The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-04-06

not yet prepared to believe that civilizs-
ton and freedom arc failures, and only
slavery and oppression possible upon the
earth; but they do know that but one
hope remains, one remedy is left, and that
is the remedy of the ballot--wresting pow
or from the hands of the slave Democracy.
and vesting it with those whose political
creed is founded on the eternal principles
of humanity and justi,c.
You may talk TO these men about secs
sion, disunion, and dissolution. Ifyou use
such language for purposes of intimidation,
then their answer is the laugh of scorn.
Your threats Of divided Confcdracy
pass by them as the idle wind. They re-
alze that this Union is worth much more
to you than it is to them; and that it is
worth too much to every section, IL is too
dear to every interest, to suffer any damf-
age when it is administered in accordance
with tho high purposes of its founders.
They realize that the strength andperpct-
uity Of this Union rest in faithful adler
ence to the eternal principles of liberty,
justice, and right, on wliicl, it is founded.
Ta ahaanssfSd ad 'bbysta 'bbys taaibaQE lyS6a yS6akpSssS9 kpSssS9 md
ciples; and that when, in the service Of op.
preston, it becomes powercss for good and
only efficient for vii, then it is n Union no
longer worth preserving. They therefore
best evince their devotion to tho Federal
Union by cordial support of the principles
which constitute its glory and its strength,
andby hostility 10 an institution which is its
weakness and its shame.
But before pass by the consideration of
this constitution, let me call the attention
of gentlemen 10 the section providing for
its amendment. tt reads rs follows:
"SEc. H. After the year 1861 whenever the
Legislature shall think it necessary to amend.
alter, change this constitution. they shall
nd to the electors Mt the next general elect
ion, two thirds Of the members of each House con.
curing, to vote for against calling conven-
ton: md ifi shall appear that majo ity Of oil
citizens Of the State have voted for convention,
the Legislature shall, at its next regular session.
call a convention. to consist OF as many membfrs
rs there may be in the House Of Representatives
at the time, to he chosen in the same manner
at the same places. and by the same electors that
choose the Representatives; sa'd delegates SO
elected shall meet within three months after saftf
election, for the purpose Of revising amending
or changing the constitutions hut no alteration
shall be made to effect the rights OF property in
the ownership nf slaves"
This section makes slavery perpetual in
that Territory. 1t coils fetters about the
reople and then ties up their hands so that
they connot remove them. The edict es-
tablishing and protecting slavery is hke the
laws of the Modes and Pcrsans--irrepeal-
able. The institution of slavery is S,
dear, so sacred to the men who compose
this convention, that they place it above
and beyond all law; and also b,yond the
sovereignty of the future State. This Sec
tion denies any amendment until 1864,
by which time it is expected that the "pe-
culiar institution" under the kind care
of yovr Army, your Supreme Court, and
your Executive, will have taken deep root
and firm position. Then It is necessary
to secure two thirds vote in both branch
es Of the Legislature in order to call col,
vention; and these conspil ators have care
fully guarded against that by giving tho
pro-slavery counties representations in
both Houses, founded on fraudulent returns,
and then, to guard against all that any
contingencies, they demand that the citi-
zens shall swear allegiance to This consti-
tuition, which declares plainly and distinct
ly that "no alteration shall be made to
affect the rights of property in the own
ership of slaves" There is therefore no.
mode under this constitution by which tho
citizens of that Territory can free them,
selves from this evil. -
know that it is claimed by sefnc gen
tlemen, that Notwithstanding this provis<
ion of the constitution, .the people of tho
future State will have The power to amend
it as they deem best, shall not ar vc
that question now. Whether they have it or
not is material, for we all well known
how an attempt to exercise that power
will be met. Suppose that this consthg..
ticn is forced upon that Territory, and
after it becomes sovereignty State, its
people amend it in another mode thars
that which tho constitution itself points
out, and 10 so doing, abolish the institu-'
tion Of slavery? Why, sir, the slavehol-
der will 90 to the Supreme Court Of the
United States and cite the clauses of this
constitution; and no man can doubt what
the decision of that court will be, when
the STAKEHOLDER goes to it for protection (;
and that the decision will be maintained
as against this alleged right of people to
amend its constitution, in violation Of its,
provisions.
Mr.. Chairman, this Lccompton constitu.
ton is not an insola;c wrong; it is not
the first aggression on popular right in
Kansas; ut il is the necessary result, the
fighting sequel, to a series Of vllainies and.
wrongs.
For four years past the Democratic rul-
crs and the Democratic party, have been
engaged in an effort to extend the institu-
ton Of slavery into tho Territory of Kan
sas. The effort has been unceasing; un-
tiring, and unscrupulous; and the means
used have been, in every respect, worthy
Of the end to bc accomplished. First, tho
Missouri compromise was repcalcd-rc-
peaed bv the aid Of Executive influence
and by the force Of party drill because it
stood in the way Of the extension of slave.
~. Then a section Of territory, that did
not contain one hundred American citizens,
was divided into two territorial organiza-
tions, at an annual expense to the Govern
mcnt Of 100000 so that tho southern
subdivision miobt from, lie location on;f