Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-08-25
THE GREAT ISSUE,


tions if the bill passed
1st. That the Lecompson Constitution would
be rejected by an overwhelming majority OF
the people of Kansas, and of every county Of
Kansas.
81. That the Territorial Legislature of Kan
sas, elected:in October next, upon its assem-
bling next January, would call Convention
of delegates to be chosen by the people OF
Kansas, which Convention would frame a
Constitution, ard submit it to the vote OF the
people for ratification or rejection; that 1t
would be ratified by overwhelming ma jori-
| ty of the people of Kansas, and submitted for
| the action of Congress in December, 1859.
! The first of those predictions is already veri-
fed. The people of Kansas, by majority,
| ii is believed, in erery county, have rejected
| the Lecompton Constitution. The criminal
| has been tried and condemned by the only
competant tribunal, the people Of Kansas.
| The charge of fraud, forgery, and perjury,
| preferred by Walker and Stanton in the official
proclamations against Lecompton, have been
| submitted TO the electors of Kansas, and the
verdict of guilty and infamy has been render
| ed. Who so bold as now to assert that the
| Lecompton Constitution ever was the choice
of the people of Kansas Who so reckless
as now to deny that Congress was asked and
urged by the Administration to force this
Constitution upon the people of Kansas a.
| gainst their will? Nay, morc-to make 1t a
| test of fDemocracy, and ostracise all who would
not endorse these detestable frauds and for
gerieS
Now, that first prediction of Governor Wal
! ker.as to the rejection of LecOmpton has been
| fully verified. But what to the second 2
| Will they now proceed, without census, and
| frame a new Constitution and send it ratified
| by the people of Kansas for the action Of Con-
! gress? We think this will be done, thus
stamping with falsehood the pretence that the
| people OF Kansas do not now desire to become
| .t,at
| admit them without census showing the
| population to exceed $1,000 They agreed
TO admit them under the Lecompton COns.i-
| tuition with fraudulent census, showing but
| "a 900 people and will they reject them when
| having certainly much larger population
| The restriction in the latter clause of the
| English bill is not binding upon this Congress,
much less upon the next; it can be repealed
! or dsregarded by Congress, and we have no
| doubt Kansas will be admitted in 1859, if, the
people will do their duty in the coming cleo
| tIoDs by voting for no man who favored the
| forcing, without submission, the Lecompton
| Constitution on the people OF Kansas. Trust
| no such men, whatever their present pledges
may be. They violated the most solemn pledg-
es of the canvass of 1S56-they betrayed their
| constituents. They took the executive bonn
| ty in 1858, and would do again in 1859.
| Well, let us suppose new Constitution with
out a census ratified by the people OF Kansas,
|
| ceive the sanction of the President, or his
veto We trust the former, but fear the lat
| ter The same diSunion organs of the South,
whose threats and opposition drove the Presi-
| dent from his position in 1886 and 1857, and
| caused him to abandon the doctrine embodied
| in his instructions to Governor Walker, we
| fear will produce the like result in 1859. In
| deed, this is said to be part of the bargain.
| And what next ? Why, if the President veto
such a bill he will renew the Kansas question
| in its most distinct form he will make it the
direct issue of the Presidential election Of
| 1860, which must then be decided by the A
merican people. How it will be decided it
were insanity to doubt. Lecomptonism and
| Lecomptontes will be swept beneath the sur
ges of popular Indignation, and they will share
| the fate which must ever await treason to self
government, in every Republic where the peo-
| pie are enlightened and incorruptible.-Press.
|
The following letter from John N. Read ac-
cepting the nomination of the Peoples Con-
vention for Judge of the Supreme Court, has
been furnished to the city papers by Governor
Reeder, who was President of the Convention,
to whom it was addressed = ...
| PHLADELPHIA, July 81, 1853.
| Dear Sr:-l received, this morning, your
| letter OF the 2ith instant, informing me of my
unanimous nomination by the Peoples Con-
vention, assembled at Harrisburg for the Of
| fee of Judge OF the Supreme Court, and en-
| closing copy of the resolutions passed bv
that body, which have read with great care
| / cordially approve of the sentiments of gener-
| al policy expressed in them, and accept, with
great diffidence, the nomination thus rendered
me. If elected, can only promise, so far as
my ability will permit, an impartial and faith
/ ful discharge Of the duties of this high Judi
| cial office.
am, very respectfully and truly yours,
| JOHN NJ. READ.
! Hon. A. II. Reeder, President of the Conven-
tiol, Easton, Pa.
State Central Committee.-Henry NJ. Fuller.
Philadelphia; Charles a. Close, Philadelphia /;
Wm. b. Mann, Philadelphia; William Mill
ward, Philadelphia; James j. Creigh, West
Chester; John S. Brown, Doylestown; Henry
! King, Allentown; Isaac Eckert, Reading
Robert M. Palmer, Pottsvie; Charles Al
bright, Mauch Chunk A. X. Peckham, Tunk-
hammock; Henry NJ. Hoyt, Wilkesbarre Jno.
Mcpherson, Warren; w. P. J. Pinter, Muncy
George A. Frick, DanviIle; Lemuel Todd.
Carlisle; John Wood, Conshohocken; John
Wallower, Harrisburg A. S. Henderson Lam
caster; Oliver j. Dickey, Lancaster; David
b. Small, York; A. X. Mcclure Chambers
burg; David McMurtrie, Huntingdon Alex
ander Mulin, Ebensburg; Darwin Phelps. Kit
tanning; Edgar Cowan, Greensburg William
Nj hennan, w ashington Thomas NJ. Marshall
Pittsburg; Robt. b. Car nachan, Birmingham
John n. Purvance, Butler; Wm. NJ. Stephen
son, Mercer; Alfred Huidekopper, Meadville
Philip Clover, Stratonville.
The cattle disease, which has caused so
much excitement in Florida and South Carroll
ma, has not only spread into North Carolina
and Georgia, but has made its appearance in
Alabama. In Montgomery the citizens have
refused to eat beef, and it is not offered in