The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-08

HSHeT t8dH any constitutional sanction.
Think OF il, my Democratic friends who yot.
for the admission of Kansas on the Lscon ptor
Constltutlon. You say that it was fair sub
mission OF the Slavery question to require {
voter 70 swear to support it as q Fundamental
truth, that the right of slsvebolder to Ii;
sLare and ITS sncrsase" stands on the sam.
basis as the right of the farmer to his OK. &C,
home If you can, 60 home if you dare anS
| tell your constituents that you supported Con
stitution which required the citizen to take ar
oath 70 support such doctrines before he wa,
permitted TO vote, and that you called that ,
fsir submission of the Constitution. Yes, 20
home and tell them that you have forced Kan
sas into the Union with Constitution which
declares Slavery above the reach of constitu
tionai prohibition and that, although the peo
pie may change the Constitution, they aeser ca,
abolish Slavery, for the right of the master &
the ssare and its increase is higher than al
constitutional sanctions"
Tell the people who elected you that you hav,
given up all the Territories to Slavery; that tn,
slave owner has the right, according to tn,
bred Scott decision, to take his slave propert,
INTO any of the Territories of the Union, anc
that you have established it as q Fundamental
truth, that Constitutional Conventions and Leg
isiatures have no greater power to abolish /
than they have to abolish the title of an owne,
to his OK or his horse. Yes, tell them that Sla
very is universal, and that they must submi
to it.
My Democratic colleagues from Pennsylva
ma, VINO vote TO force the Lecompton Constitu
non on Kansas, go home and tell our peoplt
that Slavery yet exists in Pennsylvania tina
the title to slave property has been declared b,
you to be aboce Legislative enactn,ents and CON
stitutionot provisions that the gradual eman
cipation bill passed by the patriotic and philan
thropic fathers of the glorious old keystone 1,
vo'd, and that Slavery yet exists in full vigor
IN the land of Penn. My Northern Democratic
trends from the old original thirteen States
II this doctrine is true, as enunciated in the LIE
compton CoDstituton-snd you say by your
votes that 1t is true-then Slavery exists in the
Northern part of the old thirteen States as com
pietely as it does in Alabama or South Carroll.
ma. 1t 1T is true that Constitutions cannot pro
hibit, nor Legislatures abolish, then Slavery
is universal, and exists everywhere.
Nor was this all. Not only was the voter
required to take an oath to support the clause
have quoted, but the uhole Constitution
Now, the l4th article of the schedule of the LIE.
compton Constitution provides as follows:
Alter the year one Thousand eight hundred
and sxty-four, whenever the Legislature shall
think it necessary to amend, alter, or change
this Constitution, they shall recommend to the
electors at the next general election, two thirds
of the members of each House concurrinp, to
vote for or against calling Convention; and if
it shall appear that jority of all citizens; of
the State have voted for Convention, the
Legislature shall, at its next regular session,
call Convention, to consist of as many mem.
bers as there may be in the House of Repre-
a "a ffpoa IN he oh al.
manner, at the same places, and by the same
electors, that choose the Representatives. Said
delegates, 80 elected, shall meet within three
months after said election, for the purpose of
revising. amending, or changing the Constitu-
ton; but no alterction shall be made TO affect
the rights Of property in the o,onership of
slares'
The Legislature may provide for any amend.
ment they may deem proper, except the right
to amend the Constitution so that Slavery could
be abolished, and Kansas be made free State.
ssSysES s se be RESIGNED s upon them forever
but every officer of every class and kind, who
might be elected through all time to come, is
required to swear to support this and every
other clause of this extraordinary Constitution
Will my Democratic friends still contend that
the Slavery clause soas fairly submitteds Let
me ask whether there is a Northern man, on
this floor or elsewhere, who soould sscear to sup
port Constitution which fastened Slavery upon
the people of Kansas forever, aud which pro-
hihits its abolition through all time to Gomez
But have not done with this branch of the
case. We have been told that the Lecomp,on
Constitution is legal instrument; that it is
made in conformity of law, and in obedience
to the provisions of the Kansas. N ebraska act
What will my Democratic friends say, when 1
assure them that not only is this not so, but
that the Lecompton Constitution not only VIC,
lates, but actually repeats, the Kansas Nebraska
octs / desire the attention of the Committee
to this matter-for, of all the infamous devices
ever contrived by cunning and unprincipled
men to deprive the people of their right of self.
government, consider this the most adroitly
arranged and deeply laid. And here l must
call the attention of members to the dates of
these transactions. will raise the curtain, and
give them peep at the actors behind the
scenes. The delegates to the teeon,pton Con
vention were ELECTED in Iune-the Legislature
had repealed the test oaths-snd the intention
OF the Free State party to vote in October had
stood throughout the Territory. The Conven.
ton assembled in September, and although
their labors could haye beep completed in
week, they appointed committees, and ad.
iourned until the 10Th of October.
The object of this long adjournment is OBJ
vious to every mind-the Convention desired to
know the result Of that election, as 1t would
demonstrate Which party soas in the n,aiGr;y ~
the 1srritory-they could then see whether il
ioonId do to SUBMIT Lae Constitution piM its
SNcsry 2roUisioRs 10 far vote Of the people.
They could also take proper precautions to de.
prize the Free State Legislature, If that party
succeeded at the election, of all po,cer. The
October election was held, and the Erss State
men swept the Stste, ami elected N the off.
es1s. aihae the organization of the Territory,
they had been deprived of all political power.
they had been driven from the polls at the FIRST
election by armed bsnds-they were afterwards
dsfranchised by test oaths, so odiops, and 90
clearly in violation of tho Oonstitution of the
United States, that every Democrat on this
floor, and every Democrat in the Senate, voted
for Toombs's bill, which declared them void.
Now, that party had succeeded in eleetina their
officers at fair election, and the power TO repeal
the unjust and oppressive laws of which they
complained was in their own hands. We, as
Democrats, rather regretted the result of this
election, as it was looked upon as Republican
triumph but the election was fair Ono. and
We we're perfectly willing I. submit. Mot 30
the Lecompt9n tionyentSon. Let me turn the
attention Of members to the ID article of The
schedule to the +ecompton Constitution. 1t
provides as follows,
All laws noU in force in the Territory of
Kansas, which are not repugnant to this Con
stitution, shall continue and be of force until
altered, amended, or repealed, by a Lssiasosxrs
as.embldd under TIE provisions Of tbs Con.
The Free State Legislature elected in October
is thus blotted out of existence. It might a.
semble and adjourn, bat il could net change
TIE Avs-its tovsS ct lssialssion was gone.
November lssa, could be 's s. lie or re-