The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-12-12
The Voice of the Democratic Press.

The Voice Of the Democratic Press
The Ohio Statesman is the leading
Democratic paper of Ohio. At first it
was misled in regard to the manner of
submission of the Lecompton Swindle,
but it has at length taken is position
thus:
"Had the Constitution formed by the
late Convention of Kansas, been submit
ted, as whole, to the people, for their
ratification, guaranteed, as they would
have been, in the sure and efficient pro-
lection of the general government in
peaceable, fair, and honest vote, every
provision of that instrument would have
been withdrawn from all proper contro-
versy outside of the Territory. Speak
ing in view of the solemnly reiterated
policy of the Democratic party, that
there shall be no external interference in
the domestic affairs and institutions of
State or Territory, we should advocate
the prompt and instantaneous admission
OF Kansas into the Union, though half
million of slaves were taken there in
thirty days afterward; provided, Con-
stitution authorizing this result were
fairly ratified by her people. But the
same firm and infexible regard for the
often avowed Democratic policy, compels
us by every consideration of principle and
consistency, to object to the admission of
any State, in any section, with any Con-
stitution, free or slave, unless such organic
law has been honestly rendered, in whole
and in part, to the pacific, unqualified, and
impartial ratification of the people who
are to live under it.
That this is the position of the Demo-
cratic party of the Union, is as indisputa-
bic as that it is the pervading principle of
the Kansas Nebraska Bill. To disregard
this principle directly or to wink at its
indirect infraction, would be not only a
iiagrant non-fulhlment of just and self
solicited responsibility on the part of the
majority in Congress, but it would 90 far
to the disorganization. of the Democratic
party of the Union-the only party which
has ever existed, or can ever exist, for the
protection of the Constitutional rights of
all sections, because none other has so
studiously and SO successfully resisted
sectionalism.
ut is idle to hope for the preservation
of the Democratic party, if the party
itself deserts its own principles, in any
time of trial, however sore. 1t has come
up to its present position through too
much tribulation, too much excitement,
too many dangers to its own existence,
and to the welfare of the nation, to leave
to that position the least possibility of
being misunderstood or obscured. Its
pledges are recorded in the history of too
many recent and severe struggles, to be
disguised or disregarded with IMMUNITY"
Kentucky, through the Louisville Dem
ocrat of the 21st ult., speaks out boldly
against the fraud:
We are of the opinion that the refusal
to submit the Constitution entire to the
popular vote will be fatal to its reception
by Congress. When there may be doubt
as to whether the people approve the
Constitution, it is just about certain it will
not be sanctioned by Congress-; especially
as this Constitution, if it is not misrepre-
sented, cannot be amended until 1864,
and not then without two-thirds of the
Legislature concur in calling Conven-
ton. = The Constitution
is not submitted to the people, and no reason
can be giCen for the omission, except the dp-
prehension that 1t might be Uoted dolcn.-
Will the other States run the risk Of
dragging State into the Union that does
not yet wish to come on the condition
proposed? They cannot do it, and W,
may safely predict they will not do it."
The Democrats of Iowa are not silent
The Dubuque Express and Herald is ont
of the oldest and ablest Democratic papen
of that State. 1t says:
"As to the proposed Constitution qui-
citing trouble, it will be very far from
doing any such thing. 1t is in no wise &
Constitution of the people. 1t is not Il
be submitted to them for approval or re.
lection, and only contemplates being forced
upon the people in open violation of the
first principles of popular sovereignty
Son this subject we commend the abb,
article from the Chicago Times. On thi
question that paper takes the only tru'
and Democratic position, and we are
pleased to see the noble stand which i
has assumed, even if it has causelessly
pitched into the Express and Herald
once in a while"
Michigan is not a whit behind. Tht
Free Press, Gen. Cass' home organ, ant
the leading Democratic paper of the State
remarks:
We echo the declaration of our Phila
delphia cetemporary, contained in anothe
column, that the northern man in Con
greSs or in other positions who shall len(
his aid to any attempt or plot to defea
the will of the majority of the people o
Kansas to their Constitution, will be pun
iShed with political humiliation.
"And we have to warn Southern ex
trenists, in and out of Congress, not +
delude themselves with the impression
that they viii have the support of tn
Democratic party of the North in an,
juggle to fetch Kansas into the Union a
aslave State against the wishes of its &C
tual inhabitants. On this question tn
northern Democratic party will be actua
ted by one impulse. Il will not reced
one inch from the preservation of the in
tesrity of the great principle of the Kan
saS organic act.
We have not, at this writing, re!iabl
intelligence from Kansas touching tn
hnal action of the Constitutional Conven
ton. We suspect, however, that it ha
not made full and fair submission of il
work to the people. If it has not, the
congress must reject the application 70
admission and pass an act under whic
The people Of Kansas can exercise thei
guaranteed right to form and reSulat
their institutions in their own way, sui
lect only to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States"
The Milwaukee Nesus is one of til
leading Democratic papers of Wisconsin
IL is not whit behind its cotemporarie
Here Is what II save.