True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-24
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1853

know that il has been assumed in debate
here by the gentleman from Mississippi,
[ Mr.. LAMAR, and that the message Of the
President proceeds upon the same as
that the Lecompton Convention
was a legally.constiuted body, and that
the legal presumption is, that what they
have done has been lawfully done, and is
the will and act Of the people Of Kansas,
whose agents they were.
Sir nothing can be clearer than that the
Lecompton Convention was not legally
constituted body; that the Legislature
which enacted the statute by which the
members of said Convention were elected,
was itself an illegal body, (rsudlentIy
chosen; and that their statute was not so
executed, even if it had been valid, as to
give legal effect 10 the election held un-
der it.
But, admitting the assumption of the
Presiden. and his especial advocates on
this floor to be true, that the Lecompton
Convention was a lawfully. constituted
body, the legal presumption that their act
is the act OF the people of Kansas cannot
stand before the admitted and KNOWN
FACT, that very large majority of the
people Of Kansas wholly repudiate the
Convention. and the Constitution pr esen-
ted by it, and are to-day ready to take up
arms in resistance Of it, and Of any Gov
ernment which may be established under
it.
There is, there can be, no presumption
either legal or natural, contrary to known
and admitted facts. say, therefore,
admitting the President to be right in
assuming the legality of the Lecompton
Convention, his asserted legal presump.
ton against known facts cannot be gravely
entertained, and must be secuted by evey
well, informed man as the veriesl quibble
in aid Of the most desperate cause
Despite this quibble and the force Of ,hi'
legal presumption. it must be conceded
it cannot be gainsayed, that the delegate
who formed the Lecompton Constitution
were not chosen by the majority, but, or
the contrary, by very small minority o.
the people of Kansas; and that it is as
well known as The fact that this Consti'
tuition was made by the delegates thus
chosen, that it has been, and is now, EN-
phatically repudiated and condemned by
an overwhelming majority of the people
of Kansas. And yet. in the face of this
fact, patent to all men, the President ant
his party on this floor, demand that Con
gress shall fasteu this repudiated instrl
ment upon the people of Kansas as thei
legitimate act, and thereby coerce them t.
acquiesce in it and acceptit as the ex
preston of their will. You call ,hi,
popular sovereignty; | call it Federal
usurpaion and Federal despolism and
before give this proposed act of Fedora
tyranny my voluntary sanction either by
word or vote, may my right hand forge
its cunning, and my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth.
But, sir, it is asserted by the Presiden
that "tLe question has been fairly ant
explicitly referred (by the schedule o
this lnstrumenD to the people, whethe
they will have Constitution with o
without Slavery" With all due defer
ence, | submit that the very contrary o
this is the truth, and so clearly expressed
on the face of the Constitution as 10 81
lence all controversy. The seventh sec
tioh of the schedule contains The provision
for the submission. of the question o
Slavery. and the only provision it is a
follows:
| III. SEC. 7. That this Constitution shall b.
submitted to the Congress of the United State
at its next ensuing session, and as soon a
official information has been received that
is approved by the same, by the admission c
the State of Kansas as one Of the sovereig
States Of the United States, the President {
this Convention shall iss ,e his proclamatio
to convene the State Legislature at the seat {
Government within thirty one days after pub
lication. Should any vacancy occur, by deaf
resignation, or otherwise, in the Legislator
or other Office, he shall order an election t
fill such vacancy: provided, however" i
case of refusal, absence, or disability of th
President of this Convention to discharge tn
duties herein imposed on him, the Pfesiden
''pro tempore" of this Convention shall per
form said duties and in case of absence, rt
fusal, or disability of the President "pro TEN
pore." acommitte. consisting of seven, or
majority of them, shall discharge the dutie
required of the President of this Convention
fill Before this Constitution shall be ser
to Congress for admission into the Union g
a State, it shall be submitted to all the whit
male inhabitants of this Territory, for apprC
val or disapproval, as follows The Pres
dent of this Convention shall, by proclamt
ton, declare that on the 2lst day of Decembe
I 1857, at the different election precincts no
established by law, or which may be estat
lished as herein provided, in the Territory
Kansas, an election shall be held, over whicl
, shall preside three Judges, or majority
them, to be appointed as follows: The Pres
ident of this Convention shall appoint thrt
commissioners in each county in the Teri
{ tory, whose duty it shall be to appoint thr,
Judges of election in the several precincts
their respective counties, "and to establii
precincts for voting, and to cause polls to
! opened at such places as they may deem pro
3 er in their respective counties !" at viii,
election the Constitution formed by this Go
yention shall be submitted to all the viii
: male inhabitants of the Territory of Kans
Q in the said Territory upon that day, and ov
. the age of twenty one years, for ratification
rejection, in the following manner and form
The voting shall be by ballot. The judg
: of said election shall cause to be kept II
! ! pOll-boOks by two clerks by them appointe