The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-04

nto euuy butO tuc CoP1Sas VI hhusA0 emiu
the murmun Of the people.
II To the question between the Lecomp
ton consultation and the people Of Kansas
We apply tbe test OF principle, VIC end that
the enforcement Of that constitution will be
an oct Of power against right ofthe army
against the people; Of force against rea.
son; OF usurpstion against the rightiul
will Of majority. Il win be q viola
ton Of the fundamental principle Of free
government, which Is government by con
sent II is directly at war with demo
cracy, whose cardinal point i the power Of
the people. The supporters Of the Lecomp.
ton constitution have not one square inch OF
democratic ground TO stand upon. A con
stitution for its validity needs the concur
renee Of the majority Of the people, either
silently by general acquiescence or by an
appeal to the polls Shall full and undoubt-
cd evidence be required for deed Of foot
Of land or gift by will Of shilling shall
merchant or banker have power to stop
payment Of check fraudulently held-and
shall the people have no power 10 stop their
servants from sequestering their rights p
Shall the most insignificant treaty Of a
Minister Plenipotentiary want validity till
il Is ratifed--and shall the highest treaty of
the people with themselves be made in cor
ner by their servants without their assent
Is form everything, and substance nothing
Is appearance everything, and truth and
right and reality nothing!
There is not precedent for enforcing a
constitution against tho consent OF the peo-
pie. The principle Of popular ratification
il sanctioned in the Minnesota act.
The President 10 his annual message en-
phatically declares that the example Of sub
hitting q constitution to the people is foued-
cd on correct principle; so that his instruc-
tiOns TO Governor Walker on that subject
were properly expressed in unqualified terms.
Again: Congress has power TO admit
States, but no power whatever TO make
constitution for State still less to impose
on State constitution which the majority
Of its people loathc and reject. The tenden-
cy to GENERALIZATION Of power in the general
government il rapid and dangerous. We
protest against its further increase and
against its present excess. The true ba
six of political organization between all
parts OF the Union was, from its beginning,
the rights Of the States, and that basis Of
lers for the future, IA II has for the past. the
most perfect guarantee for security and
! union.
/ Redress must come from the people OF the
United States. They in their strength must
remedy the existing evil, by II distinct ex-
preston Of their will. The movement is
fraught with dangers, which the adoption Of
the Iecompton constitution would only az.
gravate.
A departure from the principles on which
d government rests is an evidence Of lts de-
cay. The violation of the principle of pop
ular sovereignty wastes the liie-blood Of the
republic.
Again in popular government, where
the rulers are but servants, anarchy steps in
when principle is forgotten and cxpediency Il
made tho guide.
Again the concentration Of power in Tho
hands Of convention like that of Lecomp
ton il not an American idea. II is Dor
rowed from those republics of Europe which
were not capable of existing long, for the very
reason that power was 81 concentrated. II
is derived from the worst examples Of thu
worst periods Of revolutionary France, wher
minoritics usurped power over nation by
terror and reckless daring lf the rule o
the minority convention is now formally
sanctioned by Congress, it will be mos
dangerous precedent; an instrument o
wrath, treasured up for Il day oil wrath. w
appeal against this system TO the whol'
democracy of the country; we appeal to al
pcople who love order and Justice, and free
dom. This city for its numbers, Is TIN
wealthiest in the world call on the mel
Of wealth in this great city TO take To hear
the danger of establishing as IA principle
that majority OF single body, elected Il
convention perhaps in times OF high cx
citcment. filed, IA will sometimes happen
with men desperately daring and corrupt
animated, IA men under such circumstance
are ap, to be, by personal and party pas
sions, should assume the absolute right 4
change the fundamental law Of the countr,
without reierenoe to the people. IL the,
arr not alarmed on account of their owl
fortunes, | ask them % consider what dispo
sitlon. under such AT absolute convention
might be made Of corporate proprty-wha
changes in the management Of trust fund
set apart for purposes OF charity, or eiuca
ton, or the support OF religious worship
Especially, speaking in sober earnestness t
rejecting men, remind the Catholics q
wha, might happen, calling 10 their recollec
ton the grievance TO which they were expo
scd in All eastern State. aud from which the
only escaped by the reference OF the const
tuition to the people. We call on our uatr
rallied citizens TO reflect on their dange
from the principle involved in accepting tn
decision Of convention rs final and wi,hou
appeal.
Our country is subject 10 periodical ex
citcmcnts on the franchise OF naturaliz'd eli
liens and il may happen that eonveu,ic
p,sseSscd of this absolute pawer may see
10 perptuste themselves and their party j
office 10y one sweeping Acknowledgement 4
the fpreisn born, We call on the poor an
on the laboring men 10 come up 10 the re:
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