Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-12-24

people, providing in the instrument that il
should take effect from and after the date Of
its ratification, and moi before; showing that
The Constitution derives lis vitality, in their
estimation, not from the authority of the
Convention, but from that vote Of the PEG.
Pile 10 which it was to be submitted for their
free acceptance or rejection. How is it 10
be submitted? II shall be submitted in this
form: "Constitution with Slavery, or Con.
stitution with no Slavery" All men must
vote for the Constitution, whether they like
it or not, in order to be permitted TO vote
for or against slavery. Thus Constitution
made by Convention that had authority TO
assemble and petition for redress Of griev.
ances, but not TO establish governmental
Constitution made under pledge Of honor
that it should be submitted to the people
before il took effect; a Constitution which
provides, on its face, that it shall have no
validity except what i! derives from such
submission-is submitted TO the people at
an election where all men are at liberty TO
come forward freely without hndranoe and
vote for it, but no man is permitted TO re-
cord a vote against it.
THAT Hould be as fair an election us
some of the enemies 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 olicers with q
speech, patriotic and fair in its probes sions,
in which lie sand 10 them: "Now, my SOL
diers, you are TO go 10 the election and vote
freely just as you please. If you vote for
Napoleon, all is well; vote against him, and
you are instantly TO be shot" That was a
fair election. Laughter This election
is to be equally fair. All men in favor Of
the Constitution may vote for it--al men a
gainst it shall not vote at ALL Why not let
them against ii? Ipresume you have asked
many man this question. have asked a
very large number of the gentlemen who
framed the Constitution, quite lumber
of delegates, and still larger number of
persons who are their friends, and l have
received the same answer from every one oil
them. never received any other answer.
What is that? They say if they allowed a
negative vote, the Constitution would have
been voted down by an overwhelming ma
jorily, and hence the fellows shall not be al
lowed to vote at all. Laughter.l Mr..
President that may be true. 1t is no part
of my purpose to deny the proposition that
that Constitution would have been voted
down if submitted to the people. believe
it would have been voted down by major
ity Of four to one. am informed by men
we'll posted there-Domocrats - that 1t
would he voted down by 10 to /; some say
by 20 10 /.
"But is it good reason why you should
declare it in force, without being submit
ted to the people, merely because it would
have beer voted down by five to one if you
had submitted it? What does that fact
prove? Does it not show undeniably that
an overwhelming majority of the people OIL
Kansas are unalteraby opposed 10 that Con,
stilution? Willyou force it on them agains,
their will simply because they would have
voted it down if you had consulted them?-
If you will, .are You going TO force it upor
them under the plea Of leaving them per-
feclly free to form and regulate their domes
tic institutions in their own way? Is tina
the mode in which am called upon TO carr,
out the principle OF self-government ant
popular sovereignty in the Territories-t,
force Constitution on the people agains
their will, in opposition to their protest
with knowledge of the fact, and then Il
assign, as a reason for my tyranny, tina
they would he so obstinate and so pervers
as to vote down the Constitution, if hat
given them an opportunity 10 be consulte
about ii? Sir, deny your right or mine t
inquire of these people what their objec
tions to that Constitution are. They have
: right to Judge for themselves whether the
like or dislike it. 1t is no answer 10 te
me that the Constitution is good one an
, unob iectionable. 1t is not satisfactory I
Inc 10 nave VIC lICsiucil say III MS IVES
sage tina, the Constitution is an adnirabl
one, like all the Constitutions of the ne,
States that have been recently formed.
Whether good or bad, whether obnoxot
=. or not, is none Of my business, and none
YOURS. 1t is their business, and not ours
, STANDS by POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY, ruouG
THE PARTY LEAVE HIM.
But if this contribution is TO be force
II down our threats, in violation OF the ful
}. damentai principle of free Government, u,
h der mode of submission that is a mncke
. and insult, painful As it will be TO me, NIL
break all associations or connections rath
l. than forfeit my principles. have no fe
= of any party associations being severe
n / should regret 10 see social aud political I,
n seuereI; but if ii must BE- # cannot act 10,
= you and preserre my faith and my honor
i uiN stand on the great principle Of popui
?, sorereignty, phich declares The right of
ID people 10 be left perfectly free 10 form and :