The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-12-18

fore the people Of kansas or the country,
except that which relates 70 the domestic
institution" Of slayery.,l r
The convention, after an angry ind excl
ted debate. finally determined, BY MAORI.
ty of only two 70 submits the question Of
slayery TO the people, though at the last for.
ty-three Of the fifty delegates present affixed
their signatures TO the constitution.
A large majority Of tho convention were
in favor Of establishing slavery in Kansas.-
They accordingly inserted an article in the
constitution for this purpose, similar in form
to those which have been adopted by other
Territorial conventions. In the schedule,
however, providing for the transition from q
territorial to State govrnment, the ques-
ton has been fairly and explicitly referred
To the people, whether they will have 0 con-
stitution iwith or without slavery II de-
clsres that, before tho constitution adopted
BY the convention ''shail be sent to Congress
for admission into the Union as State"
an election shall be held to decide this ques-
ton, ut which all the white male inhabi.
tants of the Territory above the age OF q
are entitled to vote They are to vote by
ballot and "the ballots cast ut said election
shall be endorsed constitution with slavery
and constitution with no slavery" II
there be q majority in favor Of the 'constitu-
ton with slavery, then 1t Is to be transmit
ed to Congress BY the president Of the con.
vention in its original form. II, on the
contrary, there shall be majority In favor
of consultation with no slavery, then tho
article providing for slavery shall be strick.
en- FROM the constitution by the president OF
this convention, and it is expressly declared
that mo slavery shall exist in the State OF
Kansas, except that the right OF property
in slaves now in the Territory shall in no
manner be interiered with and'in that event
il has made his dutyto have tho constitution
thus ratified transmitted to to the Congress
of the United Sates for the admission OF the
State into the Union.
At this election every citizen will have an
opportunity Of expressing his opinion by his
vote whether Kansas shall be received Into
the Union with or without slavery and
and thus the exciting question may be peace
fully settled in the very mode required by
the organic law. The election will be held
under legitimate authority, and il any por-
ton of the inhabitants shall refuse to vote
fair opportunity to do 80 having been preSen.
ted this will be their own voluntary act,and
they alone will be responsible for the conse-
quences.
Whether Kansas shall be u free or q slave
State must eventually, under some authori'
ty, be decided by un election and the ques'
ton can never be more clearly or distinctly
presented to the people than 1t Is ut the pres
emit moment. Should this opportunity be
rejected, she may be involved for many
wears in domestic discord, and possibly in
civil war, before she can make up the issue
now 20 fortunately rendered, and again
reach the point she has already attained.
Kansas has for some years occupied too
much of the public attention. Ii Is high
time this should be directed to far more i'm
portant objects. When once admitted into
the Union, whether with or without slavery.
the excitement beyond her own limits will
speedily pass away and she will then for the
first time b, left, Us she ought to have been
long since, to manage her own affairs IN her
own way. II her constitution on the su6jec!
of slavery, or any other subject, be displeas
ing to q majority of the people, no human
power can prevent them from changing 1t
within a brief period. Under these circum-
stances, II may we'll DO questioned whether
the peace and quiet Of the whole country ore
not of greater importance than the mere
temporary triumph Of either OF the political
parties in Kansas.
Should the constitution without slavery
be adopted by the votes Of the majority, the
rights of property in slaves now in the Ter
ritory are reserved. The number oil these is
very small, but If it were greater the pr9yi-
sions would be equally jast and reasonable.
These slaves were brought into the Terrific.
nv under the constitution of the United
States, and are now tho property OF their
masters. This point has at length been fin
ally decided by the highest judicial tribunal
of the country-and this upon the plan prin-
ciple that when confederacy OF sovereign
States acquire new Territory at their joint
expense both equality end justice demand
that the citizens ofone and all Of them shall
have the right to take into it whatsoever is
recognized US property by the common con.
stitution. To have summarily con6scated the
roperty in slaves already in the Territory.
would have been an act OF gross injustice,
and contrary to the practice of the older
States of the Union which have abolished
slavery.
UTAH AND TIE NoRNoSs.
A territorial government was established
for Utah by oct Of Congress approved the
9th of September, 1850, and the constitution
and laws of the United States were thereby
extended over 1t, $50 far Us the same, or
any provisions thereof, may be applicable"
This act provided for the appointment by
the President, by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate, of Governor, who
was to be eI o6iGo Superintendent Of Indian
affairs, q Secretary, three judges Of the Su-
preme Court, q Marshall and District At
torney. Subsequent acts provided for the
appointment Of the officers necessary to eI
tend our land and our Indian system over
the territory. Brigham Young was up.
pointed the first Governor, on the 2Oth OF
September, 1850, and has held the Office ever
since. Whilst Gov. Young has been both
Governor and Superintendent OF Indian Al
fairs throughout this period, he has been ut
the same time the head Of the church called
the Latter Day Saints, and processes to gov
ern its members and dispose OF their prop
cry uIVCtiuophoGou"" e 49,. 49,
the Almighty. His power has been, there
fore, absolute over both Church and State.
The people Of Utah, almost exclusively
belonging to this Church, and believing with
fanatical spirit that he is Governor OF the
Territory by divine appointment, they obey
his commands Us il they were direct revela-
tions from Heaven. II, therefore, he chooses
that his government shall come into coils,
ion with the Government Of the United
States, the members Of the Mormon church
will yield implicit obedience TO his will -
Unfortunately, existing facts, leave but lit
tie doubt that such is his discrimination
Without entering upon minute history OF
occurrences, it Is sufficient to say that oil
the officers Of tho United States, judicial and
executive, with the single exception Of two
Indian agents, have found il necessary Tor
their own personal safety to withdraw from
the territory, and there no longer remains
any government in Utah but the despotism