Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-31


ties, and therefore they were entirely dis
and could not and did not give
a single vote at the election for delegates to
the Constitutional Convention. And here
| wish to call attention to the distinction,
which will appear in my inaugural address
in reference to those counties where the vo-
ters were fairly registered and did not vote.
In such counties, where full and free
opportunity was given to register and vote,
and they did not choose to exercise that
privilege, the question is very different
from those counties where there was no
census or registry, and no vote was given
or could be given, however anxious the
people might be to participate in the cleo
tion of delegates to the Convention. Nor
could it be said these counties acquiesced,
for wherever they endeavored by subse-
quent census or registry of their own to
supply this defect occasioncd by the previ-
ous neglect of the Territorial officers, the
delegates were rejected by the Convention.
| repeat that in nineteen counties out OF
thirty four, there was no census. In ff-
teen counties out of thirty-four there was
no registry, and not a single vote was given
or could be given for delegates to the Con-
vention in any one of these counties. Sure
ly, then, it cannot be said that such Con-
vention, chosen by scarcely more than one
tenth of the present voters of Kansas, rep
resented the people OF that Territory, and
could rightfully impose Constitution up
on them without their consent. These
nineteen counties, in which there was no
census, constituted majority of the coun-
ties of the Territory, and these fifteen coun-
ties in which there vas TO registry, gave
a much larger vote at the October election,
even with the six months qualification,
than the wLole vote given to the delegates
who signed the Lecompton Constitution on
the 9TH of November last. If then, sove-
reignty can be delegated, and conventions
as such, are sovereign, which deny, sure
ly it must be only in such cases rs when
such conventions are chosen by the people,
which we have seen is not the case as re-
CARDS the late Lecompton Convention. 1t
was for this, among other reasons, that in
my inaugural and other addresses, insis-
ted that the Constitution should be SUBJ
mitted to the people by the convention as
the only means of curing the vital defect
in its organization. 1t was, therefore,
among other reasons. when, as you know,
the organization of the so-called Topeka
State Government, and as a consequence,
an inevitable civil war and conflict with
the troops must have ensued, these results
were prevented by my assuring. not the
Abolitionists, AS has been errone ously sta
ted--for my address was not to them, but
the people of Kanzas-that in my judg-
ment the constitution would be submitted
fairly and freely for ratification or rejection
by their vote, and that if this was not done,
| would unite with them, (the people asI
now do. in lawful opposition to such pro-
cedure.
The power and responsibility being de-
volved exclusively upon ME by the Presi-
dent of using the Federal army in Kansas
to suppress insurrection. the alternative
was distinctly presented to me by the ques-
tons propounded at Topeka. of arresting
revolution by the slaughter of the people.
OF of preventing it, together with that civ
il war which must have extended through
out the Union, by the solemn assurance
then given, that the right of the people to
frame their own government. so far as my
power extended should be maintained
But for this assurance, it is conceded fact,
that the Topeka State Government then as
sembled in Legislative session would have
been put into immediate actual operation,
and that sanguinary collision with the
Federal army and civil war must have en-
sued, extending, it is feared, throughout
the Union.
Indeed, the whole idea of an inaugural
address originated in the alarming inteIli-
gence which had reached Washington city
of the perilous and incipient rebellion in
Kansas. This insurrection was rendered
still more formidable on my reaching the
the Territory, by the near approach of the
assembling of the revolutionary State Leg
islature, and The very numerous mass con-
ventions by which it was sustained. In
truth, had to choose between arresting
that insurrection. at whatever cost of Amer
lean blood, by the Federal army, or toPre-
vent the terrible catastrophe, as did. by