True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-23


day, the 9th iast
q x = - aR = n
The President Of the United States
tells Us, in his message, that he had uie-
quivocally expressed his opinions. in the
form OF instructions to Governor Walker,
assuming that the Constitution was to be
submitted to the people for ratification. -
When we look at Governor Walkers let
ter of acceptance of the Office of Cover nor,
we frd that he stated expressly that be ac-
copied it with the understanding that the
President and his whole Cabinet concur.
red with him that the Constitution, when
formed, was 10 be submitted 10 the people
for ratification. Then look into The in
structions given by the President of the
United States through General Csss, the
Secretary of State, to Governor Walker,
and you there find thai the Governor is
instructed to use the military power to
protect the polls when the Constitution
shall be submitted to The people Of Kan
sas for their free acceptance or rejecliQHA
Trace the history little further, and Won
will find that Governor Walker Wake went to
Kansas and PrOc!aaiiSF1isd, in his inaugural
ana 3Iaec6es at Topeka and elsewhere,
..t5aast tasst it was The distinct understanding, not
only of himself, but those higher in pow
er than himself-meaning the President
and his Cabinet-that the Constitution
WAS to be submitted to the people for their
free acceptance or rejection, and he would
use all the power at his command TO de-
feat its acceptance by Congress, if it were
not thus submitted to the vote of the peo-
pie. Mr.. President am not going to
stop and enquire how far the Nebraska
bill, which said the people should be left
perfectly free to form their Constitution
for themselves, authorizing the President
or the Cabinet, or General Walker, Oh
any other Territorial officer, to interfere
and tell the Convention of Kansas whe:
ther they should or should not submit
the question to the people. ] am not 60
ing to stop 10 enquire how far they were
authorized to do that, it being my opinion
that the spirit of the Nebraska bill requ
red it to be done. 1t is sufficient for my
purpose that the administration Of tht
Federal Government unanimously, tina
the Administration Of the Territorial Go
vernment in all its parts, unanimously
understood the Territorial law unde
which the Convention was assembled t.
mean that the Constitution to be formed
by that Convention should be submitted
TO the people for ratification or rejection
, and if not confirmed by majority of th'
people, should be null and void, wthou
coming 10. Congress for approval No
only did the National Government ant
the Territorial Government so understand
the law at the time, but as have already
stated, the people so understood il. Al
further evidence on that point, larg'
number if not the majority, of the dele
gates were instructed in the Nominatip!
J Conventions to submit the Constitution Il
the people for ratification. .. e. ..
| know that The delegates from Doug
f las county eight in number, Mr.. Calhoun
President of the Convention, being among
them, were not only instructed thus tt
submit the question, but they signed and
published, while candidates, a 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 Government,
canvassed every part of Kansas during
the election of delegates, and each one
of them pledged himself 10 the people
that no snap judgment was to be taken
that the Constitution was TO be submitted
to the people, Tor acceptance Or reflections
that ii would be void unless that was
done that the Administration would
spurn and scorn it as a violation of the
kprincipes on which it came into power,
and that a Democratic Congress would
hurl it from their presence, as an. insult
to Democrats who stood pledged to sec
the people left free to form their domes.
tic institutions for themselves. Not only
that, Sir, but up To the time when the
Convention assembled, on the 1st Of Sep
,ember, SO far as can learn, it was un
derslood everywhere that the Constitution
was to be submitted for ratification or re
lection. They met, however, on the Is
of September, and adjourned until afte
the October election. think it wis
and prudent that they thus have adjourn
ed. They did not wish to bring an,
question into that election which woul
: divide the Democratic party, and weaker
! our chances of success in the election.
l was rejoiced when'I saw that :hey
did adjourn, SO as not 10 show their han
on any question that would divide an
distract: the party until after the election
y During that recess, while the Convention
: was adjourned, Governor Ransom, tn
D Democratic candidate for Congress, run
e ming against the present delegate from
that Territory, was canvassing every pal
of Kansas in favor Of the doctrine. of sub
hitting the Constitution to the people
declaring that the Democratic party wa
| in favor of such submission. and that
was a SANDER of the Black Republicans
, intimate the charge that the Democrat
party did not intend to carry out tha
pledge in good faith. Thus, up TO tn
. lime Of the meeting of the Convention, il
, October last, the pretence was kept up
the profession was openly made and be
tlieved by me, and l thought believed b.
them, that the Convention intended t
submit Constitution to. the people, an
. not attempt 10 put GOvernmentin oper
; alton without such submission. Th
election being over, the Democratic part
being defeated by an overwhelming vote