American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-06-10

question, are you willing to take these
grants o: land or not? That is the only
question 10 be submitted to the people, but
BY legislation a consequence isto flow from
their action perfectly arbitrary in its ma.
ture. and altogether Illogical in the con.
clusion. II they are willing to take the
land. t is to be inferred that they are will.
linging to take constitution which is
known TO be obnoxious 10 them; and ifthey
reject the grants oflands for any reason
or without any reason, then they are to be
considered as rejecting the Constitution.
Here is side issue, or coleteral conse-
quence, infinitely more important than the
direct question propounded TO the peo.
pie.
Now, sir, why is this? 1t is in effect, I
grant, for l do not wish TO stand on mere
formslities or technicalites, a submission
ofthe Constitution to the people. 1t il a
sort Of feigned issue ont Of Congress. That
issue the people are to try. The world,
looking at that issue. might say: "Well,
what OF this; what do you say about the
Constitution; there is nothing here about
ii? Oh, well, but we will annex, by law
legal consequence, thoughno man would
ever think OF deriving it as a legitimate and
logical consequence, and hat consequence
shall be, if you take the lanl, you take an
other Thing entirely distinct from it-a'cer
tain Constitution. You agree to waive all
your objections to what you regard as its
obnoxious character or obnoxious parts, if
you take the land, or if you reject because
it is not as much as you desire or as much
as you hoped for, then you shall be CON
sidered as rejecting the Constitution, tho
you may. in fact. be satisfied with it. Is
this fair submission Of it to the people?-
You say 10 them. in effect, vote for this
obnoxious Constitution; agree to put this
little yoke on your neeks; and shall be
rewarded for it with lands Without limit
almost
l Sir, is not that Offering temptaion?-
They are 10 have the land if they acct pit
the Constitution; if they do not, they ale
not TO have it. Does it mean to hold out
the idea that; by possibility, this is their
last chance for obtaining that land; and
that having once rejected it in due form oil
law, this form Of law shall be set up against
them as an estoppel-l think The word we
have heard so often is estoppel-against
their ever having any more land? Will
the world ever consider it fair? Will the
people of the United States considerit fair
If the people of Kansas are entitled to vote
upon the Lecolpton Constitution, they
are entitled to it in virtue of their right o!
f self government; they are entitled TO it in
virtue Of that great sovereign popular right
) by virtur OF which every Government that
we represent here stands. We have nc
! right to diminish, no right TO control; nc
. right 10 cucumber it. 1t is their right anC
you have no right to annex penalties Of
conditions to the exerci OF it. Although
have no idea that it is the intention O
Congress to withhold from them, al any
( time hereafter, these lands; yet read th
| bill, and see if that is not the impression
: it may make. At any rate this is grea
\ bonus offered to them for immediate ad
mission. This is calculated to take away
! from the submission the complexion o
e fairness and equality; it is calculated t,
take away from it the face of Justice.
More than that: not only is this reward
e to accompany one vote that they may Civ
r but there is another consequence Thi
measure says to the people Of Kansas: i
o you choose to take this Lecompton Ccnsti
: tuition, with all its imperfections on it
!, head, # you choose to silence all the com
e plants and all the denurciatons which yo
l. have made against it: if you choose to hu
J. initiate yourselves as freemen by confes
g sion of rs much baseness as that would i'm
ir ply, then, no matter what your number
n are we shall AXE no inquiry, but com
il into the Union at once, with all the DOVE
u ry of land which we give our new .ad
is mitted and infant States;you shall come i
a at once TO the great family of sovereig
y States, you shall come into the Senate O
ID the United States at once; you shall com
N into the House Of Representatives; and 70
a shall sit side by side with those great an
III mighty States which achieved the Revolt
ie tion, and achieved the liberties which W
le hsre enjoy-come in and share with us ii
it crown and the seeptre; accept these gran
to with this Constitution, and you shall do
instantly. and we will make no inquiry {
as to your members. Only accept this col
r. stitution, and all these things are your
g. but rejsct it, and you shall not only nj
an come in now as sovereign State, but "
be will inquire into your numbers. and yc
to shall not come in now under any form
n Constitution, nor shall you ever come i
le. under any form Of constitution, until yoI
all population shall amount to that pumbt
D. which is fixed by the general law as Il
ed ratio Of representation throughput u
be country
Here, sir, are the benefits, and here a
mt the penalties that are 10 attend upon h
u vote to be given in Kansas. Is this IA
lat submission? Is il for us guardians, il
a nothing else. Of the political morally
ch the country-to put such temptation
SIS, the way of our people; those who a
ew subject to our laws; and must follow o
ats bidding7 If these are unfair enoumb,
sh- ances upon the right Of suffrage, is it u
its wrong in us to place this great free prin
Ich pie under such trammels and encumb,
ac- ,ances as We are row doing?. So it seo'
in to me in my opinion, those who consid