American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-03-11

mission, should think proper 10 recognise
them. ] can perceive no objection to auch
course"
The President can perceive no objection
to Cougrefs inserting provision in the
act admitting Kansas into the Union.
which Abroga,es aud annuls an imperative
provision OF .he Constitution. and declares
the right Of the Legislature already elec~
led le, take The ihilistory steps - change it
by majority vote, ia the lace of the pro.
vision in The Constitution that such steps
shall not be taken until 'two- thirds of the
members of each House" concur, and not
even in that case until after the year 4 86l.
What right has Congress to intervene and
annul. alter or even construe the provisions
of State Constitution, and license the
members OF the Legislature to disregard
their sworn obligations to support the
CsAsiitn.iaA-nnd which they hold their
officers? Where does Congress obtain its
authority to tall members Of state
Aegislalure.that lhsy are under no obliga.
tions TO respect and obey the Constitution
with which such State was admitted into
the Union. and that they may proceed 10
alseF.0FHAbfoga IN a mode and at a
time dlifrreet from thatauthorizsd and per-
i.ittedlin the instrument?.s II. the LIE.
compton, Constitution bss the acI and deed
Of The people ofKansas. and il il be accep-
ted by Congresses as such, and the S:ate be
I'd nilted into the UGioh under il, i hold
that Lbers is no lawful mole on earth to
changeloE amendit: except the one rrovi-
ded and authorized in the Constitutions
itself. Iagree that "tho will of the. ma.
jority is supreme and irresis,i le when ex.
pressed ina orderly and lawful manner. I"
Bdto the question is, wheu Constitution
has once become the supreme law of the
Stats, what ''lewfui manner is there oi
chspgipg it, except the one provided and
permitted by the, Constitution? l agree
with the President, also, that che people
can make and unmgke Constitutions at
pleasure" Buthow? In what manner
is this to be done? There ars two modes
the one lawful and the other revolution
sry. When Constitution has. once be.
come the fundamental law OF a State, there
is no 'ilwful manner"--theTe can be no
lawful manner" Of altering, changing or
abrogating il, except in pursuance OF its
provisions. tis true that the right of
revolution remains that great iualienable
right to which our fathers resorted when
Submission was intolerable, and a, resist
ance less evil llian subMissIon. Hence
iftle Lecomplon Constitution be accepted
by Congress and the State admitted under
it, while there will be no "lawful manner'
Of amending or abrogaang it until after
tie year 1854, and then only by the
concurrence Of two.tbirds Of each branch
Of tlis Legislature, in the 6rst instances,
followed By a majority vote ofali the cit
izsns Of the State, and tho concurrence OF
the two Houses Of the next Legislature.
all prior to the election Of delegates. and
The assembling Of a Oonyentio1-yet the
revolutionary right will remain to the
people Of Kansa., 10 be resorted to or not
according as they determine for tbsmsel7>
es that il is a less evil to resist than TO sub.
nit TO a Consultation which was never
their aSt and deed, and never did embody
their Will IL may be true that under this
terrible right Of revolution, ''ifa majority
Of the people desire TO abolish domestic
Slavery within the State, there is no other
possible mode by which this can be effect
cd SO speedily as BY promp. admission"
but { this "mode" be resorted 10 under
the impression that il will abolish, Sla +,
very in Ksnsas more Speedily" than
any other possible, it must be understood
to mean revolution il successful, and re.
bellion in case Of failure. But suppose
the line OF policy indicated oy the Presi,
dent should be pursued that Kansas be
admitted under the Lecompton Consiitu.
tion--that Congress in the act of admiss.
ion recognize the rightof 'the Legislature
already elected, at its very first session. to
submit the question to a vote Of the people
whether they will or viii not h We Con.
venlion 10 amend tEeir Constitution, ind
afopt all necessary measures TO give effect
70 The popnl,r will;" suppose all this to
have been done, Of what relief Wilt be
to The people Of Kansas, unless Mr.. Cal
houn sbonld set aside the fraudulent returns
from Delaware Crossing. or 90 behind the
returns and reject the fraudulent votes at
Kiekapoo, or Shawnee, or Oxford, CT 9TH
or precincts, in order to insure majority
in both branches Of the Legislature op.
posed to the Lecompton Constitution, aud
in favor Of an immediate change? Unless
tho President is prepared to inform us that
this is to be done. il is worse than mock
cry to talk about the right OF the Legisla-
ture, its very first session." to submit
tue question 10 the people. and to insert
clause 10 the act Of admission declaratory
OF right. which can leexercised only in
violation OF the Constitution and by reyo.
luton; and especially II it is understood
that, by forged returns and fraudulent
votes. tnajority Of members are to be de-
careI elec tod in both branches Of the Leg.
islature, who are determined to mantain
the LOcompton Constitution and resist any
and all efforts TO change il? by the express
command Of the Constitution the returns
OF that election were to ba made to the
President of the Convention "wilhin eight
days" after the election. On the ninth
day after the election, To wit, on the 18Th,
day january, the'retuins were opened and
counted ,by'Mr. Calhoun. as appears by
the proclamation Of the presiding officers
OF the two houses Of the Legislature, who
were present by invitation Of Mr.. Calhoun
to witness tie opening and counting Of the
votes" More than month has elapsed
since the returns were opened AMI votes
couuted and Mr. Calhoun aha;cU In th;a