The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-21

regardless of the popular will, it would jus.
fly have resulted in revolution.
{ This pretended constitutional convention, il
is true, proposed seperate article which was
submitted TO the people, and which il adopted
establishes slavery in Kans 8 upon more
barbarous SYSTEM than is known to any of the
slave States in this Union. But no one was
/ permitted to vote either for or against this
separate article until he first voted for the con-
stitntion. He was not allowed 10 vote against
! ii. Thus, whether the separate article was
adooted or rejected, IL the consultation ,phicL
could not be roted against, is permitted to sta nd
as the organic law Of the State. Kansas must
become slave State.
We canno. be Indifferent to the efforts of the
people Of Kansas to perpefuate freedom in
that territory. We ought not to he indifferent.
| No people are deserving of freedom who do
not sympathize with those who are struggling
to attain it. The people Of Kansas are the
champions of popular government everywhere.
| They are bringing TO the test the great princi-
| pie enunciated by or revolutionary fathers that
government derives its power by the consent
of the governed.
If the recent constitutional convention of
Kansas defended as /, was by federal bavonets
| against the Just indignation of the people, can
| succeed by trick and fraud in fastening an OBJ
noxious constitution upon them. and take away
shall become further strengthened. there is an
| erd to free government and American liberty.
The people of Iowa look with alarm upon
the constant aggressions of the slavery pro
paga .,dists. but confess that look with equal
| alarm upon the manifest tendency of our gov
| erment to consolidation.
The events of the few past years would
seem to indicate that the prediction Of some
of the men who achieved our liabilities for
us. were being fulfilled. Our government is
fast becoming an elective monarchy. The
| States are gradually losing their consequence
and will soon be reduced to the condition of
, mere municipal appendices TO the central
| power. The influence of the federal govern
ment is prostituted to interference in State az
| fairs, even to municipal elections. The doc
tfine inherited from our ancestors that stand
ing armies are dangerous to the liberties of the
people. is repndated bv constant and strenu-
| Gus efforts to increase the national army. The
federal government now asks to control all the
banking institutions in the States by virtue Of
| some law of Congress. Sinccure offices are
created for the purpose of influencing public
opinion. The army Of office holders scattered
through the states, ut,ering the sentiments dis
bursting the money. and obeying the commands
of the Central Authority, govern in great de-
gree the sentiment of the country. Thus, the
federal government, instead of being as ii was
designed to be, the mere creature and under
the control of the States, is fast becoming
| their master. @
This centralizing influence of the govern
! ment-the immense increase of our national
expenses-the history of slavery propagan
dism in Kansas. and the completely of the fed
| eral government Herewith; the attempt to
| overthrow the clearest right of self-govern
ment for the purpose of extending the instit,i-
| tons of slavery, and the efforts to destroy tire
| rights Of the States by political decisions of
the supreme court. should remind the freemen
Of Iowa that their political rights are in dan
| ger.
The liberties of the people can only be pre-
served by maintaining the integrity of the state
governments against the corrupting influences
of federal patronage and power.
| Closing with this communication nv Off
cial connection with the government, NAV
| be permitted to avail myself of the occasion TO
return to my fellow citizens my heart felt
| thanks for the honor and confidence they have
bestowed on me, and to assure them of my
continued aspirations for the advancement of
our beloved State. in virtue, prosperity and
happiness.
| JAMES w. GRIMES.
DEs MONIES Ian 10 1252