Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-12-29

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,L.f&rrsl @r17-# &ri 49, ~
u The President of the United States tells
us, in his message, that he had unequiv-,
ocallv expressed his opinions. in the form
Of Instructions to Governor Walker, assu-
ring hin, that the Constitution was to be sub
mitted to the people forratification. When
we look at Governor Walkers letter OF ac-
of the office of Governor, we find
chat he stated expressly that. he accepted
twith the understanding Alsat- -tIess Presi4
dent and his whole Cabinet concurred
with him that the Constitution, when
formed. was to be submitted to the people
for ratification Then look into the in
structions given by the President of the
United States through General Cass, the
Secretary of State, to Governor Walker,
and YOU there find that the Governor is in
structed to use the military power to pro-
tect the polls when the Constitution shall
be submitted to the people of Kansas Tor
their free acceptance or rejection. Trace
the history a little further, and You will.
find that Goyernor Walker went to Kansas
and proclaimed, in his inaugural and in
his speeches at Topeka and elsewhere,
that it was the direct understanding, not
only of himself, but of those higher In
mower than himself-meaning the }Presi-
dent and his Cabinet---that the Constitu-
ton was to be submitted TO the people for
their free acceptance or rejection, and that
he would use all the power at his command
to defeat its saccsrtance by Congress, if it
were not thus submitted to the vote OF the
people. Mr.. President, / am not going to
stop and inquire how far the Nebraska bill,
which said the people should be left per-
fectly free to form their Constitution for
them selves, authorized the President or
the Cabinet, or Governor Walker, or any
other Territorial officer, to interfere and
tell the Convention of Kansas whether
they should or should mot submit the ques-
ton to the people. am not going to stop
to inquire how far they were authorized to
do that, it being my opinion that the spirit
of the Nebraska bill required it to be done.
1t is sufficient for my purpose that the Ad-
ministration of the Federal Government
unanimously, that the Administration OF
the Territorial Government, in all its parts,
unanimously understood the Territorial
law under which the Convention was as
sembled to mean that the Constitution to
be formed by that Convention should be
submitted TO the people for ratification or
rejection, and if not confirmed by ma
iority of the people, should be null and
void, without coming to Congress for ap-
proval. Not only did the National Gov
ernment and the Territorial Government
80 understand the law at the time, but as
have already stated, the people SO under
stood it. AS a further evidence on that
point, large number, if not the majority
Of the delegates were instructed in the
Nominating Conventions to submit the
Constitution to the people for ratification.
know that the delegates from Douglas
county, eight in number, Mr.. Calhoun,
President Of the Convention, being among
them, were not only instructed thus to
submit the question, but they signed and
published, while candidates, written
pledge that they would submit it to the
people for ratification. l know that men
high in authority, and in the confidence Of
the Territorial and National Government
canvassed every part of Kansas during the
election of delegates, and each one of them
pledged himself to the people that no snaI
Judgment was to be taken; that the Con
stitution was to be submitted to the peo
pie, for acceptance or rejection; that il
would be void unless that was done; tha
the Administration would spurn and scorr
it as violation of the principles on which
it came into power, and that Democratic
Congress would hurl it from their pres
ence, as an insult to Democrats who stood
pledged to see the people left feee to forn
their domestic institutions for themselves
Not only that, Sir, but UP TO the time whel
the Convention assembled, on the 1st 0
Septem ber, so far as l can learn, it wa
understood everywhere that the Constitu
ton was to be submitted for ratification ol
rejection. They met, however, on the Is
of September, and adjourned until afte
the October election. think it wise ant
prudent that they Should thus have ad
journed. They did not wish to bring an,
question into that election which would di
vide the Democratic party, and weaken on
chances OF success in the election. 4.st
i 1 was rejoiced when saw that they di'
adjourn, SO as not to show their hand on an
question that would divide and distract tn
party until after the election. During tina
recess, while the Convention was adjourn
ed; Governor Ransom, the Democrat
} candidate for Congress, running agains
the present delegate from that Territory
t was canvassing every part of Kansas j
favor of the doctrine of submitting th
Constitution to the people, declaring tha
t the Democratic party were in favor of sue
; submission, and that it was slander
e the Black Republicans to intimate tn
|, charge that the Democratic party did nc
intend to carry out that pledge in goo
t faith. Thus, up to the lime Of the NEE
: ing of the Convention. in October last, I'll
y pretence was kept up, the profession wa
s openly made, and believed by me, and
thought believed by them, that the Coz
! vention intended to submit Constitute
! to the people, and not to attempt to put
!. Government in operation without such sui
: mission. The election being over. Il
I Democrotic party being defeated by, 9
overwhelming vote. the Opposition havir
triumphed, and got possession of bot