The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-26


= going to stop to inquire how far they were
authorized to do that, it being my opinion
} tiiat The spirit OF the Nebraska bill required
1t To he done. Ii Is sutit lent for my pur-
pose that the administration of the Federal
Government unanimously, tha, the adminis-
: tration OF the Territorial government, in all
: its parts, unanimously understood the Ter
rtOra law under hich the Convention was
assembled to mean that the constitution TO
be formed by that Convention should DO
submitted to the people for ratification or
rejection, and if not confirmed by majori-
ty Of the people, should bc null and void,
without coming 10 Congress for approval.
Not only did the National Government
and the Territorial government so under
stand the law at the time, but, as have al
ready stated, the people OF the Territory so
understood it. As a further evidence on
that point, a large number, if not a mejori-
ty, of the delegates were instructed in the
nominating conventions TO submit the con-
stitution to the people for ratification.
know that the delegates Fl ON Douglas coun-
| ty, eight in number Mr.. Calhoun, President
OF the Convention, being among them, were
not only instructed thus to submit the ques-
ton. bat they signed and published, while
/ candidates, written pledge that they would
submit it 10 the people for ratification. 1
know that men high in authority and in tho
I confidence of tie Territorial and National
/ Government canyassed every part of KIN
sas during the election of delegates, and
each one Of them pledged himself to the
people that no snap judgment was TO be
taken that the constitution was to be SUBJ
United to the people for acceptance or re-
lection that it would be VOID unless that
was done; that the Administration would
! spurn and ScOrn it as violation of the priR-
! ciples On which it came into power, and that
I a Democratic Congress would huri it from
their presence an insult to Democrats
/ who stood pledged to see the people left free
, to form their domestic institutions for them
selves.
! Not only thar, sir, but up to the time
I when the Convention assembled, on the lst
/ of September 50 far as | can learn, it was
understood everywhere that the constitution
was to be submitted for ratification or re-
lection. They met, however, on the lst Of
. September, and adourned until after the Oc-
I tober election | think it was wise and pIu-
/ dent that they should thus have adjourned.
( They did not wish to bring any question in
! to that election which would divide the De-
mocratc party, aud weaken our chances of
( success in the elect on. was r joiced when
saw that they did adjourn, 50 as not 10
! show their hand on any question that would
divide and distract the party until after the
. election. Daring that recess, while the
, Convention was adjourned, Governor RAM
! som, the Democratic candidate for Congress,
running against the present Delegate from
that Territory. was csnvassing every part Of
Kansas in favor of the doctrine OF submit
ting the constitution to the people, declaring
I that the Democratic party were in favor Of
, such submission, that il was a SANDER
! Of the Black Republicans 10 intimate the
charge that the Democratic party did not
/ intenI t9 carry OUT that pledge in good
I faith. Thus, up to the time of the meeting
/ Of the Convention, in October last, the pre-
I tence was kept up, the profession was open
( ly made and believed 10y me- and thought
( believed by them, that the Convention in
tenC cd to submit constitution TO the peo-
pie, and not to attempt to put government
in operation without such Submission The
! election being over, the Democratic party
being defeated by an overwhelming vote, the
opposition having triumphed and got pos
session of both branches of the Legislature,
and having elected their Territorial Dele
gate. the Convention assembled, and then
proceeded TO complete their work.
Now, let Us stop TO inquire how they re-
deemed the pledge to submit the cons,itu.
tion to the people. They first go on and
make constitution. Then they make
schedule, in which they provide that the
constitution, on the 2lst Of December, (the
present month"; shall be submitted to all the
bona .file inhabitants Of the Territory on
that day, for their free acceptance or rcjec-
tion, in the following manner to Wit: thus
acknowledging that they were bound to SUBJ
nit il 10 the will Of the people, concedins
that they had no right to put it into opera
ton without submitting it TO the people.
! providing in the instrument that it should
! take effect from AID after the date of its ra-
! tiiication, and not before; showing that the
constitution derives its vitality IN their esti.
nation, not from the authority Of the Con-
! yention, but from that vote Of the eople TO
which it was to be submitted for their free
| acceptance or rejection. How is il to be
! submittcd. 1t shall be submitted in this
! form " Constitution with slavery or consti-
tuition with no slavery" All mon must vote
! for the constitution, whether they like il or
not, in order to be permitted 10 vote for or
! against slavery. Thus constitution made
/ bv Convention that had authority TO as
| semble and petit on for a redress Of griev-
ances but not to establish a government;
! constitution made under a pledge of honor
! that it should be submitted to the people be-
I fore it took effect; a constitution which pro-
! vides. Oh its face, that it shall have no vail
| dity except what il derives from such sub.
mission, is submitted to the people at an
election where all men are at liberty to come
I forward freely without hindrance and vote
! for it. put no man is permitted 10 record
1 vote against it.
/ That would be as fair an election as some
| of the enemies Of Napoleon attributed to him
! when he was elected First Consul lie is
! said to have called out his troops and had
them review ed by his officers with speech,
patriotic and fair in is professions, in which
! he said to them: Now, my soldiers, you
fare to go TO the election and vote freely just
4 as You please. lfyou vote for Napoleon, all
! is we'll vote against him, and you are to be
Instantly shot" That was fair election.--
l[Lauchier1 This election is to be equally
FAR. All men in favor Of the constitution
I may vote for it; all men against it shall not
lvote at all. Why rot let them vote against
/ it? 1 presume you have asked many a man
this question. | have asked very largo
number of the gentlemen who framed tho
constitution, quite a number of delegates,
and still larger number Of persons who are
their friends, and have received the same
I answer from every one Of them. never re-
ceived any other answer. and j presume We
never shall get any other answer. What is
that? They say il they allowed a negative
vote the constitution would have been voted
down by an overwhelming majority, and
thence the fellows shall not be allowed to
vote at ALL lLaushter.]
! Mr.. President that may be trae. Il is no
part of my purpose to deny the proposition
, that that constitution would have been vOt.
ed down if submitted to the people be-
Iieve it won have been voted down bya
majority of four to one. am informed by
men well posted there--Democrats.-that it
4 ., ,,,ld Ia, yntej down by ten to one. soma