
: Of the character ofthat enactment
> has been refreshed by a reference tc
its provisions from which we discover
, that while it prcscribes the course o
: the Convention from the beginning
to the conclusion of its session, will
the most minute attention to ever,
detail and possible contingency, no
" one woyd Is said about submitting III
: Constitution TO a popular vote. In thi
statute the Convention finds the char
1 acter Of its powers: and it can d.
$ nothing whatever for which there i
8 no warrant in the law.
I. The conclusion, then, is plain an,
. irresistible, that the Convention is NJ
4 more authorized to submit the Con
: stitution to the popular vote Of tn
a Territory, than to make its accep
: tance dependent upon the throw of
Q die. When the Convention frame
! q Constitution, it becomes fanctus off
:. cio, and whatever seitmay presum
4 to do, is of no validity or authority
o BY the Kanzas-N Nebraska act, tn
people of the Territories have exclu
sive control over their own institu
: tions. In pursuance of the powe
.. with which they are invested, the poo
: pie Of Kanzas have proceeded, througl
: : the only legitimate organism, to de
: termine the character Of their politi
!, cal system. The call OF the Con
, vention. Is valid, and from tho resul
Of its deliberations there can DO n,
!, appeal, The Convention has no All
IALo.st., A. a,,kx...A "a, ..,>,.I. - Az =. =. :.