Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-08

the amended Ordinance in so many words for accep-
tancs or rejection? The Dill also goes to provide
for the formation by the people Of Kansas Of another
Constitution, If the "proposion" should b0 rejected
How could this be if the Bill did not contemplate sub
mittne tho Constitution virtually for ratification
rejection!
Mr. EyoLIsH, tho author Of the Conference Bill,
fore -shadowed that Bill in his speech Of 9th March,
on the Senate Bill, when no said, the "poople ought
to raty or at least have far opportunity to vote
upon tho Constitution" His construction Of the Bill
was also indicated beforo tho Conference Committee,
when according to biographical sketch Of him which
appeared about that time, he said, "he had plan in
his mind based however upon the principle of sub
mission of tho question Of admission under he'Ls-
compton Constitution and an amended ordinance to
fair vote of the people of Kansas" And when asked
by Mr.. Marshall on the floor Of the lIouae, "wheth
or ho understands the Bill as the gentleman from
Georgia, mr. SrRPHBys,") who deni.d tho su.mis-
sion, no replied, the gentleman dis competent to
judge what the meaning of the Bill is" Mr.. Cox,
Mr.. GnoEsDEcE and Mr. LAWRENCE of Ohio, Doug
las Democrats, said each the floor Of tho House,
that they regarded it in effect a submisson of the
Constitution and Mr.. LAwRuScI said, "without SO
understanding it," "ho never would baro voted for
it." Con. McQuEES of this State frankly admits that
tho Bill "n cffect, does indirectly refer back to the
people of the Territory, tho question whether they
will como into the Union with the Lccompton Con-
stitution" And, lastly, the result-the proposition
has been rejected by $500 voteS-ssttcs tho construc
ton of tho Bill. 1t is difficult to undOratand how
there could be two opinions.
If the Conference Bill did virtually rs-submit the
Constitution, it is as obnoxious that point as the
Crittenden- Montgomery Amendment. One does in
directly what the other does directly 1t is in both
palpahle violation Of the Kansas Nebraska Act,
which leaves the p:ope Of State, in adopting their
Constitution, "frco to form and regulate their domes
tic institutions in their own way" Convention is
the embodied sovereignty of the people, and-no re-
strction being imposed by the people themselves
speaking their sovereign voice, may or not submit
their Constitution before admission and tho Federal
Government has no right to mako it an Objection to
admission, or to send it back to the poople Of the
State if not submitted. Such unauthorized action
ruthleaay overrdes the legal action Of tho Convention,
and is dangerous attack upon tho sovereignty Of
tho Statcs.
By accepting the Conference Bill, VIC give up tho
only territory North of So SO', which over be
slave territory. It is suppos.d that Kansas would
not have continued slave Stae-cvca admitted under
tho Senate Bill. It does not follow TINT tho people
would h.ve amended the Constitution and have nbol-
ishcd slavery oneo established She stands on the
samo basO limo SO 30, NTH Missouri-und according
to General ATcnIsoS, ono of tho best informed men
Of that country, was we'll adapted to slavery. The
ratio Of increaso among tho slaves Of Missouri during
the first decade of years after admission was 40 per
cent. moro than among the whitos whilst for the ten
ycara preceding tho difference was but IA per cent
Capital invested in slavos is timid easily is it lost
and so uncertain is its fate in Territory. Admit
tod with tho Locompton Constitution, owners with
their slaves would probably havo soon begun the
occupation of the fertile land Of Kansas. With the
example of Missouri before U.S. it may woll be qucs-
toned whothor Kansas would not have continued a
slave State.
But even should sho have become FREQ State the
day aftor her admission thsre was involved I" prin-
cplc of vital Importance" and wo have right to
have had it maintained by admission. 1t is no an
swer to any that tho Statos would not have acted.
Each should havo beon left to speak for itaelf The
pooplo in somo of tho Southern States might possibly
have been found in advance of their leaders.
Tho viow that under the Senate BILL Kansas might
have insisted upon tho unreasonable Ordinance,
occurred to any mind before tho docat Of that bill
L.. Ill. u.
mover questioned that Kansas, did California,
dor somewhat similar circumstance, would abandon
her prcpostcrous clsim It was not questioned by
any one, that if admitted under the Senate Bill, the
Legislature would at onco assemble, and send their
Senators to take their seats-and do not doubt it.
And can it be controrertcd that thoy would then haro
boon in, under tho terms Of tho Senate Bill their Or
dinancc dead lotcr? And who believed then does
now that they would have had the cfrontcry to set
| up claim to more land than we willing to give
them?
The Senate Bill admitted the State at once. Both
the Crittenden- Montgomery Amendment, and Con-
ference Bill purportcd to admit but did not in reality.
The two latter also provide for the admission Of a
Slave State This is claimed as triumph our part.
1t is most barren victory in the of tho Confer
encc Bill and would have been no better in tho
of the Crittcndcn- Montgomery Amendment The
Black Republicans supported that feature ms con-
cession to the Southern Know Nothing and Douglas
Democrats, to detach thcm from tho support of tho
Senate Bill, knowing that if they could get tho Le
compton Constitution again before the Black Repub-
licans in Kansas, it would meet the doom it has re-
ceived under the Conference Bill.
If the Conference Bill be a,bcttcr Bill than the
Senate Bill ought to have supported it, but not
regarded, could not. distinguished member from
Tennessee Col. Savage has said before his constiu-
cnts, that 4" hc had voted for the English Bill az he
had for the Compromise measures of 1850, not that
it was the thing he wanted but that it the bes
that could he dune under tho circumstances" And
SO snid many others Mt the time, who reluctantly vo-
ted for it. The President, although anxious for its
passage when the Senate Bill was Defeated, certainly
did not regard it ~ hcttcr measure.
Time does not allow me to 60 further into the OBJ
ccions to tho Conference Bill. have tho satsfac-
ion Of having been sustained in my views by ono
whom you hnvo long honorcl, and whose memory
youwi ever reverence, and who, when the Palmetto
Flag was planted on the Garitn Of Bcn, stood
shoulder to shoulder in its defence with your MonAG
Ne, your BLOCKER, your GooDE, your CRooKEn and
your LrLEs,-names which have place in osc If
the brightest pictures on tho rolls of fame.
The Leeompton Constitution has boon defeated.
The question presents ITSELF will tho $4,000 pop
ulation restriction DO respcctc? did not support
the measure but will join heartily with those who
,C.l e, ox,,t;no n pon uy;tl,