The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1857-12-03


could net have been secured. 1t was given
with direct reference TO the action OF this
Constitutional Convention, which was then
soon to assemble. 1t was a plain, explicit
declaration Of the people that slavery should
not be continued n the State of Kansas
and one which the Convention was bousd to
heed and embody in the instrument which
it was authorized to frame. At the least,
it was bound to provide the people with an
opportunity Of deciding directly and finally,
q question which involved their highest
interests and upon which the peace and
harmony of the country has already been too
long and frequently placed in jeapordy.
/ Failing in this, the Convention has pro
ceelcd in direct conflict with the spirit of
the Kansas act, the resolves Of the Demo
cratic party, the doctrines announced by
President BUCHANAN, and those promulgated
by Governor WALKER and Secretary STAN
TON, in their addresses and proclamations to
the people of Kansas. Being thus in oppo-
sition to law, and to the oft and solcmnly
repeated principles of the party, We need
hardly assert it to be the duty Of the Demo
cracy, as well as the duty Of all good citizens
OF all parties, to protest against the admission
OF Kansas into the Union with Constitu-
tion thus manifestly disregardipg the wishes
Of the people. Such we believe, will be the
position Of the body of the party through
out the country such we know will be the
position of the Democracy of Minnesota
The people Of Kansas ought to, and must,
have the right TO regulate their own domes
tic institutions, by their own votes. fairly
and without fraud or violence, either from
without or within its borders.
We believe this TO be the only honorable
course to be pursued, either in justice to
the people of Kansas, or to the integrity
and consistency of the Democratic party
We therefore discredit the telegraphc ru-
NOR that the Administration approves OF
and will sustain the action Of the Conven-
tion of Kansas, in Withholding the Consti.
tuition adopted by it from vote Of the peo-
Pile We discredit the rumor-
Because, The Kansas n ebraska Act,
which passed Congress in 1854, positively
asserted that it was not the intention of that
act to b" legislate slavery into any Territory
or State, nor exclude it ,herefrom; but to
leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way, subject only to the Con
stitution of the United States"
Because. At the Democratic National
Convention, held in June, 1886, when Mr..
BUCHANAN was nominated Tor the Presidcn-
cy, the following solemn declaration was
unanimously made:
Rssoirsd. That we recognize the right of the
people OF oil the Territories. including Kansas
AMI Nebraska. acting through the fairly tX-
fREssED tnof inpiied) will Of the majority of
actual residents, and whenever the number of
their inhabitatns justihes It. to form Con-titu.
ton. with or without domestic slavery, and be
admitted into the Union upon terms OF perfect
equality with the other States
Becduse. Mr.. BUcHANAS in accepting the
nomination. uneluivocally pledged himself
to faithful execution Of the act of Con
gress Of l-l4, and to lie guided in his al
ministration by the resolve OF the Cincin.
natl Convention.
Btcdus,. Mr.. BCcnASAS. in hi inaugural
address, after referring to the question Of
the time Of the admission Of State as
unimportant, uses tbis emphatic language
This Is, happily, matter Of but little prac.
tiCal importance. Be-idse, il il a judc ial ques-
ton, which legitimaiely belongs 10 the Sup me
Court of the United states, before whom IL is
now pending. aud will. IL ia understood, be
speedily and finally settled. To their decision
IN common with all good citizens, shall cheer.
fully submit, whatever this NAV be, though il
has ever been my individual opinion that. un-
der the Nebraska Kansas Act the appropriate
period will be when the number of actual resi-
deuts in the Territory shall justify the forma-
tion Of = Constitution with view TO H. admis-
sion as a State into the Union. But be this
It may. IT, the imperative and indispensable
duty of the Government of the United States
to secure to every resident iBhs hitant the free
and independent expression Of his opinion by
hts vote, 1HIS stCKEp slGBr oF EACH ISDIVIp-
TAI NrsT NJ rRE>EgyEp't
Beoluse, Mr.. BUoH,NAx appointed the
Hon. RoBr. j. WALKER Governor Of Kan
sas. alter the latter had stated the grounds
upon which be would accept the position
after he had addressed letter 10 the fr,si-
dent declaring the principles which be I'M
lcrstood would govern the Administration.
in the settlement of the karsss difficulties
by which the President, in thus conierrng
the appointment. hceame bound 10 see faith
fully carried into efect-and which, as
stated by Gov. W.LSER. are a. follows
I understand that soz and az yo1u ea6ra,f cor.
daily concur 10 the opinioa expressed By me
that the actual bona rds residents Of the Terri
afk L Ia, -