The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-16
NEW SERIES. ---VOL. s, NC. I8.

iVBuiolG uOuleStC IN tnelT
own way, subject only 10 the Constitution
Of the United States." II would equally
have violated the great principle of popular
sovereignty, at the foundation of our institu.
tons, to deprive the people of the power, il
they thought proper to exercise it, of confid
ing to delegates elected by themselves the
trust OF framing constitution, without re.
quiring them to subject their constituents 10 |
the tranhle, expense and delay of second |
election. 1t would have been in opposition |
to many precedents in our history, commenc.
ing in the very best age of the republic, OF
the admission OF Territories as States into
the Union, without previous vote OF the
people approving their constitution.
1t Is to be lamented that question SO in.
significant when viewed in its practical
effects on the people Of Kansas, whether de.
cided one way or the other, should have
kihdled such flame OF excitement through.
out the country. This reflection may prove
to be lesson Of wisdom and Of warning for
our future guidance. Practically considered,
the question is simply whether the people OF
that Territory should first come into the
Union and then change any provision in
their constitution not agreeable to them.
selves, or accomplish the very same object
by remaining out of the Union and framing
another constitution in accordance with their
will. In either case the result would have
been precisely the same. The only differ
erence in point Of fact Is, that the object
would have been much sooner attained, and
the pacifcation OF Kansas more speedily
effected had it been admitted as State du
ring the last session Of Congress.
My recommendation, however, for the
immediate admission of Kansas, failed to
meet the appreciation of Congress. They
deemed it wiser to adopt different measure
for the settlement Of the question. For my
own part, should have been willing to
yield my assent to almost any constitution.
al measure to accomplish this object. |,
therefore, cordially acquiesred In what has
been called the English Compromise, and
approved, the ''Act for the admission of the
State Of Yutisas into the Unsn," upon tert1s
tterein prescribed.
Under the crdiuarce Whieh accompanied
the Leccmoton constitution; the people OF
Kansas hoa claimed double the Quantity OF
public ladds for the support of cotiimoh
schools, whiSh had ever been previous.
ly granted to any State upon entering the
Union; and also the alternate sections Of
land for twelve miles on each side of the
two railroads, propused to be constructed
from the northern o the southerti boundary,
aud from The edstefn TO the western bound
cry Of the State. Congress, deeming these
claims unreasonable, provided, by the Act OF
My 4th, 1858, to which | have just refer
red, for the admission Of the State on an
} equ"l footing with the original States, bul
upon the iuudahental condition Precedent
that majority of the people thereof, at ar
election to be held Tor that purpose, should
! in place of the very large grants of public
| lands which they had demanded under tht
| ordinance, accept such grants as had beer
made to Minnesota and other new States.-
Under this act, should a majority reject th'
! proposition offered them, sit shall be deeme,
and held that the people Of Kansas do no
desire admission into The Union with sa'
; constitution under the conditions set forth il
said proposition" In that event the act al
thorized the people of the Territory to. elec
: delegates to form constitution and Stat,
! government for themselves, "whenever, ant
, not before, it Is ascertained by census, du
y and legally taken, that the population o
. said Territory equals or exceeds the ratio O
representation required for a member of tn
House Of Representatives of the Congress q
0 the United States" The delegates thu
assembled "shall first determine by vot
u. whether 1t is the wish of the people of tn
j proposed State to be admitted into tn
g Union at that time, and, if so. shall procee
e to form a constitution, and take all neces
y sary steps for the establishment of Stat
l. government in conformity with the Feders
n constitution" Alter this constitution sha
&; have been formed, Congress, carrying OF
!. the principles Of popular sovereignty an
J. nom Intervention, have left "the mode On
d manner Of its approval or ratification by tn
,r people of the proposed State" to be "prs
a acribed by law" and they "shall then be at
mitted into the Usion as State under sue
il constitution thus tOirly and legally mad
n with or without slavery, as said constit,
j. ton may prescribe"
d An election was held throughout Kar
,r sas, in pursuance of the provisions of tn
e act, on the second day of August last, and
y resulted in the rejection, by large majorit
!. of the proposition submitted to the peop
v by Congress. This being the case, the
e are now authorized to form another cons,
d tuition, preparatory TO admission into Il
% Union, bat not until their number, as asce
Is lained BY census, shall equal or exce'
Al the ratio required to elect member Of th
8. House of Representatives.
e 1t is not probable, in The present state
D, the case, that third constitution con laS
s. fully be framed and presented to Congre
lie by Kansas, before its population shall ha'
Id reached the designated number. Nor is
D. to be presumed that, after their sad exp
er rience in resisting the territorial laws, th,
" will attempt TO adopt the constitution in e
Of press violation of the provisions of an act
in Congress. During the session Of l8t
ly much Of the time of Congress- was occupied
the question Of admitting Kansas under
to Topeka constitution. Again, nearly I
th whole Of the last session was devoted to {
to question of its admission under the Lecom
6. ton constitution. Surely it is not unreaso
in able to require the people of Kansas to w
Q. before making third attempt, until
1e number of their Inhabitants shall amount
in ninety three Thousand four hnnered q
I. twenty. During this brief period the hl
Ve mony of the States, as well as the gre
IN business interest of the country, demal
ID, that the people Of the Union shall not for
ny third time be convGlsed by another agitati
ry on the Kansas question. By waiting fol
" short time, and acting in obedience to Ia,
cd Kansas will glide into the Union without
ar slightest iEipediment. #
ed This excellent provision, which Congre
have applied to Kansas. ought to be exter
Id cd and rendered applicable tosll Territorl
L - aanIy Hnat Ia tvaNN