The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-17

may be followed Oh future occasions / took
It for granted that the convention of Kansas
would act in accordance with this example,
founded, as 1t IL. on correct principles /; and
hence my instructions 10 Governor Walker, in
favor of submitting the constitution to the
people, were expires scd in general and unqual-
flied terms.
In the Kansas Nebraska act, however, this
requirement, as applicable 70 the whole consti-
tuition, had not been inse, red, and the conven-
ton were not bound by its terms TO submit
any other portion of the instrument 10 an cleo
ton, except that which relates to the 'domes-
tic institution" of slavery. This will be rem
dered clear by simple reference to its LAM
guage. TWAS not to legiSate into any Terri
tory or State, nor to exclude il herefrom, but
to leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way" According 10 the plain con-
struction of the sentence, the words "domes-
tic Institutions have direct as thew have an
appropriate reference to slavery. "Domesiic
institutions are limited to the family. The
relation between master and slave and few
others are domestic Institutions" and ire en-
tirely distinct from Institutions of a political
character. Besides, there was no question
then before Congress, nor indeed has there
since been any serious question before the peo-
pie or The country, except that which relates
to the domestic institution" of slavery.
The convention, after an angry and excited
debate, finally determined, by a majority of
only two, to submit the question of slavery to
the neople, though at the last forty-three of
the fifty delegates present affixed their sigma
lures to the constitutions
large majority of the convention were in
favor of establishing slavery in Kansas. They
accordingly inserted an article in the consttC-
ton for this purpose similar in form to those
which had been adopted by other territorial
conventions. In The schedule, however pro-
viding for the transition from territorial TO
State Government, the question has been fairly
and explicitly referred to the people, whether
they will have constitution sswth or with
ont slavery" Itdeclares that, before the con-
stitution 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 male i'm
habitants of the territory above the age of
twentV-one are entitled to vote. They are to
vote by ballot; and ''the ballots cast at said
election shall be endorsed constitution with
slavery, and constitution with no slavery.n-
IL there be majority in favor of the s'consti-
tuition with slavery" then it is to be transmit
ted to Congress by the President of the con-
vention in its original form. IF, on the con-
trary, there shall be majority in favor of the
'!consitulion with no slavery.r 'sthen the arti-
Gle providing for slavery shall be stricken from
the constitution by the President of this con-
vention )" and it is expressly declared that no
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 inter-
ferrei with - and in that event It is made his
dnty TO have the constitution thus ratified
transmitted TO the Congress of the u. s. for
the 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 be received
into the Union with or without slavery" and
thus this exciting question may be peacefully
settled in the very mode required by The organ
ic law. The election will be held under legi-
innate authority, and if any portion of the in
habitan's shall refuse 10 vote, fair opportu-
nifty to do SO having been presented, this will
be their own voluntary act, and they alone will
be resnonsibse for the consequences.
Whether Kansas shalt be free or slave
State must eventually, under some authority,
be decided by an elections; and The question can
never be more clearly or distinctly presented
to the people, than it is at the present moment.
Should this opportunity be rejected. she may
be involved for years in domestic discord and
possibly ia civil war. before she can AGAIN
make m the Sssue now so fortunately tender
ed, aud again reach the point she has already
ATTAINED,
ka0sAs mas Tor many years occuDed too
much of The public attention. II is high time
this should he directed TO far more important
objects. Whom once admitted into the Union.
whether with or without slavery, the excite
ment beyoad her own limits will speedily pass
awPy, and she will then for the first time be
left rs she onghttn have been long since, TO
manage her own affairs in her own way IF
her constitution en- the subject of slavery. or
on INV other subject, be disp'easjng to a mai
ority Of the people, no hntnah power can pre-
vent them fr,'n changing IL within a brief per-
iod. Under these circumstances, il NAV we'll
be questioned whether the peace and quiet of
the whole country are not Of greater import
ance than than the mere temporary triumph of
either of either Of the political parties in Kan
sas. as. m.. .sE .....
Should the constitution without slavery be
adopted BIZ the votes of the majority, the rights
Of property IN slaves now in the Territory are
reserved. The number of these is very small:
but If il were greater the provisions would be
equally just and reasonable. These slaves
were brought into the Territory under the con
stitution of The u S. and are now the property
of their masters. This point has at length been
finally decided by the highest judicial tribunal
Of The country; aud this upon the plain nrinci-
pie that when confedracv of sovereign States
require new territory at their ioiut expense,
both equality ard Justice demand that the citi-
zens of one and all of them shall have the right
to take into ii whatsoever is recognized as pro-
perty by the common constitution To have
summarily confscated the property in slaves
already in the Territory, would have been an
act OF gross injustice and contrary TO the prac-
tice of the oldest States of the Union which
have abolished slavery.
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