Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-14
vol. 5. NO p.

that popular sovereignty is to ksvc unrostra-
ined sway. 1t is in this way that it rises to
the complete majesty of its power Those
claiming aud having that power, can have no
we'll foundeu-oliection to the remedy. Now,
the power of the people of Kansas is not equal
to the abolition of slavery. Slaves are now
held there-Congress cannot prevent it
The people, or the majority, cannot prevent
it, so long as they remain a Territory. But
when clothed with the sovereignty of State,
they will become equal to the task l ana
for admission. / am for giving the people
that power. Senators on the other side,
whilst claiming large majority for the free
State party, object to admission +; object to
giving the people the power to Immediately
abolish slavery and yet they will tell me
that | am for slavery and they are against 1t.
l seek to confer upon the people the power
to abolish slavery They object, and yet ut
tempt to make the world believe that they are
the peculiar friends of free State. That is
much after the plan that their friends in Kan
sas have used to abolish slavery. They would
always vote when they could not vote against
slavery. They would not 60 to the election
on the 2lst December, because they could
have rejected slavery.
sovereignty There are those who hold that.
because the constitution was not submitted to
popular vote as an entirety, the process Of
making it was in violation Of popular sover-
eighty, as recognized in the creed of the Dem
ocratic party. This is faliacious view, un-
less our representative system be abolished
and a common Democ racy lie embraced as
the system We prefer, Recognizing the rep
resentative system, it is perfectly competent
for the people the delegate their sovereign
power and authority, to i convention to make
and adopt constitution and State govern
ment. My State did this more than half the
original States did it.
The 4, crime Of non-int :ryention seems to
have confused and coafoundcd some people lat
! terly. They talk as though congress had
guaranteed that men should not cheat each
other in Kansas as though one political par
ty should not take the advantage the other
as though representatives should not deceive
their constituents This is more than was
| bargained for, Congress agreed that they
would not interfere with the domestic affairs
! of the Territories, and that the States, as such
should not interfere; but that ALL 1t
never was pretended that the Federal govern
ment could interfere between the people and
rrei Ir-eeHFer local representatives.. Nor did
Congress qua, anty that in6se -sl,n DO not vote
should carry the election nor yet that the
majority sLould rule, if they dill not do so
through the agency of the law. 1t is the
right of the law to rule, and the right of the
majority to make the law; but the majority
is as much bound by the law, whilst it is such,
as is the minority.
intend to vote for the admission of Kansas as
State; &nd in doing this do not wish so much
as to signify my apploval of the manner of get
ting mp the State, and the circumstances sur
rounding the application, as do declare my con-
viction that admi iSsion. prompt admission, is the
best and wiscst of the alternatives that are before
us. There is much in the details of the proceed
ings in Kansas that is unpleasant and distasteful
l-partaking of evident abuse of the elective fran
chise on one hand, and the attempt to supersedc
its lawful use by violence and faction the 9th
er. Kansas should not be an example for future
States; and / trust our country may rcver be
required to witness such scenes again. But. sir,
whatever may he the defects on the Lecompton
III e. on the other is matured, persistent and avow
ed insUbordiuatioR to the laws If not rebellion TO
the Government. Between these, | prefer the
former side.
The addition Of two members to the family OF
States should be the cause of general JOY, an
event bringing fratcrnal affection. energy, power.
stability, progress and general prosperity to the
family of States ard to common country
That these blessings are to follow the admission
of the two States now on the Threshold of the
Union, hope and believe.