Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-04-14

the Territory under the officers who ihei
presided there. 1t gave the Democratic
party little advantage over Us, becausa
oar ideas were not patent on the face o
tha bill, aud people wnuld probably looi
10 its language more than they would Il
The circumstances prevailing in the Ter
ritory. which rem tered ii exec edingly in.
exPedienl that anybody should then vote
for the immediate organization of tie
Territory into State, under the officer:
who were 10 take charge of il.
The Senator from Louisiana alluded Il
it as reproach TO the Republicans here,
that they did not vote for it, as though il
was an olive branch held out by the D..m
ocracy that we refused, and the PEOPLE
there refused He iniimated, that while
we professed to wish that something NIGH
be done TO make peace in the Territory
and give The people State Constitution,
with a tight 10 regua their affairs, We
stood here 10 reject it, He said, that
while the people were calling assistance
we were voting against The measure pro
posed, 10 which, be argued there was nc
objection. That is a very lawyerike
argument, and very shrewd, and it might
possibly deceive the people; but ii will
nol deceive Senators. We all under
stand these little policies that prevail here.
| will say no more about that bill. 1t is
a thing of the past, let it 90.
THE CONVENTION.
| am not in a condition TO prolong this
debate great while, and therefore shall
pass to The next phrase of The matter
You say the Legislature authorized a
Convention. They could call ii; there
was nothing wrong about it; but cot
tend there was no authority about it,
They called Convention. Now, this is
the position assume, and l invite alten
ton TO it from any part of this Chamber,
from The most eminent lawyers in it. If
the Territorial Legislature had no author
ity TO call a Convention; If it sill required
an enabling act to give it real legal val
iiiiy; then, when they called their Con-
veniion, it was perfectly optional with
the people to comply with the act or not
1t was a mere voluntary call on them,
not authorized by law, inviting them 10
vote for delegates 10 frame Constitution
under which they V oIld live.
This act having no binding authority
of law, it was al the option Of every man
to do just as he pleased about it. IL he
went, IL was well enough. If he failed
to go, YOU could not denounce him as
having done anything wrong, because
there was no law compelling him TO go.
Ii was mere invitation from an irreS-
ponsible power, TO come up and aid them
in doing a certain act. That is all the
lawyer can make ont Of it
So we strip you even OF the technicalily
Of law, upon which YOU seek TO deprive
he people Of Klnsas Of the right of self
government. Your technicaliry has fall
ed you. Ii is not even necessary for US
10 90 back, and show your Legislature
TO be arranl usurperS ond enemies 10 the
great mass Of the people there, as they
we're. We may, if we see f., danounce
gou as rebels with as much raason as you
nave denounced US, because YOU got to-
yclher without authority of law, and
sought TO frame a Constitution under
which you would live.
The Pesidenl has said, over and over
Igain, that This was done by authority of
aw, that the people had a perfect right
0 60 and vote, and that it was their duty
o 90; and that if they did not go, they
we're in default. He said it was all fair
Now, sir, | take no pleasure III saying
hat the President, al the very time he
made this declaration, if he was not blind. !
eaf, and dumb, must have known that it /
vas not true. If he had read the COM !
that were sent TO him con-
ianlly from that Territory, by IFS Gov
rnors and its other officers, he-could moi I
all TO have known, al the time he made |
bis declaration, that in one half Of The /
ounties no census was taken or record |
made of the voters, and the law required
lat as condition upon which a man
be uii vote. No man need rise and tell
lie here that th.t is not so, because | will
ice him down with authorities that he
annoi overcome. have the law that
equired ths census TO be taken. The
ueStion is, was it takeI2 If it was not
lken, why was il not donel Governor
Walker says il was moi taken for no fault
The people there. He says, in some Of
is letters, that it was not taken in many
0unties, because there was no pay pro-
ided for those who should do IT, and they
'ould not do it for nothing; and in other
laces, the people, were reluctant. Bal
lat was no excuse. You never have
ken a census of the United States where
lere were not vast numbers OF people
rho were most sirenuously opposed to
; and on inquiring, your deputy mar.
nails, as they 90 round, were frequently
hased out of the houses by The women
iith broomsiicks, thinking, probably,
lat the object was to levy tax Oh them
You'd that be any excuse for not taking
censusl You find one or two men who
re reluctant or opposed 10 it for any
sason. Can The President plant himself
pom solitary objection like that, and
~ it was an excuse that the people
ould not submit their names TO be regis
red? If man would not comply wiki
e law, i'll he would not give his name when
. was asked, he would be no gentleman
grant you; but you could not convict
IN of any crime for not doing it, and cer-
inly you could not deprive his neighbor
ho was perfectly willing to give his name, I
his rights. You indulge in these gen.
.aliiies; you say that A, B, C, or D, {
ent into a country, and Tom, Dick, or s
AIRY, said, 81 will not have my name
and then turn about and say
9 people can lose their liberties by !
fault consequent on such proceedings
thesei Sir, it is arrant nonsense, come 1
om what source il may. u