Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-12-31
THE KANSAS QUESTION THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LECoMPT0N CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION - SPEECH OF
HON. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
IN THE U. S. SENATE.
Concluded
[

look INTO u 10 see what its provisions we're
/ Why! Because we said il was made bv
a political party, and not by the people,
that Il was made in defiance Of the author
Iity Of Congress; that ifit was a. pure q,
the Bible, as holy as the ten command.
lments, yet we would not touch # until 4
was submitted ana ratified By the people
OF Kansas, ia pursuance of the forms Of
law. Perhaps that Topeka Constitution.
but Tor the mode Of making It, would have
been uuexceptionable. | do not ksow !.
do not care. You have 20 right 10
force an unezceptionable Constitution on
a people. 1t does not mitigate the eyiit
does not deminish the insult,it does not
smeIiorate the wrorg that you are forcing
good thing 90 them. | am not willing
to be forced to do that which | would do
II ! were left free to judge and act fcrmy.
'elf. Hence l assert that there is no iIs.
tiheation to be made for this fragrant VIC.
lation of popular rights in Kansas on tba
plea that the Constitution which thew
have made Is not particularly obnoxious.
But, Sir, the Preslden! Of The United
States Is really and sincerely of the opir-
ion that the Slavery clause has been fair.
y aud impartially submitted to the free
acceptance or rejection of the people of
Kansas, and that, innsmuch as that was
the exciting and paramount question. iftbey
get :be right to vote as they please on that
subject they ought to be satisfied and nos.
sibly it might be better if we would ac-
cept 1t. and put an end to the question =
Let me ask, Sir Is the Slavery clause fair.
y submitted, SO that the people can vote
for or against it! Suppose | we're a citi-
zen of Kansas, and should 90 up to the
polls and say, 81 desiie to vote to make
Kansas Slave State; here is my ballot"
They reply to me, "Mr. Douglas, Just vote
or that Constitution first, If you please"
ooh, 60" answered. cannot vote for that
Constitution eonscientiousIy. I am oppo.
ed to the clause by which you locate Ger.
ain railroads in such way as to sacrifice
ny Country and my part Of the State
am opposed TO that banking system
am opposed to this Know Nothing or
American clause in the Constitution about
be qualification for Office. l cannot vote
or It," Then they answer" You shall not
ote on making it Slave State" I then
aE IL want to make il Free State p
They reply, "Vote for the Constitution
rst, and then you can vote to make It A
rec State; otherwise you cannot"
Thus they disqualify every Free State
nan who will not first vote for the Consti.
ntiOu; they disqualify every Slave State
nan who will not first vote for the Con,
tltution. No matter whether or not the
oters state that they cannot conscientious.
vote for those provisions, they reply,
/ on esRssSt vote -teF OF against Slavery
ere Take the Constitution as we have
lade il, take the elective franchise as we
ave established it, take the railroad lines
we have located them,take the judiciary
stem as we have formed it, take it all as
e have fixed it to suit ourselves, and ask
questions, but vote for it, or you shall
1t vote either for Slave or a Free State
other words, the legal effect of the
hedule is this: All those who are in fa.
II oftbis Constitution NAV vote for or
,ainst Slavery as they please; but all
ose who are against his Constitution are
and shall not vote at ALL
lis is the mode in which the Slavery
0position is submitted. Every man op.
sed 10 the Constitution is disfra1chisad
the Slavery clause. How many are
ey! They tell you there is a majority
they say the Constitution will be voted
wn instantly, BY an overwhelming ma
ity, if you allow a negative vote. This
'ws that majority are against it. They
qualify and disfrancbise every man who
against it, thus referring the Slavery
use to a minority of the people of Kan.
, and leaving that minority free to vote
or against the Slavery clause, as thew
,ose.
Letme ask you il that is fair mode Of
uniting the Slavery clause? Does that
de of submitting that particular clause
We the people perfectly free to vote for
'gainst Slavery, as they chooseq Am
ee to vote as l choose on the Slavery
'stion, if you tell me shall not vote
i until l vote for the Maine Liquor Law.
| free to vote on the Slavery question.
ou tell me that shall not vote eitbsr
until | vote for bankH Is it free.
J Of election to make your right to
} upon one question depend upon the
le in which you are going to vote on
e other question which has no connee.
with it? Is that freedom Of electionG
lat the great Fundamental! principe Of
government, for which we combined
struggled, in this body and through
he country, to establish as the rule Of
n in all time to come. The President
e United States bas made some "a.
Is IN his Message which, it strikes mo
d be very appropriate TO read ii
connection. lie SAYS:
The trends and supporters Of the Ne.
"a and Kansas act, when struepIino
recent occasion 10 sustain its vise Il nro.
ns before the American people, never
ed shout its true nieanisg on thia
Ct. Everywhere throughout the
% thcY publicly pledged fl.siT fa;.h
honor that lheY would clseoIfaIa -.