Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-14

back counties In my judgment, aad I
have repeatedly expressed the opinion before,
those counties could not, at that time have
co attained more than six or eight hundred vo-
ters. This was the only vital point ever pre-
sentrd against the authority of the Lecomp-
ton convention. and certainly this has been
completely removed by the facts have sta
ted. The opportunity to vote was sufficient
The authority of the convention was there
fore perfect, and its proceedings were regular.
Mr.. Doolittle The question which l de-
sire to put to the Senator is this: whether
more voters did not reside in the counties
which had no register at all than all the vo-
tcrs that voted for the delegates to the I4e-
compton convention
Mr.. Bigler Certainly not, Mr.. Presi-
dent.
Mr. Doolittlc. Did not Governor Walker
so state?
Mr. Bigler, Gov Walker did substanti-
ally so state. Governor Walker made other
statements in reference to this question in
which | cannot concur Sir, the evidence is
conclusive against the objection presented by
the Senator from Wisconsin. In January,
when there was no registry, and no qualif-
cation except the age of twenty -onc, only one
thousand four hundred votes were cast in all
the nonregistcred counties.
Now, sir, [ repeat, the opinion expressed
heretofore, from what | saw in tue Territory
early i'll the season, that at the time that reg
istry was made in April, before the spring
immigration could have passed to the back
part of the Territory, there were not more
than from six to eight hundred votes in the
whole of those counties. That is the answer
to the question which the Senator propoun-
ded; and | trust | have convinced him that
the defects in the registry could not have
been sufficient to impair the legal or moral
effect of the election for delegates.
But it is said that but meager yote was
cast for delegates, and that is true; but that
does not impair the force or effect of the cleo
ton Governor Walker gave the discontents
fall notice on this point. lie told them that
they would be responsible whether they vo-
ted or not. That any other doctrine would
lead to anarchy. Aud there never was
true sentiment. We must either accept or
reject this doctrine il We reject it, and hold
that It requires an active agency on the part
of tue clector 10 give consent, then we lay
down doctrine that would lead to anarchy
III probably every State in this Union. In
my own State, on this principle, the funda-
mental law could be rcpudiated any day =
That State contains five hundred thousand
!
mcnts were adopted to the constitution, and
tic wS;:vle vote tor and against did not exceed
one hundred and thirty eight thousand votes;
and the highest affirmative vote re ached only
| one hundred and seventeen thousand who
thinks of doubling the authority of those
amendments On this principle-and none
other can be conference.-the Lecom pton
! Constitution had more complete authority,
/ | venture to sag, than any other similar body
wnIch ever preceded 1t.
/ Now, sir as to the action OF the conyen-
ton. The only objection raised worthy of
notice is that 1t did not admit the entire con-
stitu,on to 70 of the reople. l have said
heretofore that. at the time. lperfcrrcd they
should do 81 rJut ! never regarded the MODE
Of making the constitution as reason why
the Territory should or should not come into
the Union as ii State. 1t was more important
to know that what the people did was right
in itself than to inquire into the way which
that right thing had been done. They had
full authority 10 do it III their own way u
The right OF the people in convention, by
delegates, to make and adoFt constitution
conceded by even Governor Walker. Thi!
was one OF his special reasons for urging tho
people to vote tor delegates. think adop
ton by popular vote good mode of making
, constitution. | certainly do not think i
r the only good way. 1t is not the way ii
f which the constitution Of nearly all the orig
, inal States of this happy Confederacy were
made III the earlier anu purer days of til,
' Rel uJlic. My own cherished State, thai
: whom there is not a happier or greater ii
the Union, did not make her fundamental Law
in this way prior to the year 1888, when am
eudments TO that instrument were submitted
. to vote of the people, and adopted by min
orty of the voters of the State
, | did hold, Mr.. President, that the spiri
, of the compromises of 1850, and the organi,
act for this Territory, looked to the decision
| OF the question of slavery by some direct ac
ton of the people; that there was a genera
understanding throughout the country tha
the question of slavery should not come bacl
, to Congress unaccompanied by an expression
of popular will | therefore, regard the LIE
, compton convention as under special oblga
tions to submit the question of slavery to
, vote Of the people. But l never thought W,
outsiders had the power to dictate on ever
that point, and there never was time wher
| would not have said the submission of tn
vcxed question of slavery is all that the peo
ple of other States had any right even to in
.;u;re into; mucL less have they right t
dictate mode of making constitution as
condition en- which the people who are to liv
Under it may become State. Yet, thi
high-handed dictation has been attempted b.
those who call themselves nonintcrvention
lists. That vexed question was presented
that question was voted upon. Now Mr.
President-
Mr.. Doolittle. Upon that point will tn
honorable Sena;or allow me to put ques
ton
Mr.. Bgler. Certainly.
Mr. Doolittlc. Was the slavery question
in fact submitted to the people of Kansas?
Mr. Biglcr. Undoubtedly it was. hold