Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-03-09

Ny duties here will not allow melo be |
with you but take this occasion to say,II
am in sJ mpsthy with your meeting. Al
Insthe Language of your note, am
committed to the doctrine of Popular Soy |
ereignty aud tits with me something
moro than = motto fol, a transparency In
political procession or at an evening meet.
ing 1t is sacred doctrine, not to be
cheated, or outwitted, or overcome by al
legged legal forms and technicaliiiss; but
always to be guarded and preserved in its
integrity. L IA .,.4 H.
With You I am opposed to forcing upon
any people a Constitution against tleir
known and expressed will. have before
me the known and expressed will of the
people of Kansas against the Lecompton
Constitution 1t ia the last expression of
their will, made, not rebelliously, nor ir-
regularly. nor illegally. but under the
sanction. and in pursuance of law of the
Territorial Legislature; not only so. but
made fairly and peaceably. and on the day
when those who favored the Constitution
were out in all their strength, and if able,
would have voted down the opposition.
l cannot understand why thil is null
lity. We are urged to accept this Con-
stitution, as measure of s1pediency, on
the ground that the majority of the people
can Immediately set it aside, without any
regard TO the time and mode Of amendment
prescribed in it. If this be so; if in oppo-
sition to the Constitution itself, they can
do this, how is it they have no power over
it before it is adopted? If the majority
can overturn living, binding Constitn-
ton, regardless of its provisions, it would
seem that the same majority have some
control over Constitution not yet vital
ized, and which, as yet, is but inchoate
and has no rights.
In the case of Florida, her proposition
to come into the Union as State, was
pending to Congress, think. seven years
Will it be pretended, if her Territorial Leg
islature had passed law to take the sense o.
the people or the Constitution, at any time
during that period, and large majority
had, in pursuance of the law, directed tha
, the Constitution be recalled with view tc
change it, that Congress would treat such
action as nullity? A Constitution FOL
New Mexico has been before Congress
about five years. Cannot the people re-
COuSlucT II, ~ Ally LliIlo UeiOTe IL 10 ~Cbcu OH
, by Congress? The applications Of a for
eign State or Territory to be admitted
, Into the Union, may be regarded as prop
ositon to enter into a compact. which
like any other proposition, may be re-
called at any time before it accepted.
In the case of Kansas, however, tn
! larger majority voted down this Constitu
tor before it was brought to Congress.
But l will not go into an argumen
E now. may present my views upon th
8 question hereafter. n.
, There have been great irregularities
heretofore. in the proceedings under whicl
. Territories have prepared to becom
: States, and in the absence of an En-
abling Act, there is no fixed rule to pursue
j, But this may be said of all the preriou
cases. There was satisfactory evidence @
the acquescence of the people. Having
: this, irregularities could be overlooked
Now for the first time in our history, it
sought to compel people to accept a Con
n stituton, which they have, not implied
but expressly ard promptly rejected
y This is no; Democracy. l rejoice to sa..
Q it has no precedent in the past, and let u
,, hope, for our countrJ's sake, it may nc
= become precedent for the future.
e Very respectfully,
= .y w. S. GRoEsBkcK.
5 Judge Caldwell,
JOS A. Heman,