The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-24

which was not submitted to the people have shown
by examples in the government that large majority Of
the State consitutions were never submitted 70 the pe
pie before they admitted States, and hence
urging doctrine, am propagating new theo-
Ties We stand upon the practices Of republican
fathers and but follow in the footsteps Of George Wash
ington and Andrew jackson
But the senator says when Territories haye enabling
act and the constitution has not been submitted 10 the
people Congress may, may not admit them into the
Union hs States understand him taking that posi-
ton Very we'll There Is physical coppulsion that
be brought 10 bear in any TO compo Congress 70
admit any State There moral obligation, and that
appeals to hold that that moral obligation exists
not only strongly but perhaps, forty thousand times
stronger in regard 10 Kansas than any State which
has ever presented itself doors for admission No
armies could march this Capitol and compel Congress
to admit Texas CALIFORNIA; Illinois, Missouri amy other
State. There is no physical compusion to admit
Kansas into this Union There is legal objection,
there prudential consideration why it should not be
done Is there moral obligation to do ii That is
the question That moral obligation exists strongly
in regard 30 Klsas il did in regard TO Illinois
and tho constitution Of Kansas submitted
neither the constitution Of Illinois, neither the
constitution of Missouri and would be very unfair TO
Kansas If sought to apply rule and principle to
that not applied to my State when It was ad
mitted.
Missouri came and asked admission into this Union,
having formed State government in compliance with
what gentlemen pleased to call in this latter day.
enabling act which imparts, as before remarked, no
power the people All it does Is to give, in adj
vance, the assent of Congress- which may be given sbse
qnent to the formation of constitution for admission
The regular the other the one is as legal
the other and the latter is the safer of the two for
the senator admits and contended if Congress give
the assent in advance, that State stands independ
ent State in spite Of the federal Unon and nothing but
physical power bring her into the Unon except
her voluntary action in conjunction with your voluntary
action.
But again The senator thinks misapprehended him
in regard TO the submission Of the constitution If
vriiI ula
ing them undertook to show that the technical
phraseoogy of this instrument not the subject to be
determined 1t its legal construction and that
judges statesmen must pass sentence ON its prport
and meaning. What is its purpIrt and meaning That
but single subject s submitted for the consideration
of the voters that the whole subject was before them
when they voted for the members Of the convention that
ii they stad away they stad away in their wrong
that they did their duty when they voted for members of
the convention that that convention az legal and
regular that sat in the whole limits Of this
confederacy and that this question submitted to
them is presented to them from consideration OF
proprety and policy and not from any legal compulsion
whatsoever This my position. /.
Now IL the fair construction of this clause of the
schedule in accordance with the position / take
is il in accordance with the position assumed by the
from Illinois The seventh section Of the sched-
ule says:
That this constitution shall be submitted to the Con-
gress of the United States its next ensuing session.
and as soon as official information has been received that
it ia approved by the same, by the admission -
For that is the only alYroUsg they have TO do
of the State OF Kansas as one OF the sovereign States
of the United States the president OF this convention
shall issue his proclamation the State legsla
ture the of government within hirty-one days a
ter publication Should any vacancy occur by death,
resignation otherwise, in the Legislature other of
fee he shall order election to m such vacancy Pro
vtaH however in of refusal, absence, disability of
the president of this convention to discharge the duties
herein imposed him. the president nPore of this
convention shall perform sad duties and in of alb
sencc refusal disability of the president pro tmovs
committee consisting OF seven, majority of them
shall discharge the duties required Of the president Of this
convention. - 4sa.s Ee sf a.s hisa5 aasa N5
Then comes the section marked eleven which has
reference the mode Of submitting to the people of Kan
sas whether they viii have slavery in the constitution
whether slavery shall be stricken out Of the constitution
| 1t s in this language .'
Before this constitution shall be sent to Congress
1t never takes effect until the admission of the State
by Congress Before it shall be sent To Congress certain
things shall be done The question which intended
to correct the senator was that the constitution the
constitution State government to take eff
feet unless Kansas be admitted by Congress into the
! Union
Before this constitution shall be Congress for
admission into the Union State, it shall be submit
! What is to be passed upon Let
ss all the white male inhabitants of this Territory
| for approval or dsapproval, as follows ~
What is to be approved Ii is submitted TO them 10
be approved not approved, on what point Why, las
| follows What does follow u@a
the president of this convention shall by proclama-
ton declare that the 2lst day of December 1887 at
the different election precincts established by law
which NAV he established herein provided in the Ter
rtory of Kansas election shall be held, over which
shall preside three Judges majority of them to be
appointed as follows The president Of this convention
shall appoint three commissioners in each county in the
Territory whose duty it shall be appoint three Judges
of election in the several precincts Of their respective
countless and establish precincts for Oag, aud % polls
% Be opeacd at c places they may den proper IN Aer repct
ire con which election the constitution fraed by
! this convention shall be submitted. 5a y
Howl @ f.ss
'To all the white male inhabitants of the Territory Of
Kansas in the said Territory upon that day and the
age Of twentyone years for ratification rejection in
| the following manner and form. s.........
The term ratification and the term rejection are
both used but to what had they reference For rati
ication or rejection in the following and form
IT has reference TO the only thing submitted To them
/ What is that y - .g $780,. . -
The voting shall be by ballot The Judges OF said
election shall TO be kept two pol-books by two
clerks by them appointed The ballots said cleo
/ ton shall be endorsed constitution with slavery
Not ''for constitution aud for slavery" There is
but one vote cast-not for two things. II is for
thing the vote is cast constitution with slavery or
| on the other side constitution with slavery So
that there but single point submitted to the people
which they VOTE intended 10 vote, by the
mode in which this question submitted remarked
on the word f1atifed that il did not mean the whole
constitution should be ratified and fixed and determined
but that the people FIX settle and determine that
which had not been fixed settled, and determined
wit whether there should be clause sanconng slave
ry in the constitution not The last section is fol-
| lows s