Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-12

would cheerfully submit the question Of slavery
to the decision Of the bona file people Of Kansas,
without any restriction or qualification whatever.
All were cordially united up0n the great doctrine
of popular sovereignty, which is tho vital princi.
lle Of our free institutions. Had it then been in.
simulated from amy quarter that it would be a suGi.
cient compliance with the acquisitions for the or.
Iyanic law for the members Of n convention, there.
alter to lie elected, to withhold the question Of
slavery SrOm the people, and to substitute their
own viii Cor tina of a legally asceriained majority
oil all their constituents, this would have been in
stantly rejected. Every where they remained true
to tho resolution adopted on a celebrated occasion
recognizing "the right Of the people Of all the
Misunderstanding Kansas and Nebraska
acting through tho legality and fairly expressed
Will OF u majority OF actual residents, and when.
ever the number of their inhabitants justify il
to form q constitution, with or without slavery,
and be admitted into the Union upon terms of per.
feet equality with the other States"
The convention 10 frame a constitution for Kan.
sas met on the first Monday Of September last.
They were called together by virtue Of nn act Of
the territorial legislature, whose lawful existence
had been recognized by Congress in different
forms and by different ennctments. A large pro-
portion Of the citizens of Kansas did not think
proper to register their names and to vote at the
election, for delegates but an opportunity to do
this having been fairly. afforded. their refusal to
avail themselves of their right could in no manner
"HNNN WV lSShi'NJ VI Nbc CbhNtuliOI.
This convention proceeded to frame n constitu.
ton for Kansas, aud finally adjourned on the Tth
day Of November. But little difficulty occurred
~ the convention, except on the subject Of slavery.
The truth is, that the general provisions of our 70.
cent state constitutions are 20 similar-and, | aay
add, so excellent-thnt the difference betw zen them
is not essential, Under the earlier practice of the
Government, no constitution framed by the conven.
ton OF n Territory preparatory to its admission in.
to the Union ne a State had been submittcd to the
people, J trust. however, tho example set by the
list Congress, requiring that the Constitution f
Minnesota should be subject to the approval and
ratification of the peo1le of the proposed State"
may be followed ON future occasions. | took it for
grdnted that the convention of Kansas would act
IN accordance with this example. founded as it is
on correct principles and hence my instructions
to Governor Walker, in favor of submitting the
to the people. were expressed in gen.
cral and unqualified terms.
In the Kansas Nebraska act, however. this re-
qniremen, as applicable to the whole constitution
had not been inserted, and the Convention were
not bound by it, terms TO submit any ether portion
Of that instrument TO an election, except that which
relates to tho domestic institution of slavery
This would be rendered clear by q simple reference
to its language. 1t was mot 10 legislate slavery
into any Territory or Sta te amor to exclude it there.
from, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free
to form and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way. According to the plain construc
ton of the sentence. the words domestic institu.
tions" have Il direc. as they have an appropriate
reference TO slavery. domestic Institutions are
limited to the family. The relation between mas
ter and slave and a few others are domestic insti-
tu;ions," and are entirely distinct from in stitution
of political character. Besides there was no oues-
ton then before Congress, nor inoeed, hns there
since been any serious question before the people
OF Kansas or the country, except that which re-.
lates to the domestic institution" of slavery.
The con ypntiUn. after an nnprv and pypitpd do.
bate, finally determined. by a majority of only two.
to submit the question of slavery to the people,
though at least, forty.three of the so delegates al.
liked their signatures to the constitution.
large majority of the Convention were in ia.
vor Of establishing slavery in Kansas. They ac-
cordingly inserted an article in the Constitution
to" that purpose. similar in form to those which
bad been adopted by other territorial conventions.
In the schedule, however, rro'iding for the trans.
ition irom n territorial toa State government, the
question has been fairly and explicitly referred to
the people, whether they will have q constitution
with or without slavery. 1t declares that before
the constitution adopted hy the convention 'shall
he sent to Congress for aduissiun into the Union as
State" nm election shall be held to decide this
question. at which all the White male inhabitants
Dt the Territory, above the age of 81 are entitled
to vote. They a g to vote hy ballot: and 1.-THE bal
cast a, said election shall be endorsed 'cons,i-
tntion with slavery and constitution with no
'lavery'.' II there be a majority Of The ''const:-
.uti0n with slavery, then ii is to be transmitted
% Congress by the President of the Convention in
rs original form. If on the contrary, there shall
ne a majority in favor of the "constitution with no
then the article providing for slavery
hall be stricken from the constitution by the pres.
dent of this convention )" and it is expressly de.
Jared that mo slavery shall exist in the State Of
Kansas, except that the right Of property in slaves
in the Territory, shall in no manner be in,
erfered with y and in that event, it is made his
nt- tN ha,o. la ,.,.,.., r.. ll. ~ .---.
nitted to the Congress of the United States for the
of the State into the Union.
At this election. every citizen will have an op.
of expressing his opinion by his vote,
whether Kansas shall be received into the Union
or without slavery" and thus this exciting
may be peacefully settled in the very
node required 10y the organic law. The election
VIII be held under legitimate authority, and if any
portion OF the inhabitants shall refuse to vote, n
air opportunity to do so having been presented,
his Will he their own voluntary act, and they
llone will be responsible for the consequences.
Whether Kansas shall be a free or a slave State.
must eventually, under some authority, be decided
~ an election; and the question can never be more
dearly or distinctly presented TO the people, than
t is at the present moment. Should this oppor-
unity be rejected, she may be involved for years
n domestic discord, and possibly, in civil war,
'eiore she can again make up the issue now 30 for
nnately rendered, and again reach the point she
las t!Teauy dttalHcu. |
Kansas has for some years occupied too much
t the public attention. IL is high time this
hould be directed to far more important objects t
When once Admitted into the Union, whether with G
r without slavery, the excitement beyond her '
limits will speedily pass away, and she will :
hen for the first time be left, as she ought to d
been long since. to manage her own affairs !
her swn way. If her constitution on the sub T
OF slavery, or any other subject, be d~ispleas- a
ng to a majority IF the people, no human power /
an prevent them from changing it within a brief
'eriod. Under these circumstances it may we'll
e questioned whether the peace and quiet of the
Whole country are not of greater importance than !
he mere temporary triumph of either of the pc. '
itical parties in Kansas.
Should the constitution without slavery be adopt !
ID by the votes of a majority. the rights Of proper. >
Y in slaves now in the Territory are reserved. !
The number of these is very small but if it were .
greater the provision would be equally just and .
These slaves were brought into the !
~erritory under the constitution Of the United I
states, and are now the property of their masters .
This point has at length been finally decided 7
the highest judicial tribunal of the country,
nd fLia ,n.n l. .l.. s,.-o..t H.. - - = u