Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-03-25
submission In form. but not in fact :

/ their AMI to hold an election, IN which
there should be no vote allowed or re-
ceivcd, if against the Constitution it
self Each voter was permitted 10
east ballot ''for the Constitution with
Slavery" or @'for the Constitution
with no Slavery" and it was further
provided, that the Constitution should
stand entire, if the majority of votes
should he cast for the Constitution
with Slavery, while, on the other
hand, if the majority of votes cast
should be ''for the Constitution with
no Slavery" then the existing Slavery
should not be disturbed, but should
remain, with its continuance, by the
succession of its unhappy victims by
descent forever.
But even this miserable shadow of a
choice between forms of Slave State
Constitution was made to depend on
the taking of test oath TO support
and maintain it in the form which
should be preferred by the majority of
those who should vote on complying
with that humiliation. The Governor
saw that by conniving at this pitiiul
and wicked jugglc he should both ship
wreck his fame and become response
ble for civil war. He demonstrated,
and appealed to his chief, the Presi-
dent of the United States, to condemn
it. Dcnunciations followed him from
the Lecompton Party within the Ter
ritory, and the dcnunciations no less
violent from the Slave States were his
greeting at the National Capital. The
President disappointed his most effec-
This present Congress had now assem-
bled. The President, as if fearful of
delay, forestalled our attention with
Recommendation to overlook the man
ifest objections to the transaction, and
to regard the anticipated result of this
mock election then not yet held, as
equivalent to an acceptance of the
Constitution by the people of kanzas,
alleging that the refusal of the people
to vote either the ballot for the Con
stitution with Slavery" or the false
and deceitful ballot for the "Constitu-
tion with no Slavery" would Justly be
regarded as drawing after If the con-
sequences of actual Acceptance and
adoption of the Constitution itself
His argument was apologize, as it la
mented that the Constitution had not
been fairly submitted; and jesuitical,
as it urged that the people might,
when once admitted as State, change
the Constitution at their pleasure, in
defiance of the provision which post
pones any change seven years.
sTANToN's REMOVAL AND WALKERS
RESIGNATION.
Copies of the Message containing
these arguments were transmitted to
the Territory, to confound and dis
hearten the Free State Party, and OBJ
tain surrender, at the election to be
held on the 21st OF December, on the
question submitted by the Convention.
The people, however, were neither
mislcd nor intimidatcd. Alarmed by
this act of connivance by the President
of the United States with their oppres-
sors, they began to prepare for the last
arbitrament of Nations. The Secre-
tarv, MIR. Stanton, now Governor od
interim, issued his proclamation, call
ing the new Territorial Legislature to
assemble, to provide for preserving
the public peace. An Executive spy
dispatched information of this proceed
ing to the President, by Telegraph,
and instantly Mr.. Stanton ceased to
be Secretary and Governor od interim,
being removed by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate of the United States. Thus
the service of Frederick Z. Stanton
came to an abrupt end, but in a manner
most honorable to himself. His chief
Mr. Walker was less wise and less for
tunate. He resigned. Petus Thrasea
1--WE are informed by Tacitus) had
been often present in the Senate, when
the fathers descended to unworthy acts,
and did not rise in opposition; but on
the occasion when Nero procured from
them decree to celebrate, as festival,
the day on which he had murdered his
mother, Agrippina Patus left his scat,
and walked out of the hamber-thus
by his virtue provoking future ven
gence, and yet doing no service to the
cause of Liberty. Possibly Robert j.
Walker may find less stern historian
The new Secretary, Mr.. Denver, be-
came Governor of kanzas, the fifth in
cumbent of that Office appointed with
in less than four years, the legal term
of one. Happily, however, for the
honor of the country. three of the re-
calls were made on the ground of the
virtues of the parties disgraced. The
Pro- -Consuls of the Roman provinces
were brought back to the Capital to
answer for their crimes.
THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE.
The proceeding which the late Sec
retary Stanton had so wisely institu-
ted, nevertheless, went on; and it has
become, as trust, the principal means
of rescuing from tyranny the people
whom he governed so briefly and vet
so well. The Lecompton Constitu-
tion had directed that on the 4th of
January elections should be held to
fill the State offices and the offices of
members of the Legislature and mem
bers of Congress. to assume their trusts
when the new State should be admit
ted into the Union. The Legislature
of the Territory now enacted salutary
laws for preserving the purity of elec
tions in all cases. 1t directed the I.e-
compton Constitution to be submitted
to fair vote on that day. the ballots
being made to express a consent to the
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