Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-12-17


prevail before the first Monday Of Janua-
ry last, when an election was held under
the constitution. A majority of the peo-
pie then voted for Governor, and other
State officers, for member of Congress.
and members of the State Legislature.
This election was warmly contested by
the two political parties in Kansas, and a
greater vote was polled than at any pre-
vlous election. A large majority of the
members of the Legislature elect belonged
to that party which had previously re-
fused to vote. The anti-slavery party
were thus placed in the ascendant, and
the political power of the State was in
their own hands. Had Congress admit
ted Kansas into the Union under the Le-
compton constitution, the Legislature
might, at its very first session, have
submitted the question to a vote of the
people, whether they would or would not
have convention to amend their con-
stitution, either on the slavery or any
other question, and have adopted all
necessary means for giving speedy effect
to the will of the majority. Thus the
Kansas question would have been imme-
diately and finally settled.
Under these circumstances, I submit
ted to Congress the constitution thus
framed, with all the officers already elect
ed necessary to put the State government
into operation, accompanied by strong
recommendation in favor of the admis-
sionof Kansas as State. In the course
of my long public life 1 have never per-
formed any official act which, in the re-
Prospect, has afforded me more heart
felt satisfaction. Its admission could
have inflicted no possible injury on any
human being, whilst it would, within a
brief period, have restored peace to Kan
sas and harmony to the the Union. In
that event the slavery question would
ere this have been finally settled, accord
ing to the legally expressed will of
majority of the voters, and popular sover-
eighty would thus have been vindicated
in q constitutional manner.
With my deep convictions of duty. I
could have pursued no other course. 1t
is true that, as an individual, had ex-
pressed an opinion, both before and dur
ing the session of the convention, in fa-
vor OF submitting the remaining clauses
of the constitution, as we'll as that con-
cerning slavery, to the people. But,
acting in an official character, neither nv
self nor any human authority had the
power to PREJUDICE the proceedings of the
convention, and declare the constitution
which it had framed to be a nulIity. To
have done this would have been a viola
ton Of the Kansas and Nebraska act
which left the people Of the Territory
perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic Institutions in their own
way, subject only TO the constitution OF
the United States" 1t would equally
have violated the great principle of pop-
ular sovereignty, at the foundation of our
institutions to deprive the people of the
power, if they thought proper to exercise
it, of confding to delegates elected by
themselves the trust of framing a consti-
tuition, without requiring them to SUBJ
ject their constituents to the trouble, ex.
pense and delay of a second election. Il
would have been in opposition to many
precedents in our history, commencing il
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 a question sc
Insignificant when viewed in its practical
effects on the people of Kansas, whether
decided one way Or the other, should
have kindled such flame of excitement
throughout the country. This reflection
may prove to be lesson of wisdom and
of warning for our future guidance
Practically considered, the question i.
simply whether the people of that Terri
tory should first come into the Union
and then change any provision in their
constitution not agreeable to themselves
or accomplish the very same object by
remaining out of the Union and framing
another constitution in accordance witt
their will? In either case the result
would be precisely the same. The only
difference in point Of fact is, that the
/ object would have been much sooner 'at
tanned, and the pacifcation of Kansa,
more speedily effected, had it been admit
ted as State during the last session o
Congress.
My recommendation, however, for tht
Immediate odn,;esior &c Karso, ell.