M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-02-11

tor t01eaving the people perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way, subject only to the CGnsti-
tuition of the United States.
In this manner, by localIzng the question !
of slavery, and confning it TO the people who |
are Immediately concerned, every patriot
anxiously expected that this question would |
be banished from the halls Of Congress, where
it has always exerted baneful influence |
throughout the country. 1t is proper that
should refer to the election held under the act
of the Territorial Legislature on the first
Monday or January, on the Lecompton Con- |
stitution. The election was held after the
Territory had been prepared for admission
into the Union as a sovereign State, and when !
no authority existed in the Territorial Legis
ature which could possibly destroy its ex-
sence, or change its character. The election
which was peaceably conducted under my
instructions, involved strange inconsistent
cies.
A large majority OF the persons who voted
against the Lecompton Constitution were at
the same time and place recognising its valid
existence in the most solid and authentic
manner, by voting under its provisions. ]
have vet received no official information of
the result of this election. AS question OF
expediency, after right has been maintained,
| it may be wise TO reflect upon the benefits 10
! Kansas and the whole country that will re-
suit from its immediate admission into the
| Union, as well as The disasters that may fol-
low its rejection. Domestic peace will be
the happy consequence Of the admission,
and that fine Territory, hitherto torn by dis.
sensions, will rapidly increase in population
and wealth, and speedily realize the blessings
and comfort which follow agricultural and
mechanical industry. The people then will
be sovereign, and can regulate their affairs in
their own way. If the majofity Of them de-
sire to abolish domestic slavery within the
State, there is no other possible mode by
which it can be effected so speedily as by its
prompt admission.
The will Of the majority is supreme and
irresistible when expressed in an orderly and
lawful manner. 1t can unmake constitutions
at pleasure. It would be absurd TO say that
they can impose feiters upon their own power
which they cannot afterward remove. If
they could do this they might tie their own
hands Just as we'll for hundred as for ten
years, These are the fundamental principle
of American freedom, and are recognized in
some form BY every State constitution, and
if Congress, in the act Of admission, should
think proper to recognize them, | can per-
ceive no objection. This has been done EN-
phatiCaly in the constitution of Kansas. 1t
declares in its bill Of rights that "all political
power is inherent in the people" and all free
governments are founded on their authority
and instituted for their benefit and, therefore
have at all times an ina,ienable and indie
feasible right to alter, reform and abolish
their form of government in such manner as
they may think proper.
The great State ofNew York is at this mo-
ment governed unde! constitution framed
and established in direct opposition to the
mode prescribed by previous constitution.
II, therefore, provision changing the Con.
stitution of Kansas after the year 1854, could
by any possibility be construed into proh-
bition to make such change previous to that
period of prohibition, it would be wholly
unavailing. The Legislature already enacted
may at its first session submit the question
to vote of the people, whether they will or
not have Convention 10 amend their Con-
sitution, and adopt all necessary means for
giving effect to the popular will. 1t has been
solemnly adjudged by the highest judicial
tribunal that slavery exists in Kansas by
virtue Of the Constitution of the United
States. Kansas is, therefore, at this moment
as much slave State as Georgia or South
Carolina.
Without this the equality Of the sovereign
States composing the Union would be viola
ted, and the use aud enjoyment OF territory
acquired by the common treasure Of all the
States would be closed against the people
and property of nearly half the members of
the Conlederacy. Slavery can, therefore,
never be prohibited in Kansas except thro'
the means oil constitutional provision, and
in no other manner can this be obtained SC
promptly, if the majority of the people desire
it, as by admitting her into the Union under
her present constitution. On the other hand,
should Congress reject the constitution under
the idea of alfording the disalfeCted in Kan
sas third opportunity to prohibit slavery
in the State, which they have done twice be.
fore, if in the majority, no man can foretell
the consequences.
IfCongress, for the sake of these men who
refused to vote for delegates to the Conven-
tioE, when thev light have excluded slavery
from the Constitution, and afterward reius-
ed 70 vote on the 2lst of December, when
they might, as they claim, have stricken slay-
cry from the Constitution should now reject
the State because slayery remains in the
Constitution, it is manifest that the agitation
upon this subject will be renewed in a more
alarming form than it has ever before as
spmed. Every patriot in the country had
INDUCED the hope that the Kansas. Nebraska
act would have put final end to the slavery
agitation, at least in Congress, which had for
more than twenty years cOnvulsed the coun-
try and endangered the Union.
This act involved great and fun damental
principles, and if fairly carried into effect,
will settle the question, Should agitation
be again revived-should the people of sis
ter States be again estranged from each 9TH
er with more than their former bitterness.
this will arise from cause, so far as the
| interests Of Kansas are concerned, more triE.
ling and Insignificant than has ever stirred
the elements of a great people into commo-
ton. To the people of Kansas the only
practical difference between admission or
rejection depends simply upon the fact
whether they can themselves more speedily
change their present Constitution, if it does
not accord with the will of the majority, or
frame a second Constitution to be submitted
to Congress hereafter.