The Washington union., 1857-12-03
THE REspoNsE FROM PENNSYLVANIA


svely show, we think, that serious difficulty win
or can take place from differences Of opinion which
have had their origin in majority of instances, in
misapprehension of all the facts of the Several
prominent democratic Journals in New York and
New England at first led astray by the false reports
which reached the public through the medium of the
telegraph, have promptly and gracefully acknowl-
edged their mistake, and now lending their
powerful aid to disabuse the minds Of their readers
of errors which originated with black ckrepublicans
for transparently agitating purposes.
In no State in the Union is the action of the Kan
sas convention generally or more cordially APP
proved of than in Pennsylvania. The able arguments
and eloquent appeals of the Pennsylvanan, the Phil
adelphia Argus and other old and recognised
organs of the democracy of the Keystone State,
have not only appeared in columns, but they
have been extensively copied throughout the coun-
try as evidence Of that unfaltering devotion TO
principle for which that State has ever been CON
spicuous, and never conspicuous than in the
hour of trial or threatened danger.
We have named the Pennsylvanian and the Argus
for the zeal, fidelity, and capacity which they have
displayed at this juncture We must not omit TO
II
add the of the Lancaster lntelligencer, an old
trusted, honored organ of the democracy. Its issue
of Tuesday last is mainly devoted to Kansas affairs
which are discussed with great power and ability.
The action of the convention, az will be seen from
the following extracts, is boldly and unquaifedly
sustained, and the wretched sophistries of backre
publicanism submitted to the searching tests Of
mon sense and correct principles
The malcontents In Kansas and many good citizens in
the old States contend that there is sovereignty
and above the sovereignty that elected the delegates and
framed the constitution, who should sit in Judgment
on that instrument and undo If they choose what the
people, through their representatives, have done. In
other words, they insist that constitution, emanatng
from the people, shall be submitted to the people
for their approval rejection before ii Is presented to
Congress. Now we look upon this work OF super
erogation-an unnecessary requirements delay with
any sufficient cause other than desire to keep open
the Kansas excitement by keeping the question before
Congress and the whole country for an indefinite length
Of time.
We should have preferred for peace sake to have
the aeoe constitution submitted to the people of the Ter
roy, provided the advocates of its submission
honest in their intentions and purposes with regard to it,
of which we have great doubts. But not aware
that the people had instructed their delegates to that
effect For anything that has yet transpired, 1t would
appear that the convention was called together for the
sole purpose OF framing constitution and the law under
which the delegates convened required them to submit
the result Of their labors to Congress- and to other
sovereignty whatever The delegates met and acted
without any special instructions from their constituents
they convened to exercise the highest powers Of
sovereignty. Neither the law the instructions of
the people required them to submit the constitution to
popular vote prior to the action of Congress upon it, They
did not in their wisdom proper to make this subms
son except far the aapey question is concerned
he only bone of contention between the parties there
and be pretended that they have aogated to them
selves any right prerogative which they not
act of Congress and the people themseves 1t strikes
very orcbly that the doctrine of popular sovereignty has
been exempfed rather than otherwise in the action Of
the body and the attempt now making to eliminate
nulify their work strongly of anything else
than the right of the people to rule through their legally
constituted representatives 1t attempt to take the
work out Of the hands Of the people and place it in the
hands of Congress In effect, 1t is effort to set the
popular will at defiance, il correct in view Of
the matter. ......... ..... ....- .... .....e
It is not pretended believe that there ia anything
wrong-anything anti republican in the constitution No
fault far know, has been found with any of its
provisions. Then why all this bluster and noise about
the action of the convention Why dispute about
tries Why not adopt it at once, with without slave
y the majority of the people shall determine, and
thus take the whole question out of the hands of Con-
gress and give peace and queness to the country Let
it be adopted and State government organized under it,
and the people can turn round the next day, If they
choose, and call convention to alter amend it
they may desire Let 1t be adopted and the wounds of
this i'll ated Territory will at stop bleeding and
Kansas will become prosperous State of the Union
But this does not suit the uterior views of the abo
tonsts They do not desire to it become sovereign
State at this time They want it to remain in terrific
rial condition for several years come keep up
the excitement throughout the country and have
capital for the next presidential campaign Without that
they would have hope of making respectable
show against the democratic party with It, they calcu
late achieving victory II it should be at the
pense of the Union itself May kind Heaven preserve
from the Vaccinations of these unscrnpulous men!
In another article the InteIligencer takes the fol-
lowing strong position
The great question which has agitated the country
from centre to circumference for the last three years
whether slavery should should not exist in Kansas,
and whether that Territory should into the Union
free slave State This the absorbing question
which entered into and overrode all others in the last
presidential election Growing ont of this question and
intimately connected with IL the doctrine of popular
sovereignty The democratic party strongly advocated
this doctrine and the republicans opposed II the latter
contendng for the right of Congress to legac for the
people of the Territories The democracy were vicori
ous and the leading principle imbodedn in the Kansas Ne
braska bithe right of the people of Kansas TO deter
mine the question of slavery for abundanty
sustained
The convention of Kansas the members of which body
elected under act of Congress- met at the time and
place fixed upon, and after somewhat prolonged ses
son have brought their abors to close by presenting
the people OF the Territory constitution republican
in form and modelled after the fashion of many of the old
States with clause in the schedule for ascertaning the
sense of the people the muchmooted and troublesome
slavery question Those who want slavery will vote for
the provision which would make Kansas slave State
those who are opposed to slavery will vote against the
provision If majority las we have every TO be-