M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-03-18


Congressional domination-the Blsck.Re<
pu6hcans upon one side asserting the unlim-
tied power OF Congress to prescribe line do.
mestic institutions of The new States and tbe
Territories; and the Democratic Republi.
Cans-the followers Of jefferson, Madison
and misunderstanding that no such power
had been conferred on Congress, and there.
fore, remained with the States and the peo.
pie. Now, 6s it seems, we have to learn
that "popular soy ereignty' is not opposed
10, but identified with. Congressional domin.
alton; and that Congress ought to prescribe
in what manner, by what sanction, the peo-
pie OF new State must adopt their consti-
tuition and form government. -..-.,.-
Gentlemen, this can never be Demo-
cratic doctrine. Itis a doctrine of Federal.
ism revived-of unlimited Congressional au.
thority over the States and Territories. Il
was not derived from the Kansas-Nebraska
Bill, but from the Wlmot Provso. It is
not to be found in the Cincinnati Platform,
but in the platform Of Black Repubcanism
adopted at Philadelphia, in June, 1856. II
is not the doctrine upon which James Buch-
anan was elected, but the doctrine upon
which John c. Fremont was defeated.
There have been allegations made as 10
the manner in which the convention at Le-
compton was constituted; that the people,
in many counties, were disiranchsed; and,
thus, that the convention was not regular,
nor its proceedings valid. These questions
are legitimate; these desired time and op-
portunity to examine, and. as the truth
might be, one way or another, to have voted.
But the Ohio Legislature prevented me from
reaching those questions; it commanded me
to refuse admission to the State of Kansas,
unqualifedly, without the least regard 10
them,
must say, nevertheless, that from all
can learn, these allegatonsof dislranchise-
ment, in fifteen or nineteen counties, are
without any solid foundation. They are on.
} ly some of the enormous fasehouds which
have been circulated, in reference TO Kan
sas for the last three years:
"And never yet did lnsurrecton want
Such water colors to impaint his cause"
That many of the qualified electors in
Kansas refused to permit registcration of
their names, and 80 refused to vote in the
, election for delegates, is certainly true
: They did this with their eyes open to the
! consequences; they were warned again and
RgOn; they dtrided alike the warning and
all fears Of the consequences. Having thus
: suffered Judgment 20 pass by mere de-
fault, they must seek relief or ameoraton,
: not from the hands of Congress, but thro'
an amendment Of the constitution after Kan
! sas shall have been admitted into the I'm.
ion.
. Others exclaim that the President and
I, Congress intend to force constitution
! upon the people of Kansas; but this, cer'
tanly, is either peryersiOn of language or
a confusion of ideas. The President and
Z Congress have no concern with the consti.
tuition of Kansas, its various provisions, or
= the method of ls ratification, if the consti-
! tuition be republican in form-be, in other
u words, subject to revision, control or a.
i mendment Ivy the people. The petition of
y. Kansas, through her convention OF delegates
y is not that Congress will accept, approve or
: pass Judgment upon the constitution, but on-
y ly that Congress will admit her, as State,
Il into the Union. Whatsoever is objections.
BILE in her nstitution-whether in respect
= TO African slavery to banks, TO railroads to
% the apportionment for members of the Leg.
:, isaure, to the qualification of a Governor
or any other ofiicer-can be remedied by
\ the people, at their own will, "in their own
;" way" at their own time, but never ought
: to be the subject Of Congressional interter'
= ence.
;, The shortest way, therefore, the best way,
: the only complete way, in which Kansas
=, can find peace andumple redress balm for
g all her wounds, together with permanent
= prosperity, is that which the President now
4 recommends. Let her be admitted into the
:, Union at once, as a State. The Black Re-
- publican leaders, Of course, do not wish IL;
., they do not wish an end of the troub es in
~ Kansas; they wish her to bleed and to shiek,
20 without intermlssion, until after the next
- Presidential contest. They pretend to be
i anxious that Kansas sh uld have the entire
=. control of her own affairs, and an opportu-
-, nifty to exclude or abolish African ssrvitude;
" ~ but, as in THE Circumlocution Office" of
n Dickens, while eyer busy and noisy, it is
q, their constant question, the theme Of all
~ their endeavors, "hOlC NOT 10 do it,"
ID hope the honest, well-dispose !, patriotic
ii freemen of the United States, without dis
\. tinc,on OF sections parties, or names, will
: take this apparently interminaOle quarrel
Il out VI Ine hdluS oIlue pOilllClhHsTiHh CoHlPeI
n its settlement, on some fair basis, as soon az
n possible. If could participate, ever SO
). humby, in such a resull--in restoring the
- North and the South to that relation Of
# peace and mutual confidence which onca
:. prevailed, but seems row forever los-it
il would fill The measure of my ambition and
3. satisfy ne that had not altogether lived in
A vain.
+ With sincere gratitude for the kindness
/. OF your invitation. | am, gentleman,
!, Very respectfully.
your obedient servant,
i G. E. PUGH.
a Messrs, JOHN HAMM, GEO. w RlTzEl
- john C.. ENGLISH, JOHN B. RoBERTS,