The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-12-15
ority. Thus the Kansas question would have
been Immediately and finally settled.


to Congress the constitution thus framed,
with all the officers already elected necessa-
~ to put the State government into opera
ton, accompanied by strong recommends
ton in favor ofsthe admission of Kansas as
a State. In the course of my long public
life | have never performed any official act
which, in the retrospect, has afforded me
more heartfelt satisfaction. Its admission
could have inflicted no possible injury on any
human being, whilst it would, within brief
period, have restored peace to Kansas and
harmony to the Union. In that event, the
slavery question would ere this have been
finally settled, according to the legally-ex-
pressed will Of majority Of the voters, and
popular sovereignty would thus have been
vindcated in constitutional manner.
With my deep convictions Of duty, Icould
have pursued no other course. II is true,
that, as an individual, had expressed an
opinion, both before and during the session
of the convention, in favor of submitting the
remaining clauses of the constitution, as well
as that concerning slavery, to the people.
But, acting in an official character, neither
myself nor any human authority had the pow
er to rejudge the proceedings Of the conven-
tion, aud declare the constitution which it
had framed to be nulity. Tohaye done this
would have been violation Of the Kansas
and Nebraska act, which left the people OF
the Territory perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way, subject only to the constltu-
tion of the United States" 1t would equal
| ly have violated the great principle of popu-
lar sovereignty, at the foundation of our in
stitutions, TO deprive The people Of the power.
| if they thought proper to exercise it, Of con-
fiding to delegates elected by themselves the
trust Of framing a constitution, without re-
quiring them to subject their constituents to
the trouble, expense, and delay Of second
election. 1t would have been in opposition
to many precedents in our history, commenc-
| ing in the very best age of the republic, OF
1 the admission Of Territories as States into the
Union, without previous vote Of the people
approving the constitution.
Ii is to be lamented that question so in
significant when viewed in its practical ef-
fects on the people of Kansas, whether decid-
ed one way or the other, should have kindled
such flame of excitement throughout the
country. This reflection may prove to be a
lesson of wisdom and Of warning for our fu.
ture guidance. Practically considered, the
question is simply whether the people of that
Territory should first come into the Union
snd then change any provision in their con-
stitution not agreeable 10 themselves, OF ac-
complish the very same object by remaining
cut of the Union and framing another consti-
tuition in accordance with their will? In
either case, the result would be precisely the
same. The only difference in point OF fact
is. that the object would have been much
sooner attained. and the pacifcation Of Kan
sas more speedily effected, had it been ad-
mitted as State during the last session oi
Congress.
Nv recommendation, however, for the i'm.
mediate admission Of Kansas, failed to meet
the appreciation Of Congress. They deemed
it wiser TO adopt different measure for the
settlement OF the question. For my own
part, should have been willing TO yield NV
assent to almost any constitutional measure
TO accomplish this object. !. therefore. cor.
daily acquiesced in what mas been called the
English Compromise, and approved the " Act
the Union" upon the terms therein prescrib.
ed.
Under the ordinance which accompanied
the Lecompton constitution, the people o.
Kansas had claimed double the quantity Of
public lands for the support Of common
schools, which had ever been previously
granted to any State upon entering the Tn
ION and also the alternate sections Of land
for twelve miles on each side Of two rail-
roads, proposed 10 be constructed. from the
northern to the southern boundary, and from
the eastern TO the western boundary, Of the
State. Congress, deeming these claims IN.
reasonable, provided, by the act Of MAY 4.
1858. TO which have Just referred, for the
admission Of the State on an equal footing
with the original States, but "npon the fun
damental condition precedent" that a MAORI.
" Of the people thereof, at an election 10 be
held for that purpose, should, in place Of the
very large grants of public lands which they
had demanded under the ordinance, accept
such grants as had been made 10 Minnesota
and other new States. Under this act,
should majority reject the proposition Of.
fered them, IL shall be deemed aud held that
the people Of Kansas do not desire admission
into the Union with said constitution under
the conditions set forth in said proposition"
In the event, the act authorizes the people
Of the Territory to elect delegates TO form a
constitution and State government tor them
selves. whenever. and not before, il is as
certained by a census. duly and legally IA.
ken, that the population Of said Territory
equals or exceeds the ratio Of representation
required ior member Of the House Of Re-
Ipresentatiyes Of the Congress ci the United
states" The delegates thus assembled
{" shall first determine by a vote whether il
I il the wish Of the people Of the proposed
State TO be admitted into the Union at that
time. and. il 50. shall proceed to form con-
stitutiUn, and take all necessary steps for
I the establishment Of State government in
conformity with the federal constitution
4 After this constitution shall have been formed,
Congress, CARRYING out the principles Of popu-
lar sovereignty and nOninteryention. have
left " the mode and manner Of its approval Or
ratification by the people Of the proposed