The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-12-30


err there should be a constitution to be
decided by any other body. or by a people
already yindictiye toward the legally con-
stituted authofi les, would not be doing
the work the members werc called TO do.
1t is objected that it is the work of a
party-so was the Topeka Constitution
whilst the former has the sanction of Law.
1t is objected, also, that as in thu case of
Arkansas, Congress is notboand to receive
the Constitution aud to admit the Terri
tory without an enabling act by Congress.
even though the Legislature provided for
the Convention. 1t would then, it is an
swered, be discretionary with Congress to
admit her or not. If that position be
correct, I take the ground that an ena-
bling act has already been passed by Con-
eress IN the form Of the Kansas-Ne6rdska
Act. 1t enables the Territory of Kansas
through the legally-eApressed will of the
people, to "FoRM and regulate her do
mestic institutions in her way, sub
ject only to the Constitution of the United
States" Again, see Sec. 10 of the Or
ganic Act: land when admitted as a State
or States, the said Territory, or any por-
ton Of the same, SHALL be rcceiced lnto
the Union, with or without Slavery, as
thoir constitution may prescribe at the
time of their admission" Then follow
some provisos and conditions, which are
of no weight in this inquiry. excert to
show the conditions are already set forth
in the Kansas ehraska Act upon which
the Territory is to come into the Union.
Has she not done it III her W way p
What more shall she be asked to do p
The Kansas-Nebrssk Act provides that
the Territory may be admitted upon such
terms. Having formed her Constitution
in her own way, will Congress take the
responsibility of pcrpetuating the difficult
ties in the Territory, and of keeping her
longer out of the Union?
The few slaves already in the Territory,
the property of persons residing there
when Kansas was the common property
of the whole Union, are, it is true, recog-
nized in the Constitution : but they arc
SO limited in number, it can be no formid-
able obstacle, for if . majority of the
people vote CONSTITUTION without sla-
very the number Of slaves already there
cannot BE increased, and slavery in Kan
sas will, in such case, soon be entirely at
an end. U. der the decision Of the United
States Supreme Court, the Convention
could not we'll have done differently.
IF the people avail themselves of their
right to vote, they may establish Slavery
or not and upon them will rest the re-
sponsibility.
Whatever may be the decision, the
Constitution can be amended when tho
people wish it for, though it says it may
be amended at a distant day, itdoes not
say it shall not be amended at any time,
when the legal steps are taken by the Lc-
gis,ature.
The Legislature called together by Sc
crctary Stanton will be unable, by their
action, to prejudice the merits of the Kan
sas Constitution at Washington; for Con-
gress. it is believed, will not be guided by
any other rule, in reference to e1 post
faeto laws, than that laid down in the
Constitution of the United States for the
guidance of that body, as well as the Lee
g%islatures of the several States. This
will undoubtedly be the view Congress
will take of it, whether the newly-elected
the old members Of the Legislature
were legally called by the acting Governor
or not @
Not aspiring to the Presidency. nor
sighted in any way by tho Leeompton
Convention and. furthermore, mot having
any claims to the authorship of the Kan
sas- Nebraska Act. yet, being in this coun-
try when it passed, 1 trust you viii fully
appreciate NY motives in thus replying
to your letter at length.
Desiring to congratulate you upon your
and the people of the Terri
tory upon their choice: and hoping Kan
sas may soon have q happy issue out of
her trouble,
Ircmain, with great respect,
Your ob't s~erv't,
m-