Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-20

the law Of the Legislature against the adoption Of
the Constitution is there any State in the Union
who would hold that that Constitution was binding
upon the people Of Pennsyl vaniaf Cries Of no. no.
Would you, as PeDnsylyanians, submit to that Com
sututionY Cries OF moi never] The case 10 exactly
that Of Kansas except that the latter is not near
strong one for the Administration. The people Of
that Territory had provided for convention, but
they had not clothed them with power TO put the
Constitution they agreed upon in OPERATION without
submitting II 20 tbs people. But the convention Mt
tempted TO assume the power and after the Legisla-
tre had been called together for the purpose Of pre-
venting IT, and bad authorized an election on the 4th
OF January, at which more than ten thousand votes
were east against IT, the President tells us that he
has official information of that vote. doubt not
that the Presidents statement is correct but tell
you that was present on the 18th or l4tb Of January
when Governor Denver, my successor, formally, in
the presence Of the Speaker Of the House and the
President Of the Councils opened the votes and
counted ten thousand Of them, and II was then well
understood that considerable number of precincts
had not yet sent in returos Since that time have
seen by the newspapers that the vote had reached
twelve thousand The whole vote of the election Of
the 2lst Of December held by the authority Of the
convention, both for and against the slavery clause
in the Constitution was $780, and at least one halt
of that was utterly fraudulent MS is known and will
be acknowledged by every fair intelligent, and can
did man in the Territory and on the borders of Mis-
souri,, whilst it is evident that the 4th of january
there were from ten To twelve thousand votes cast
against the Constitution. EFt
/ have heard no charge of fraud against the party
who poled this large vote against the Constitution.
EVENT. these gentlemen had been as ready to commit
fraud as the other party there was no necessity for
it. because they threw around The law every possible
guard which was necessary TO secure honesty.
The real vote Of the whole pro-slavery party could
not be, Mr.. 5. thought more than 5000 or $500;
that of the free-State men from 900 to 1000
The President had said in his special message that
when Constitution presented to Congress, 1t
was only necessary to inquire whether its form is
publican. The speaker thought the word form in
tensive import than some we're disposed to give it.
He thought that not only in form, but in substance
it should be republican.
II is against all Democratic principle, said Mr. s.
true principle of popular sovereignty under our ins
tutions that Congress should under present circum
stances accept the Lecompton Constitution and force
Kansas into the Union under it.
A recent proceeding in the House Of Representa-
tives has put this thing TO very test moth
ing less than the ecperimetum ccis and that is the
resolution of Mr. Harris to refer the Lecompton Con-
stution TO committee of fifteen, for the purpose of
investigating the circumstances under which it was
formed 1t was proposed, ON the other hand, by the
friends of the Administration, and am sorry TO say
the great of the Democratic party that should
be referred to the Committee on Territories, 1t being
perfectly well known that the great majority of that
committee, as understand were prepared to force
consistent with narliamentary rule supposipq thew
had the majority. A committee, raised under Mr..
harriss resolution would, by parliamentary usage,
necessarily have on it majority opposed to the Con-
stitution or Mt eas, in favor of the cir.
enmstanees undrr which i WINS formed. II was
very hard test for those gentlemen who were dispo-
sed to vote for the Constitution, under all circun
Harrs's resolution. II would have been evident that
thew were afraid of investigation If thew adopted n
ali ibese monsro, frauds wond be bro9eht 10 Iight
nm, bapnv 10 inform, Won that by vote Of one hun
dred and fourteen 10 one hundred and eleven in the
House of Representatiyes-a majority of three-tbat
Constitution has gone 10 The select committee of f
teen. " . ~.
M wabst.r came fnrw.rd and sa;d.
al propose that we now give three hearty cheers
for Hon. Thomas L. Harris the gallant Representa-
tive Of Illinois who has the honor az having proposed
in Congress the resolution which will expose the gross
frauds by which the will of the majority in Kansas il
| souobt 10 be defeated" A.
Here the meeting rave three terrific cheers for Mr.
| Harris. E 80
| As soon as the enthusiasm caused by this motion
| had subsidized Edward G. Webb moved that three
cheers he given for The lion. Owen Jones the oniy
| representatiye from Phiade phia county who had the
mapiness TO do an act II Justice in sustaining tho
motion Of Mr.. Harris. Mr.. Webb remarked that IN,
other representative from Philadelphia would under
stand the meaning of this significant endorsements
The meeting Responded t. this m jtion by the mos
yociferous and heartfelt enthusiasm
Mr. Z. G. Webb proposed three cheers for Over
Jones representing in Congress portion of Pha
delphia and Montgomery county, the only Democra
from the city and county of Philadelphia, who ha,
the manness 10 do righteous act. The respons
was again most powerful ~
Mr. Stanton, resumng his remarks, said: / onl,
regret that the President Of the United States Is
here tonight wish he could hear the voice OF IN,
people Of his own state he will be under the ne
cessty Of hearing the voice Of the people Of all th,
States of this Union. % 8IE ls
Now, 30 look a little further into this Lecomptor
Constitution. On the 4th of january an election WA
held for State officers As you are aware, the grea
mass of the free-Sate in the Territory, being
utterly opposed 10 the Constitution refused 10 e
| into the election
/ Under these circumstances, the vote between the
freeState and the pro-sayery men, according d
the returns, very nearly equally balanced but il
| is well known, aid l believe will be shown by the
investigation Of the House committee, that notwith
standing great portion OF the men refused
TO vote that they still carried the election Certainly
| il the monstrous frauds at Oxford Shawnee, and
Kickapoo rejected, the free State men, notwith
standing their small vote, would have overwhelm
| ing majority
But the President Of the Convention, General John
Calhoun, has the return Of that election in his pocket
have nothing 10 say in regard 10 his character OF
49,, a., 4, Il a.. ,,tr.nrdn.ry CO., AZ, h.,ir1
~ -. a -. m - ~. -. p.-~-...sr
uei'yeratey anu ornniy n I'VE e aook ~,
MT Denver he Spehker Oh ue HOUSE. anu the resi-.
dent OF the Council 10 be present AT the opening oil
the vote and the two latter gentlemen being satisfied
as they have shown in their public card that the
freeS iate marty had elected their own canddaies
- Z, 4 go, ,ri;,ar a., r. l..,,.. a. T.r;,..