Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-09

question before the people of Kanzss or the
country, except that which relates to the
'domestic institution" of slavery.
The convention, after an angry and excited
debate, finally determined, by majority of
only two, to submit the question of slavery to
the people. though at the last forty three of
the fifty delegates present aft xed their sigma
lures to the constitution.
large majority of the convention were in
favor Of establishing slavery in Kanzas They
accordingly inserted an article in the consti-
tuition for this purpose similar in form TO those
which had been adopted by other territorial
conventions. In the schedule, however. pro.
yiding for the transition from a territorial to
State government, the question has been
fairly aud explicitly referred to the people,
whether they win have constitution with
or without slavery Il declares that, before
the constitution adopted by the convention
s'shall be sent to Congress for admission into
the Union as a State" election shall be
held to decide that question, at which all the
white male inhabitants of the territory above
the age of u 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 sa-
very.'" If there be majority ir favor of
the 'constitution with slavery" then it is TO
be transmitted to Congress by the President
of the Convention in its original form. lion
the contrary, there shall be majority in ia
vor of the Hoonstitution with no slavery
then the articles providing for slavery shall
be stricken from the constitution by the Pres
ident of this convention and it is expressly
declared that 'no slavery shall exist in the
State of Kanzas, except that the right Of prop
eEty in slaves now in the territory shall in no
manner beinterfered With" and in that event
it is made his duty to have the constitution
saI 81, ,E
the United States 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 Kanzas shall be received into
the Union with or without slavery" and thus
this exciting question may be peacefully set
tied in the very mode required by the organ
ic law. The election will be held under legit-
innate authority, and if any portion of the in
habitants shall refuse to vote,a fair opportun-
ity to do so having been presented, this will
be their own voluntary act and they alone
will be responsible for the consequences.
Whether Kanzas shall be a free OF a slave
State must eventually, under some author-
ty, be decided by an election . and the ques-
ton can never be more clearly or distinctly
presented TO the people that it is at the pres
ent moment. Should this opportunity be re-
jected, she may be involved for years in do
nestle discord, and possibly in civil war, be-
fore she can again make up the issue now so
fortunately rendered, and again reach the
point she has already attained.
Kanzas has for some years occupied too
much of the public attention. 1t is high time
this should be directed to far more important
objects. When ouce admitted into the Union,
whether with or without slavery, the excite
nent beyond her own limits will speedily
pass awey, and she will then for the first
time be left, as she ought to have been long
since, to manage her own affairs in her own
way. If her constitution on the subject of
slavery, or on any other subject, be dispeas.
ing to a majority of the people, no human
power can prevent them from changing it
within brief period. Under these circum-
stances, it may well be questioned whether
the peace and quiet of the whole country are
not OF greater importance than the mere tenn
porary triumph OF either of the political par
ties in Kanzas.
Should the constitution without slavery be
adopted by the votes of the majority, the
rights OF property in slaves now in the Terri
tory are reserved. The number of these is
very small; but if it ware greater the provis-
ion would be equally Just and reasonable.
These slaves were brought into the Territory
under the constitution of the United States
and me now the property of their masters.
i his pOlht mas ab iSIiElH Deen unhtlY decided
by the highest Judicial tribunal of the coun-
try-and this upon the plain principle that
when eonfederecy of sovereign States ac-
quire new Territory at their joint expense,
both eq uai'y and justice demand that the cit
igens of one and all of them shall have the
right to take into it whatsoever is recognized
as property 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 practice of the older STAKES of the Union
which have abolished slavery.
A territorial government was established
for Utah by act of Congress approved the 9th
of September 1850, and the constitution and
laws Of the United States were thereby ex-
tended over it $50 far as the same, or any
provisions thereof, may be applicable" This
act provided for the appointment by the Pres
tdent, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, of a governor, who was to be er-
obFcIo superintendent Of Indian affairs, Sc.
cretary three judges of the Supreme Court,
marshal, and district attorney. Subsequent
acts provided for the appointment of the Of
ficars necessary to extend our land and our
Indian system over the territory Brigham
Young was appointed the first governor on
the 20th of September, $780, and has held the
office ever since. Whilst Governor Young
has been both Governor and Superintendent
of Indian Affairs throughout this period, he
has been at the same time the head Of the
church called the Latter Day Sainsts, and
processes to govern its members and dispose of
their property by direct inspiration and au-
thority from the Almighty. His power has
been, therefore, absolute over both church and
State.
The people of Utah almost exclusively be.
long to this church, and believing with ia
natjcal spirit that he is Governor of the terri
tory by divine appointment they obey his
commands as If they were direct revelations
from Heaven, Ii, therefore, he chooses that
his government shall come into collision with
the government of the United States, the
members Of the Mormon church will yield
lmpllclt obedience to his will. Unfortunate
~, existing facts leave but little doubt that
such Is ms determination. Without entering
upon minute history of occurrences, it is
sufficient to say that all the officers Of the Uni
ted States, Judicial and executive. with the
single exception OF two Indian agents, have
found Il necessary for their own pers anal safe.
ty to withdraw from the territory and there
no longer remains any government in Utah
but the despotism Of Brigham Young. This
being the condition Of affairs in the territory
l could not mistake the path of duty As
chief executive magistrate, was bound to re.
store the supremacy of the constitution and
laws within its limits. In order to effect this
purpose, appointed new governor and 9TH
er federal officers for Utah, and sent with
IL. !