Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-12

" domestic Institutions have direct, M they
have A. approPri stc,. reference to slavery.
Domestic institutions" are limited 10 tho
family. The relation between master and
slave and a few others, are domestic nstitu-
tom, and are entirely distinct from institu-
tons OF n political character. Besides, there
was no question then before Congress, nor, In
deed, has there since been any serious question
before the people Of Kansas or the country,
except that which relates to the I" domestic In
stitution' of slavery.
The convention, after an excited and angry
debate finally determined by majority Of only
| two, To submit the question of slavery To tho
people, though at the last forty three Of fifty
delegates present affixed their signatures To
the constitution
| large majority of tho convention were in
| favor Of establishing slavery in Kansas. They
| accordingly inserted an article in the consti-
| tuition Tor this purpose similar in form to those
which had been adopted by other territorial
conventions In the Schedule, however, pro-
viding Tor the transition from territorial 10
State government, the question has been
fairly and explicitly referred to the people.
whether they will have constitution with or
without slavery" 1t declares that before the
constitution adopted BY the convention shall
be sent to Congress for admission into the
Union as State, an election shall be held to
decide this question: at which all the white
|
age OF Il are entitled to vote They are to
vote by ballot and the ballots east al said
election shall be endorsed Constitution with
slavery, AMI Constitution with no slavery"
Ii there be majority in favor of the Con
stitution with slavery" then it il to 10 trans
mitted TO Congress by the President of the
convention in its original form. II, on con-
trary, th".o shall be a majority in favor of the
'Constil utioh with no slavery" then the
i..f ia IL. .I.uI
from the Constitution by the President of this
conventions" and it is expressly declared that
mo slavery shall exist in the State Of Kansas,
except that the right of property in slaves
now in the Territory shall in no manner be
interiered with = and in that event it is made
ms duty to have tho Constitution thus ratified.
transmitted to the Congress OF the United
States for tho admission of the State into the
Union.
At this election every citizen will have an
opportunity OF expressing his opinion by his
| vote whether Kansas shall Ice received into
the Union with or without slavery" and thus
THIS exciting question may he peacefully set
tied In tho very mode required by the organ
, &c law. The election will be held under tho
legitimate authority, and if any portion of the
: inhabitants shall refuse to vote, fair oppor-
. tunity to do SO having been presented, this
will be only their voluntary act, and they are
responsible for the consequences
Whether Kansas shall be Free or Slave
State must eventually, under seine authority
Y bs decided by an election; and the question
I can never be more clearly or distinctly presen-
ted to the people than at the present moment
$ should tins opportunity be rejected she may
be involved for years in domestic discord and
r possibly in civil war before she can again
make up the issue fortunatey rendered
3 and again reach the point she has already at
@ | tanned
Kansas has for some years occupied too
y much Of the public's attention II is high
! | time this should be directed To far more i'm
l. | portant objects When once admitted into
/. the Union, whether with or without slavery
n the excitement beyond her own limits win
: | speedily pass away, and she viii then for the
first time be left, az She ought to have been
n long since to manage her own affairs in her
y own way. II her constitution on the subject
= 81 slavery, or any other subject, DO dspleas-
:. | IN. te maJoritory OF the people no human
g power can prevent them from changing it
within brief period. Uuder these circum-
) stances. it may we'll be questioned whether
n the peace and quiet OF the whole country are
i not Of greater importance than the mere tenn
y porary triumph Of either of the political PR
r ties in Kansas
l. Should the Constitution without slavery be
adopted 10y the votes OF the Iajoriiy the rights
/ Of property in slaves now in the Territory are
n | reserved. The number OF these is very small ;
+ but II II were greater the provision would ba
I equally just and reasonable. These slaves wcrc
brought into the Territory under the Coustitu-
j ton OF the United States, and are now the pro-
perty OF their masters. This point has at
length been finally decided by the highest
r judicial tribunal of the country-and this upon
| the plain principle that when confederacy
of sovereign States acquire new territory mt
their Joint expence, both equality and Justice
| demand that the citizens of one and all of them
shall have the right TO take into it whatsoever
IS recognized OF property by the common Con.
stitutiou. 10 have summeriiy coniiscatcd the
> property in slaves already in the Terrs,ory.
. would have been an act OF gross Injustice, and
contrary to the practice OF the older States of
the Union which have abolished slavery.
UTAH TERRITORY.
territorial government was established
for Utah by act OF Congress, approved tho 9th
Of September, 1850, and the Constitution and
laws OF the United States were thereby ex-
teuded over it I" so far as the same or spy pro-
visions thereof, may be applicable"
This act provided for the appointment bv
the President by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, of a Governor; who was
to be ex-oflicio superintendent OF Indian affairs
Secretary, three Judges of the Supreme
Court, Marshal, and District Attorney.
subsequent acts provided for the apartment Of
officers necessary TO extend our land and our
Indian systems over the Territory Brigham
Young was appointed the first Governor on
the 10Th of September, 1850 and has held the
Office ever since. Whilst Gov Young has
been both Governor and Superintendent of In
dian Affairs throughout th. period he has at
the same time been at the head of the Church,
called the Latter Day Saints, and processes to
govern its members and dispose of their pro-
perry by direct inspiration and authority from
the Almighty. His power has been, therefore,
absolute over both Church and State
The people of Utah, almost exclusively, be-
long to this church, and believin. with ia
natical spirit that he is Governor Of tho Terri
tory by divine appointment, they obey his
commands As II these were direct revelations
from Heaven. IT, therefore, he chooses that
his government shall come into collision with
the government of the United States, the men,
bers Of the Mormon Church will yield implicit
obedience TO his will. Unfortunately, existing
facts leave but little doubt that such is his de-
termination. Without entering upon a minute
history Of occurrences IL is sufficient to say
that oil the officers Of the United States Judi
cial and executive, with the single exception
Of two Indian agents, have found it necessary
for their own personal safety to Withdraw from
the Territory, and there no longer remains any
government in Utah but the despotism of
Brigham Young This being the condition Of
affairs in the Territory, could not mistake