The Washington union., 1858-03-11

from the beginning, they now denonnee constitution
made by those who conformcd to law - fraud, "a
cheat" and ga swindIe But the ultra of the
party elsewhere have long since said nuch worse
things of the constitution of the United States This
class OF alconents in Kansas organized IN party
having the control of Of the counties They
fused 10 recognise the validity OF the law requiring the
registry be made They opposed its execution both by
Withholding their names in instances and in
Others by driving the officers whose duty it to make
it, from the country with threats take the life Of any
who should attempt it, This particularly the in
Anderson and Franklin counties IT. then these coun-
ties unrepresented in the convention their drda-
ehsssna the work Of their people Another sig
ncan fact 10 bo noticed from the registry and appQTton
ment together with the official report Of the fth January
Is this that the five counesto wit: Leavenwoth Atchi
son, Douglas, Donphan, and Jeterso at that election
cast aggregate vote Of llS which is majority of the
whole vote reported TO have been cast throughout the
tire Territory against the constitution And yet all these
counties registered and represented in the
ton They had 80 of the 90 delegates of which that body
composed Now if it be true that the opponents of
the constitution largely in the majority in those
countless and violent in thcif opposition they
represented to be- why lid they elect to the
convention who would have formed constitution more
TO their likngf These counties alone by the registry
had within four votes of two thirds Of the convention and
could have made just such constitution would have
been most agreeable to their people II they refused to
act at the proper time why do they complain nowi Ii
others conforming To the law, went into the convention
and formed constitution TO suit themselves, it
their fair just and legal right do it These com
law abiding citizens. AS wel might the Wbusancs who
abstaned from the polls threw away their votes the
last presidential election forward and claim
that the present administration is Illegal and should be
set aside because the naugurated Chief Maststt did
receive majority of all the lega, voters OF the United
States or these people to complain OF the result
of their lSehss illegal acts seek remedy it
by any such irregular proceeding the vote taken the
4th Janrary against the constitution after it had been
legally adopted
But the inquiry is made whether the constitution is
acceptable and satisfactory majority the legal
ters OF Kansas This is matter the committee could
ascertain and report upon with certainty without polling
every legal voter in the Territory and il they had gone
there and taken the vote themselves for and against the
constitution, perhaps the majority might have varied
troin side to the other, by death, emigration
change Of opinion before their report could have been
made That course of investigation Is wholly impract-
cable The only proper mode of pursuing the legitimate
inquiry before Congress- in the judgment of the commit
tee is TO ascertain whether the constitution mbodied the
legally and firyexpressed VIII Of those who by their
acts acknowledge themselves to be bona tide citizens and
constituent elements of the society political
nifty to be organized in State within its jurisdiction
Those who by their acts show themselves not to be bona
nde citizens but gula o residents, and self acknowl
edged outlaws by their open hostility to all civil author
ity, should not be considered taken III the The
convention that formed the constitution fairly con
sutcd as could be with the view of allowing every bona
tide citizen in Kansas entitled 10 vote to have free op-
portunity to be heard In its formation This Mr. Stanton
said this Gov Walker said this Judge Douglas said
this also abundantly from the facts and evidence
submitted The only correct test of the will of major
ity of the fa of po the subject their
constitution Is that of the ballot box and such
preston of their will has been there given at the prop
time and place, in conformity TO law. BY this
majority Of them is certainly in favor of it, The ma.
jorty of those going to the polls when the election of
delegates with full and plcnay power took place
largely in favor OF those who made the constitution
and when the direct question the slavery clause
submitted the 2Ist December the like majority was
overwhelmingly in favor of H. On the 4h January In
the election of State officers under the constitution it il
| well known that both parties joined in vigorous con.
test for the organization OF the State unert Upwards of
H. 900 voters participated in that election That vote
shows most clearly that the constitution is not only do
taRe but has hea ucced ly at least iourhftls of the
voters of the Territory though it may not he entirely
satisfactory to all of them.
As to the alleged frauds the ith January for
State officers under the constitution, the committee have
not deemed it pertinent proper for them to enter into
inycstigltio They matters 10 he inquired into
and tried by either tribunals all frauds in other State
elections This House have jurisdiction over
them in any way--no than they have over the
frauds, if any, in the States Of New York Indiana Hi
nois, any other State in elections for state of
tcers Should Kansas be admitted and the OF the
member returned TO this House he contested The
ground of alleged frauds then this House would be the
proper tribunal to decide that question There will be
other legitimate tribunals to decide all others.
Upon review, then, of all these facts and survey
the whole field here presented question of public pol
ICY looking not only to the present and future welfare of
the whole Union, the committee, in conclusion express
their entire agreement with the President in his recon-
mendation of the immediate admission of the State
That large number of the States would look upon her
rejection under all the circumstances with extreme SEN
stveness if not alarm, cannot be denied or doubted
This is natural When they see that State has
presented herself for admission with constitution
formed and adopted with greater regularity and more
strictly in conformity to lawwhen they remember the
irregularities that waived on the admission OF Cali
fona whose constitution formed without any legal
authoritywhcn they the irregularities in the case
of Minnesota applying, which will doubtless be
waived when they feel and know that valid or well
founded objection be made to the constitution of
Kansas either in its substance of adoption
except that it recognises slavery long the sovereign
State may choose to allow it when they know that the
fat has gone forth by that party which mainly urges these
unusual objections that State whose constitution re-
cognises slavery shall hereafter be admitted into
the Union and that the rejection Of Kansas would in
crease and nfame that actous sectional aud unconsti
tutiona spirit il not natural that they should come to
the conclusion that the real secret of its rejection is this
bare recognition of institution which forms the basis
OF their civil society lis it natural that this act
would strongly tend to produce distrust towards the
government by awakening a conviction that
determination il fixed by the majority never to allow
another member of the federal family to the Union
with institutions similar to theirs VIII not her reec-
ton tend weaken the bonds which hold the States to-
getherl These grave questions involving in their
solution the destinics of the future The committee
barely allude to them they suggestive enough of
themselvcs without comment enlargement But
the committee urge their calm and dispassonate con
sderation especially as it is believed by them the
peace quiet welfare. and prosperity of Kansas her