Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-12-25

John w. Forney, the man TO whom,
more than any other one man, James
Buchanan owes his election 70 the
Presidency
THE MODE Iss WHICH THE SLAVERY
QUESTION rs sunxIrrED By THE
SCHEDULE on THE KANSAS ooSsrITu-
riosAL CONVENTION.
IL il we're true that the Slavery
question was fairly submitted 70 the
people OF Kansas by the schedule Of
the Kansas Convention, we should de-
cidedly object to the admission OF that
Territory into the Union rs State,
under Constitution whica had not
received the sanction of her citizens.
The issue involved rises above any
mere rational question. The whole
doctrine Of seli-government is at stake.
The principles Of the Democratic par
~ have been viol-ted. The right Of
her people 70 pass judgment upon
their own fundamental law has been |
denied Them, in defiance Of the pledges |
Of the delegates who framed it. A
Convention, elected by meagre mi
nority Of the people, has arrogated to
itself supreme power on a question
which OF right belongs TO the people
only. We obey but the irresistible
pronptings Of genuine Democratic
impulses in protesting against this
psurpauon, for it is nothing less. The
doctrine that the Slavery question
alone should be submitted 10 the peo-
pie is an untenable one. The same
reasons which rendered il desirable or
| pro kr.to submit, that question, oper-
Equally strong in fav8 OF a sub
mission OF the whole Constitution.
The Democrats of the Northern
States have been fighting for the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill for three years, on
the ground that the right OF self-gov-
eminent by the people of the Terrific
tories was a sacred one, not only in
one but in all respects. They have in
sisted upon their right TO decide the
Slavery question for themselves, be-
cause of the universal concession that
they were authorized 10 decide all
other questions. The final settlement
of the question, by leaving them per
fectly free" to settle the question, and
depriving them of the right of popu-
lar decision upon all other questions,
, would be an unmitigated outrage, and,
: beyond all doubt, a clear violation Of
Q all hitherto acknowledged Nationa
D Democratic theories on this subject.
| But even the Slavery question ii
! not fairly submitted, as all who hav,
paid the slightest attention TO the sub
9 Ject must be fully aware. The libert,
of voting for or against Slavery Cal
only be obtained by compliance witt
J certain unjust and humiliating condi
tons. These are as follows:
It FIRST Every voter who is chal
! lenged must swear 10 support the Con
n stitution, if adopted, under peril of
trial for perjury under the Territoris
laws.
l. The design Of this clause seems {
h be 10 provide convenient method 70
= inilicting criminal punishment for
: mere political ofiense, in case any oh
noxious voter, after having taken th
;, oath, should not be as jealous in h
. devotion 10 the Calhoun Constitute
I as its authors require. AT all event
s. il is an unheard-of requirement in
Sc republican country, and one which WI
r. no doubt specially designed to dri,
d all high-minded citizens away from Il
,t polls.
,g1 SsooSD Before any man can vo
! against Slavery, he must vote for q
- Calhoun Constitution.
}" lie may feel that the very act Of IA
tening that Constitution upon him I
the fundamental law under which
y must live, without submitting it to
70 vote of the people, is an infamol
b. wrong. He may believe the Constit,
IN ton 10 be a bad one--a Know Nothin
rs Constitution, Bank Constitution,
IL Constitution which makes in advan,
nj an apportionment upon fraudulel
a election return, and thus seeks 10 civ
80 preponderance of political power TO
y ever TO minority-yet he must Ell
10, dorse all this without amurmur befo
he can vote against Slavery.
What a mockery it is TO say, tn
e. when these humiliating conditions a
or affixed TO the right of suffrage, Il
of question of Slavery or no Slavery
he fairly submitted
IL But independently Of all this, ii
10 Slavery question is not fairly submi
~ ted, because there is no guarant
~ whatever that the election viii be fai
ly conducted. The whole REGULATE,
~ of il is lodged in Calhoun, the Pre-.
:" dent of that Convention-a man d
~ nounced throughout the Territory
'st one of the most INSCRIPTIONS men
ID. contains. He has furnished convin
ing proof of his per6dy by the IA
that, after pledging himself fully al
unreservedly to submit the whole Co
M stitution to the people OF Kansas,
prs violated that pledge, and was leadiI
We spirit in preventing a submission
the Constitution TO the people. l
has been charged by nearly the who
us press of Kansas with completely
,rs the infamous Oxford fraud, and, ,
a. believe, has never denied his come
ton with that disgraceful affair. Y
this man, publicly self-convicted
M perfdy, and accused of fraud, has a
~ solute and dictatorial power given hin
~ TO regulate the election ordered by {
To- Constitutional Convention. He is
appoint three men in each county, w
are to appoint three men in each d
" trict 10 hold the election. and VIII
ne the returns are transmitted, he is
decide upon the legality of the vot
cast, DC. The ordinary and existil
lV election laws Of the Territory are
Se. set aside to give full play to Calhoun