The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-02-10
NliNoIebmp 3tgtster.
The Message.


We regret our inability to lay before
our readers the Presidents Message which
accompanied the Lecompton Constitution.
l. is the most remarkable literary curios-
ity of the season, and is conclusive evil
dence (if there was any doubt on that
point) that the author is no longer James
Buchanan, but the democratic platform.
It is a remarkable paper because it is cal
culated to controvert its own object. 1t
il designed to enforce the necessity of the
acceptance of the Lecompton Constitu-
ton, while on careful perusal there are
found in it insuperablc reasons for its re-
lection. It is reiteration Of the stale
Interpretations which have character
lied every administration paper on
that subject, and is so well calculated to
defeat its own object that We are inclined
to coll it the best Republican tract extant
The absurd assumption that nine-tenths
Of the people of Kansas are in duty
bound to submit to the dictation of the
other tenth, because that, through the par
tizan aid Of the government and the ruf.
fans of Missouri they have secured the
forms of law to their advantage, is an ab-
surdity that has been too long urged for
the welfare of the Democratic party.
The President, in the whole of his ines
sage, assumes that the people Of Kansas
might, but for their contumacy, have Sc.
cured the control of the territorial govern.
ment, that they have allowed elections to
60 by default for the purpose of affecting
the agitation which must result. Now,
there is not an intelligent man in the
country, who has taken any pains to ac.
quaint himself with the true condition of
things in that territory, who does not
know that it has never been, under the
forms of law, in the power of the major
ity to get the ascendancy, except through
the detection Of the agents of the govern.
ment. Had Walker been true to the
master who sent him to Kansas, had he
not committed the act of INSTRUMENTATION
for which he is removed, the participation
of the Free State party in the territorial
election would have proved the greatest
plumber they could have made.
He says:
The people of Kansas have then in
their own way, and in strict accordance
with the organic law, framed constitu.
ton and State government-have sub.
mitted the all important question of slave.
ry to the people, and have elected Gov.
srpor, member of Congress, the State
Legislature and other State officers; and
they now ask admission into the Union
under q constitution, Republican in its
form.
Domestic peace will be the happy con.
sequence of the admission, and that fine
territory hitherto torn by dissensions, will
rapidly increase in population and wealth,
and speedily realize the blessings and
comforts which follow agriculture and me-
chanical industry. The people then will
be sovereign, and can regulate their own
affairs in their own way. If the majori.
~ of them desire to abolish domestic
slavery within the State, there is no other
possible mode by which it can be effected
20 speedily as by its prompt admission
The will Of the majority is supreme, aud
irresistible when expressed in an orderly
and lawful manner. 1t can make Oonsti.
tutions at pleasure. 1t would be absurd
to say that they can impose letters upon
their ow power which they cannot after.
wards remove. If they could do this they
might tie their own hands just as well for
q hundred as ten years.
Without any comments upon the use of
the expression, "the people," let us see
what security we have that such "happy
consequence" would follow. The result
of the late election, under the Lecompton
Constitution is not at this present writing
made public ana it is generally under.
stood that Calhoun, under the instructions
of the party, has it in his power to make
it turn upon whichever side he may please,
and were the Constitution accepted thers
can be no doubt that the whole control OF
the State would be Immediately surrender.
ed to the administration party. Then in.
stead of the people being sovereign and
having power to regulate their own affairs
in their own way, this Insignificant MINOR
ity will be sovereign, and will take such
measures to maintain their sovereignty az
they have, and in this they will have
Fhe material aid of the government as
they have ever had under such circumstan.
ees. Instead of"domestic peace, being the
happy consequences" Il speedy revolu.
ton becomes not only necessity but duty.
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