Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-24
From the Vermont Patriot.
Kansas Affairs,

We do not happen to see any new cause for
alarm in the position of Kansas matters
The constitutional convention have submit
ted to the people of Kansas the only question
that has agitated that territory-the question
Of slavery-and it has been done fairly and
squarcly. The question of slavery or no
slavery, could not by any possible means have
been more plainly submitted. Unembarrass-
ed by any other question and for the purpose
Of settlement of that question as soon as
possible, the convention intended to take the
shortest course to do it. That there might be
no shadow of doubt about the matter, the
convention provided that the ballots shall be
endorsed Constitution with Slavery" or
Constitution with no Slavery"
If a majority of the legal voters shall de-
eide in favor of slavery, then the constitution
is to be submitted to congress with the pro-
slavery clause, if, on the contrary, majority
shall declare against slavery, in the language
of the schedule to the constitution" them the
article wooiding for SLAVERY. shall be stricken
from the constitution By the president of the
convention, and NO SLAVERY SHALL
EXIST IN THE STATE OFKANSAS, er.
Crypt that the right of property in slaues nouc
IN the territory shall in no manner be in err
fered with,' and the co lstitution thus reliey
ed of the pro-slavery clause is to be transmit.
ted to congress,
The constitution is " to be Submitted TO ali
the actite male inhabitants of the territory,
very liberal provision for the free state PEG
pie, thousands of whom were deprived thu
privilege of voting at the last election, ant
many of whom have but recently arrived ii
the territory.
We are unable to see trick or subterfug'
here. The submission appears to be plail
land most liberal, and with purpose to ac
complish fair decision.
The assertion that slavery is fastened upo
the territory by the proviso-" except tina
the right OF property in slavery now in the tel
ritory shall in no manner be interfered with,
is simply false The proviso says, explicit
slaves NOW in the territory" and the con
stitution says, as explicitly if majority O
the ballots are against slavery, then . n
slavery shall existin Kansas" Nothing ca
pc palmer, to those who have eyes and wis
to see,
We see nothing very alarming either, i
the fact that the whole constitution is not su
mitted to the people. The constitution {
Vermont was never submitted to the peopl,
Indeed, a provision, in fact, to the contrar
is part of the constitution, and vet the ne,
, pie of Vermont live very peaceabiy and ha,
PLY under it. The convention that frame
the Topeka constitution refused to submit mn
portion of it to the people! The conyentie
which framed the first constitution of Oh
refused to submit any portion of it to Il
people. The first constitutions of MANY 9th,
states were not submitted to the peopl
; Besides, the constitution provides for amen
mcnt in 1864, and besides further, the who
matter will be in the hands of the people
Kansas the moment she is admitted as a sta
:, they can amend the old OR adopt now OF
!, as soon as they please.
Why the whole constitution was not 81,
mittcd to the people, we are not able to sa
Perhaps from the fact that the Top eka co
o 'titution was not submitted to tae, ,ple, t
. free state men do not regard thu as of mu
It consequence. Perhaps it apprehend
+ that the Jim Lane fanatics were determin
to defeat any constitution that could be 81