Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-17

mlssieu could have inflicted no possible injury
on Guy human being, whilst it would, Within
brief period, have restored peace 10 Kansas
aud harmony TO the Union. Iu that event, the
slavery question would ere this haze been fin
ally settled; according 10 the legally expressed
will Of majority of the voters, and popular
sovereignty would thus have been yindcated in
constitutional manner.
Nilh my deep convictions of duty, / could
( have pursued no etlcr course. 1t is true that,
as individual, l had expressed opinion,
both before and during the session of the con-
Yentioa, in favor Of submitting the remaining
clauses of tue constitution, well as that con-
ceruing slavery, to the people. But, acting IN
an official character, neither myself nor any
human authority had the power to rejudgc the
proceedings OF the convention, and declare the
constitution which i; had framed TO be a uullity.
To have done this, wouid have been violation
Of the Kansas and Nebraska act, which lett the
people Of the territory ;'nerfeetly free 10 form
and regulate their domestic Institutions IN their
own way, subject Only 70 the constitution OF
the Uultea Safes Ii would equally have
violated the great principle OF popular s1ver-
eighty, at the foundation Of orr institutions, TO
deprive the people Of lie power, # they thought
proper to exercise il, OF conEdng TO delegates
elected BY themselves the trust OF framing
cons tI:uton, without reqnring then, ) subject
their constituents to the tronble, expense and
delay Of sec, NJ election It woal1 have bcnu
IN opposition to lnony Ireeedents in our history,
commencing in tie very best age of the repub-
Ic, OF the admission OF territories as States into
tho Union, without previous vote OF the pep
pie approving their constitution.
Ii IS to be is;nepte3 that question so iusis-
uihcaBt Yiiea viewed 10 It's practical effects on
the people OF Kansas, whether decided way
CT tho ether, should nave kindied such faIue
Ct cxeitcn4eut throughout the coau'ry. THIS
reflection m.y prove 20 be lesson ct wisiun
/ and Of warning f,r our fu,are g1idanoe, Pee
iicaiy considered, the question is simply ~te,h-
ar tie people Of that territory should first come
Iuto the Ulion and then change any provision
IN their constitution not agreeable 20 themselves
or accomplish the very same objoct By re-
uaiuing 81, cf tl.e Ution aBa framing aUotaer
constitution in accordance with tEer viii! 10
either ease the result would be precisely The
saine. Tue Only difference n point Of fact Is,
tiat tie Object would hayc been much sooner
att4iuej, aud ho paeiicaion Of Kansas more
speedily etf-cted had ii been admitted as a State
daring the last session Of Congress.
My recommendation, however, for the imlae-
date admission Of ksraas, failed 20 meet the
appreciation Of Congress. They deemed it wiser
to adopt difereut measure for the settlement
Of the question. For my own part, should
have been wiling To yield my assent TO almost
auy constitutional measure to accomplish this
object. !, therefore, cordially aeqncseed Ia
what has been called the English Compromise.
ana approved the ''aci for the admission OF tie
State OF Kansas into tbs Union" upon the
terms tEcIeiH prescribed.
Under the ordinance which accompanied the
+ Lecoipptou constitution, the people of Kansas
had claimed loubie the quantity OF public lands
for the s0pport Of couimon schools, which bad
ever been previously granted to any State upon
entering toe Union; aud also the alternate Sec
) tions OF aad tor twelve miles on each side OF
/ two railroads, proposed to be constructed from
i the northerl 20 The southcIu boundary, and from
! the eastern to the western boundary ot the
State. Congress, deeniug these claims unreal
sonAblc, provided, by the act Of May 4, 1898,
20 which have just referred, fof the admission
! oi the State on an equal footing with the origi-
/ nai States, but 'supon the fundamental conol
/ ton precedent" shat majority Of the people
! thereof, y. al election 10 be held for that pur
! pose, should, ia place Of the very large grants
/ Of public lands which they had demanded under
/ the ordinance, accept such grants as had been
made to Aiinnesoti anu other new States. Uu-
der this set, should N jorlty reject the pro-
/ position offered them, SIT shall be deemed and
held that the people of Kansas do not desire
! admission into the Union with said constitution
! under the conditions set forth in said PROPOSE
| tlon." l. that event, the act authorizes the
people of the territory 10 elect delegates to
form a constitution and State government for
. themselves sswhehever, and not before, 1t Is as
/ certainel by census, duly and legally taken:
that the population OF SAID territory equsls or
exceeds the ratio Of representation required tor
1 q member Of The House of Representatives OF
/ the Congress Of the United States. The dele
I gates thus assembled ''shal FIRST determine hy
/ ! vote whether it Is the wish OF tue people OF
/ the proposed State TO be admitted iu.o the
/ Union a. that time, aud, It 50, shall proceed to
/ form a constitutions aud take all necessary steps
/ for the establishment of State government III
1 conformity with the federal constitution. AL
! ter tbis constitution shall have been formed,
! Congress, carving out the principles Of popa-
! lar sovereignty aud non-intarvention, have ieit
sstbe mode ard manner OF It's approval or raii-
| fcalion by the people Of the proposed Stat"
| t be "prescribad by law" and they ''sbaii
| tben be admitted iato the Union as a State uu-
der such constitution thus fairly and legally
made viii. or without slavery, as said con1tita,
ton may prescribe"
An election was bela throughout Kansas, in
pursuance of the provisions of this act, on the
second day of August last, and it resulted in
:he rejection, by large majority, Of the pro-
/ position submitted to the people by Congress
! This being the case, they now authorized 10
/ form another constitutions, preparatory to ad-
mission into the Union, bui not until their num-
Der, as ascertaiacd by census, shall equal or