The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-02


ton will submit such instrument they may aine
for the adoption rejection Of the whole people OF Kan
TO all who now then may be- actual bona de
resident settlers of the Territory of Kansas Then, at
that time and in pursuance OF the method designated by
the laws your country by the instructions OF the Chief
Magistrate of the Union who placed there by the
people, and by them TO execute the laws,
do entertain doubt but that that convention will
submit to the whole of the then bona e settlers OF Kan
the determination for themselves by actual major
y of the whole people, whether they shall adopt or reject
that constitution If they reject it, there is end Of
that convention Ii has donrned to meet again
IL has performed its Office. A Voice. ''What nextPl
What next, you ask, gentlemen There are two other
very easy exits from the difficulty and the question
is practical one, propose TO it, In October
next not under the act Of the late territorial Legislature
but under the laws of Congress- YOU the whole people
Of Kansas have right to elect delegate to Congress-
and 10 elect territorial legislature and through that
legislature you speak your views and instruct them
either to call convention to submit constitu
ton for the consideration of the people, they in
ruct their delegate to Congress- chosen by majority Of
their votes, to ask Congress TO pass law author
zng the people Of Kansas TO form State constitution
for themselves.
1t is quite certain gentlemen that in this mode there
is in any event, peaceful tranquil quiet free from all
the embarrassments and difficulties by which are sur
rounded, and that the time is rapidly coming If it has
not already arrived when the rule of justice and the peo
pie shall prevail in Kansas. Cheers.
Then gentlemen, what is the other mode which IL pre-
sented You about to have assembled here, at To
pea week. what is called the State Legislature for
they tell you that they about to legis
atue for the State of Kansas Who elected that egsa
ture! "A Voice ''Ihe people. The people why the
whole vote given for your o-caed constitution as claim
ed by yourselves but 1884, whereas there
registered 200 votes residents here the 18th
of March last exclusive of the thousands omitted who
have arrived here since that date The people
to tell that 73l votes constitute the whole number
of votes in the Territory of Kansas Voice. THAT
year and half ago, But should those Isl votes
year and half ago impose constitution for all time
to upon the present people of Kansas Voice,
'.Not against their will Should the constitution be
submitted to their will for adoption not IA Voice
''Yesl That gentlemen, Is the great question: 30 far
as they concerned But understand you claim to be
State and that your socalled Legislature, chosen
by small number of votes, propose next week TO enact
laws to be enforced in Kansas This miserable minority,
constituting not onetenth of the present people OF Kan
sas PROPOSE in absolute defiance of the acts of Congress
and in open rebellion, mark you, gentlemen, not only
against the territorial laws but against the laws and gov
eminent of the United States to assemble here, and,
representing l,73l people, impose this constitution by
upon the people of Kansas by the enactment of laws
IA Voice 'Where those $1,000 voters that not
on the record ~ Some Inadvertently omitted, many
who would register and thousands who have arrived
since the 18th of March last As regards the register,
however, say to You that it is of comparatively little
consequence, If the constitution be submitted to the
whole people.
1t may suit the purposes of faction to ask such ques-
tons by those who refuse to register but the sustan
tive fact is that the constitution be of force eff
feet unless is submitted to the vote of the people, and
they will adopt it or not But here body Of
acting in defiance of the laws of Congress- and in open
beion against the government of the United States rep
rcsenting, according TO their statement less than
tenth OF the people of Kansas who forward
and say that the people next fall shall not decide this
question that neither you l, any of our fellow
citizens elsewhere throughout the Territory, shall have
the right to determine whether shall accept the
new constitution reject it,
Gentlemen come here for purposes Of peace and pac
fcaton. come here TO naugurate the rule OF law, OF
Justice and of the whole people of Kansas, by giving
them all an opportunity of adopting their own consttu
ton instead Of allowing handful of l. 73l to thrust
a constitution them, by adopting code OF laws for
told that they have actually code OF laws prepared
by their various committees cut and dried to put in OPP
Grafton they meet, binding tho whole people of
the Territory and depriyng them of the right TO decide
their own form of government and to adopt their own
constitution.
Now then repeat that come here for the purpose
of restoring and pepetuatng peace but tell you can
dy that my instructions and my oath of office require
to put down the execution of such laws and for the
good of the people of Kansas they must and will be put
not the people of the United States say that those
right ri The people of the United States have just
elected President who declares that such laws would be
unconstitutional, null, and void [Avoicc WhocaresT'l
Nay, the people of the United States have just
elected majority to Congress who entertain the
opinion with him. This is matter involving the peace
happiness, and prosperity of the whole people Your
towns will advance in Importance and wealth. your claims
will increase in value, harmony and goodwill will reign
throughout the Territory If the people who here
and who will be here in November December next,
| will only decide for themselves what shall be their
own form of government and their social institu
tons. But what is il this legislature proposes TO do
without the slightest necessity, without the slightest pre-
text apology under the mode of adjustment pro
posed speak not now regards the past i wish to
God that YOU and and all of could rub out the past
| IA Voice. 1T cannot be done II Another Voice Grub
out the bogus laws Rub them out, gentlemen if you
please, by vote of the people. A Voice. We cannot
get that You can get that. a Voice. 'Gre
fair vote at the next election You will get that. At
the next election in October when you elect the terrific
rial Legislature you repeal those laws and you
then also by majority of your votes, adopt
Jet the constitution presented for your consideration next
fall Now what ask again is proposed to be done by this
egisature' II Is proposed 70 qt IN operation body Of
laws. utyou must remember the passage Of
II is not humbug. A Voice. at has been here. |
law is command il exacts obedience from the whole
people, and is TO be actually put in force in the Terri
tory. What is the consequence Why you thus pro-
duce absolute clear direct and positive collision be-
tween that legislature and the government of the United
States. There two sets of laws then to govern YOU
Every mans contract, every mans title, every man.
possession will then be involved in difficulty and in the
of three four months you will have large inn
portation of lawyers IA Voice. stWe have plenty of
them now Laughter. 1t will involve you in endless
litigation from which there will be possible extrca
ton Nov, gentlemen is there any necessity for this
IA Voice ''None not bit there was Can
you not peacefully decide this question in the mode
pointed out by the act OF Congress- IT, as You
can and will have, fair and full opportunity of
recording your voter A Voice. :" Why have we not
had itfl Gentlemen, was not governor of Kansas
f,ff ITnst