The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-22

submission and those who stad away did with the
| same UNDERSTANDING
States tells in his message that he had unequvocay
expressed his opinions in the form of instructions TO Gov
Walker, assuming that the constitution was TO be sub
mtted to the people for ratification. When we look in
to Gov Walker letter of acceptance of the Office of gov
onor find that he stated expressly that he accepted
it with the understanding that the President and his
whole cabinet concurred with him that the constitution
when formed TO be submitted to the people for mt
foaton Then look into the instructions given by the
President of the United States through General Cas the
Secretary Of State, to Gov Walker and you there find
that the governor is instructed to the military power
to protect the polls when the constitution shall be sub
mted TO the people of Kansas for their free acceptance
rejection. Trace the history little further, and you will
find that Gov Walker went to Kansas and proclaimed,
in his inaugural and in his speeches at Topeka and else
where that the distinct understanding not only
himself but of those higher in power than himself mean
ing the President and his oabinetthat the constitution
was TO be submitted TO the people for their free accept
rejection and that he would all the power at
his command to defeat its acceptance by Congress ii it
were not thus submitted to the vote of the people.
Mr.. President am not going to stop and inquire how
far the Nebraska BILL which said the people should be
left perfectly free TO form their constitution for them
selves authorized the President the cabinet Gov
Walker any other territorial officer to interfere
and tell the convention of Kansas whether they should
should not submit the question to the people.
going stop inquire how far they authorized
to do that 1t being my opinion that the spirit of the Ne
braska bill required to be DONE 1t is sufficient for my
that the the
unanimously that the administration of the territorial
government in all its parts, unanimously understood the
territorial law under which the convention assembled
to that the constitution to be formed by that
venon should be submitted to the people for ratification
rejection, and ifnot confirmed by majority of the
people, should be null and void without coming to Con-
gress for approval
Not only did the national government and the terrific
rial government understand the law at the time, but
have already stated the people of the Territory
understood it, As further evidence on that point,
large number if not majority, of the delegates
instructed in the nominating conventions to submit the
constitution to the people for ratification. know that
the delegates from Douglas county, eight in number Mr.
Calhoun, president of the convention, being among
them not only instructed thus to submit the ques
ton but they signed and published while candidates.
written pledge that they would submit it to the people
for ratification know that men, high in authority and
in the confidence of the territorial and national govern
men canvassed every part of Kansas during the election
of delegates and each of them pledged himself to the
people that snap judgment to be taken that the
constitution to be submitted to the people for accept
rejection that it would be void unless that was
done that the administration would spurn and scorn it
violation of the principles which it came into
power and that democratic Congress would hurl it
from their presence insult to democrats who stood
pledged to the people left free to form their domestic
institutions for themselves.
Not only that, sir but up to the time when the
venton assembled, the LIST of September far
learn it was understood everywhere that the constitution
to be submitted for ratification rejection They
met, however, the LIST of September, and adjourned
until after the October election think it wise and
prudent that they should thus have adjourned They
did not wish to bring any question into that election
which would divide the democratic party and weaken
chances of in the election j rejoiced
when that they did adjourn not to show their
hand any question that would divide and distract the
party until after the election During that recess while
the convention adjourned Gov. Ransom, the demo-
cratic candidate for Congress running against the present
delegate from that Territory, canvassng every part
of Kansas in favor of the doctrine of submitting the
To thn tInI ofir
party in favor Of such submission and that it
SANDER of the black republicans to intimate the charge
that the democratic party did not intend to carry out that
pledge in good faith Thus up to the time of the meet
ing of the convention, in October last the pretence
kept up the profession openly made and believed by
me- and thought believed by them, that the conven
ton intended to submit constitution to the people, and
not to attempt to put government in operation without
such submission The election being over the democratic
party being defeated by overwhelming VOTE the oppo
ston having triumphed and got possession of both
branches of the legislature and having elected their ter
oria delegate the convention assembled and then pro-
ceeded to complete their work.
Now let us stop to inquire how they redeemed the
pledge to submit the constitution to the people They
first go and make constitution. Then they make
schedule in which they provide that the constitution
the 2lst of December-the present month-sha be sub
mitted to all the bona e inhabitants of the Territory
that day. for their free acceptance rejection in the fol-
lowing manner, to wit thus acknowledging that they
were bound to submit it to the will of the people,
cedng that they had right to put it into operation
without submitting it to the people, providing in the in
srument that ii should take effect from and after the
date of its ratification and not before; showing that the
constitution derives its vitality in their estimation not
from the authority of the convention but from that vote
of the people to which it to be submitted for their
free acceptance rejection How is it to be submitted
1t shall be submitted in this form Constitution with
slavery constitution with slavery All must
vote for the constitution whether they like it not in
order to be permitted to vote for against slavery.
Thus constitution made by convention that had al
thorty to assemble and petition for redress of gievan
ces but not to establish governmental constitution
made under pledge Of honor that should be submitted
to the people before took effect constitution which
provides its face that it shall have no validity except
what it derives from such submissions submitted to
the people at election where all at liberty to
come forward freely without hndrance and vote for it,
but no man is permitted to record vote against it.
That would be as fair election of the enc
mics of Napoleon attributed to him when he was elected
First Consul He is said to have called out his troops
and had them reviewed by his officers with speech pa
tiiotic and fair in its professions in which he said to
them Now, my soldiers you to go to the election
and vote freely just you please If you vote for Napo
leon all is well vote against him. and you are TO be
instantly shot" That was fair election. Laughter
This election to BIO equally fair All men in favor Of
the constitution may vote for tall men against it shall
not vote at all. Why not let them vote against It.
presume you have asked many this question. /
have asked very large number of the gentlemen who
framed the constitution quite number of delegates and
still larger number of persons who their friends and
have received the from every of them
received any other answer and presume
shall get any other What is that They say If
they allowed negative vote the constitution would have
been voted down by an overwhelming majority, and |