The Kanzas news., 1858-02-20
Vol. 1---No. 81.

some form by every State Constitution
and if Congress, in the act of admission,
should think proper to recognize them, l
can perceive no objection
This has been done emphatically in the
Constitution of Kanzas. 1t declares in its
bill of rights that ''All political power is in
herent in the People" and all free Govern
ments are founded on their authority and
instituted for their benefit, and therefore
have at all times an inalienable and indefea-
sible right to alter. reform and abolish their
form of government in such manner as they
may think proper. The great State of New
York is at this moment governed under a
Constitution framed and established in di-
rect opposition to a mode prescribed by a
previous Constitution. If, therefore, pro-
vision changing the Constitution of Kanzas
after the year 1864, could by possibility be
construed into prohibition to make such
change previous to that period of prohibi-
ton, it would be wholly unavailing. The
Legislature already enacted may, at its first
session, submit the question TO vote of the
People, whether they will or not have Con-
vention, to amend their Constitution, and
adopt all necessary means for giving effect
to the popular will. 1t has been solemnly ad-
judged by the highest judicial tribunal, that
Slavery exists in Kanzas by virtue of the
Constitution of the United States. Kanzas
is therefore at this moment as much Slave
State as Georgia or South Carolina With
out this, the equality of the Sovereign States
composing the Union would be violated, and
the use and enjoyment of Territory ac-
quired by the common treasure of all the
States would be closed against the people
and property of nearly half the members
of the Confederacy. Slavery can, there
fore, never be prohibited in Kanzas, except
through the means of Constitutional pro-
vision, and in no other manner can this be
obtained so promptly, if the majority of the
people desire it, as by admitting her into
the Union under her present Constitution.
On the other hand, should Congress reject
the Constitution, under the idea of afford
ing the disaffected in KanZas third oppor-
tunity to prohibit Slavery in the State,
which they might have done twice before if
in the majority, no man can foretell the con-
sequences. If Congress, for the sake of
those men who refused to vote for delegates
to the Convention, when they might have
excluded Slavery from the Constitution, and
HuO dltSEhdIu ICluScu W fOIC Ou lile list
of December, when they might, as they
claim, have stricken Slavery from the Con-
stitution, should now reject the State be-
cause Slavery remains in the Constitution,
it is manifest that the agitation upon this
subject will be renewed in more alarming
form than it has ever before assumed Ey-
cry patriot in the country had indulged the
hope that the Kanzas Nebraska Act would
have put final end to the Slavery agitation,
at least in Congress. which had for more
than twenty years convulsed the country
and endangered the Union. This act in
volved great and fundamental principles,
and, if fairly carried into effect. will settle
the question. Should agitation be again re-
vived-should the people of sister States be
again estranged from each other with more
than their former bittenness-this will arise
from cause, so far as the interests of Kan
zas are concerned, more trifiing and insig
nifcant than has ever stirred the elements
of great people into commotion. To the
people of Kanzas, the only practical differ
ence between admission or rejection depends
simply upon the fact whether they can them
selves more speedily change their present
Constitution if it does not accord with the
will of the majority, or frame second Con-
stitution to be submitted to Congress here
after.
Even if this were question of mere ex-
pediency and not of right, small difference
of time one way or the other, is not of the
least importance when contrasted with the
evils which must necessarily result to the
whole country from the revival of the Slav
cry agitation.
In considering this question it should new
er be forgotten that in proportion to its in
significance, let the decision be what it may,
so far as it may affect few thousand inhab
itants of Kanzas, who have from the begin
ming resisted the Constitution and the laws,
for this very reason the rejection of the
Constitution will be so much the more keen
" felt by the people of fourteen States of
the Union where Slavery is recognized un-
der the Constitution of the United States,
Again, the speedy admission of Kanzas
into the Union will restore peace and quiet
to the whole country. Already the affairs
of that Territory have engrossed an undue
proportion of public attention. and have sad
ly affected the friendly relations of the peo-
pie of the States with each other and alarm
ed the fears of patriots for the safety of the
Union. Kanzas once admitted, the excite
ment becomes localized and would soon die
away for want of outside aliment, and then
every difficulty could be settled by the bal
lot-box. Besides, and no trifing considera-
ton, l shall then be enabled to withdraw
the troops from Kanzas, and employ them
on service where they are much needed.
They have been kept there on the earnest
importantly of Governor Walker, to main
tain the existence of the Territorial Govern
ment, and secure the execution of the laws.
He considered at least two thousand regular
troops, under the command of General Har-
ney, necessary. Acting upon his reliable
information, have been obliged in some
degree, to interfere with the expedition to
Utah in order TO keep down the rebellion in
Kanzas which has involved very heavy ex-
e. tko