Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-12-17

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late slavery into any Territory or Slale,uor
to exclude il therefrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly fres 10 form and
requisite their domestic institutions their
own way. Under it Kansas. "when adj
milted rs a State" was TO ''be received in-
to the Uuion, with or without slavery, rs
their constitution may preselida at the
time Of their admission"
Did Congress mean by this language
that the delegates elected TO frame con-
stitution should have authority fiually to
decide the question Of slavery, or did they
intend by leaving it to the people Of Kan
sas themselves should decide this question
by direct yotel On this subject con-
fess | Lad never entertained a serious doubt,
and, therefore, IN my instructions TO Gov.
Walker Of the 28th March last, / merely
said that when "a constitution shall be sub
mitted to the people of the territory, they
must be protected in the exercise Of their
right Of voting for or against that instu-
ment, and the fair expression Of the pop
ular will must not be interrupted by fraud
or violence"
In expressing this opinion it was far
from my intention to interfere with the do
cision of the people of Kansas, either for
or against slavery. From this l have al
ways carefully abstained. Intrusted with
the duty Of taking "care that tho laws be
faithful execn, ted, "my only desire was that
the people of Kansas should furnish to
Congress the evidence required by the Or
gaBie act, whether for or against slavery:
and in this manner smooth their passage
into the Union. In emerging from tLe
coudition of territorial dependence into
that Of sovereign State. it was their duty
in my opinion to make known their will
by the votes of the majority, on the direct
question whether this important domestic
institution should or should not exist. In
deed this was the only possible mode in
which their will could be authentically u.s.
certained.
The election of delegates to a conyen-
tion must necessarily take place in separ-
ate districts. From this cause it may read
ily happen. as has often been the CASE that
a majority Of the people of State or Ter
ritory are on one side of a question, whilst
a majority of the representatives from the
several districts into which il Is divided
may be upon the other side. This arises
from the fact that to some districts dele
gates may be elected by small majorities,
whilst in others those of dilferett seuti-
ments may receive majorities sufficiently
great not only to overcome the votes Civ
en- for the former, but to leave a large INA.
jority Of the whole people in direct oppo-
sition to a majority of tue delegates Be-
sides, our history proves that influences
may be sought to bear oc the representa-
tive sufficiently powerful to induce him to
disregard the will of his constituents: The
truth is, that no other authentic and sat-
isfactOry mode exists of ascertaining the
will of the people Of any State or Territory
on an important and exciting question like
that of slavery in Kansas, except eaymgit
to direct vote. How wise was it. then,
for Congress to pass over all subordinate
| and intermediate agencies, and proceed di-
recdy to the source of all legitimate pow
. er under our institutions.
\ How vain would any other principle
: prove in practice! This may bo iustra-
/ ted by the case of Kansas. Should she bo
#. admitted into tho Union, with q constu-
ton either maintaining or abolishing sla-
O very, against the sentiment Of the people,
v this could have no other effect than to con-
!. time and to exasperate the existing agita-
# ton during the brief period required to
make the constitution con Orm to the ire
- sistibe will of the majority.
Tue friends aud supporters of the Ne
a braska and Kansas act, when struggling
# on a recent occasion to sustain its wise pro-
n visions before the great tribunal of the
;. American people, never differed about its
As true meaning on the subject. Everywhere
throughout the Union they publicly pledg,
j. ell their faith aud their honor, that they
/. would cheerfuIy submit the question of
D. slavery to the decision to the bona fide
i people of Kansas without any restriction
j. or qualification whatever. Al were cor
n daily united upon the great doctrine of
popular sovereignty, which is the vital
10 principle of our free institutions. Had it
', then been insnuated from any quarter that
N it would be sufficient compliance with
{ the acquisitions ofshe organic law for the
d members of "a convention, thereafter to be
$ elected, to withhold the question of slavery
,e fromAhe people, and to substitute their
: own will for that of legally ascertained
if majority of all their constituents, this
,e would have been instantly rejected Ev-
erywhere they remained true to the reso.
luton adopted on a celebrated occasion
10 recognising "the right of the people of all
/ the Notwithstanding Kansas and Ne
le braska- acting through the legally and
" fairly expressed will of a majority of actu-
It al residents, and whenever the number of
: their inhabitants justiies it, to form con-
IS stitutiou, with or without slavery, and be
= admitted into the Union upon terms of
perfect equality with the other States"
.e The convention to frame a constitution
}. for Kansas met on the first Monday of Sep
e tember last. They were called together
% by virtue of an act of the territorial IegiS-
,r ature, whose lawful existence had beeu
ID recognised by Congress ia different forms
n. and by different enactments. A large pro-
d portion of the citizens of Kansas did not
d think proper to register their names and