Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-12-15

performed any official act which, in the retro
spect has afforded me more heartfelt satisfac-
ton Its admission could have inflicted no
possible injury on any human being, whilstit
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 expressed will of a majority of the
voters and popular sovereignty would thus
( have been viudicated III a constitution man
/ ner. -1 .ars.
! With my deep convictions of duty, | cod
| have pursued no other course. 1t is true,
: that, as an individual, had expressed an
| opinion, both. before and during the session
I of the convention; in favor of submitting the
remaining clauses of the constitution as we'll
as that concerning slavery, to the people
But, acting in an official character, neither
myself or any human authority had the pow
er to rejudge the proceedings Of the couven-
ton. and declare the constitution which it
had framed to be nu.lty To have doue
this would have been violation of the Kan
sas and Nebraska act, which left the people
IF the Territory ''pertectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way, subject only to the constitution of
the United States" 1t would equally have
violated the great principle of popular SOW
tions, to deprive the people of the power, if
they thought proper to exercise it, of conf
ding to delegates elected by themselves the
trust of framing a constitution, without re-
curing them to subject their constituents to
the trouble, expense and delay of second
election. 1t would have been in opposition
TO many prcce1ents in our history, commen-
cling in the very best age of the republic, Of
the admission of Territories as States into the
Union, without a previous vote OF the people
approving their constitution
1t is to be lamented that question so in-
significant when viewed in its practical effects
OF the people of Kansas, whether decided
one way or the other, should have kindled
such fame of excitement throughout the
country. This reflection may prove to be a
lesson of wisdom aud 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
aud then change any provision in their con-
stitution not agreeable to themselves, or ac-
complish the very same object by remaining
: out of the Union and framing another con-
: sttutiou in accordance with their will ? Ia
either case, the result would be precisely the
same, The only difference in point of fact
Y IS. that the object would have been much
> sooner attained, and the pacifcation OF Kan
n sas more speedily effected. hap it been much
= soonsr attained and the pacifcation Of Kan,
: sas more speedily effected, had it been admit,
: ted as 4 State during the last session of Con
e gress.
/ My recommendation, however, for the
e immediate admission of Kansas, failed tC
J meet the appreciation Of Congress. They
: deemed it wiser to adopt different measure
for the settlement of the question. For my
J own part, | should have been willing to yielC
4 my assent to almost any constitutional meas
4 ure to accomplish the object. |, therefore
l. cordially acquiesced in what has been called
0 the English Compromise, and approved tn
e Act for the admission of the State of Kan
'e sas into the Urion," upon the terms thereiI
al prescribed.
e Under the ordinance which accompanie
J the Lecompton Constitution, the people c
7 Kansas had claimed double the quantity c
ie public lands for the support of the commo
schools, which had ever previously granite
y to auy State upon entering into the Union
CT and also the alternate sections of land fc
twelve miles on each side of two railroad
OF proposed to be constructed from the uorthcr
OF to the southern boundary, and from the cas-
a tern to the western boundary Of the s ate
Congress, deeming these claims uureasonabl
o. provided by the Act of May 4, 1858, I
a which [ have just referred for the admissio
or Of the State on equal footing with the orig
a nal States, but upon the fundamental cor
n. dition precedent" that majority of the pei
as ple thereof, at an election to be held for til;
'r- purpose, should, in place Of the very lag
he Grants of public lands which they had demar
e ded under the ordinance, accept such gran
or as had been made to Minnesota, and otht
.e, new States Under this act, should ma jo
&c, ity reject the proposition offered them, g
O. shall be deemed and held that the people
Kansas do not desire admission into the Ur
all ion with said Constitution under the cond
en- tons set forth in said proposition" In tn;
n. event, the act authorizes the people Of tn
a territory to elect delegates to form const
n tutien and State government for themselve
tie s.whenever, and not before. it is ascertaine
n by a census, duly and legally taken, that tt
Is popula N of said territory equals or exceed
ny the ratio of representatives required for
he member of the House of Representatives
TO the Congress of the United States" II
to deleoates thus assembled ''shall first dete
la mine bv vote whether it is the wish of Il
er people of the proposed State to ba admittt
m into the Union at that time, and, II so, shi
Ter proceed to form q constitution, and take {
ire necessary steps for the establishment of
it state government in conformity with the fe
lie. eral constitution After this constitute
IN shall have been formed, Congress, carryiI
ou out the principles of popu lar sovereignty al
we non intervention, have left the 'mode al
dy manner of its approval or ratification by t
he people of the proposed State, to be prescrib
di- by law" aud they "shall then be admit
into the Union as State, under such co
to stitution thus fairly and legally made. wi
ith OF without slavery, as said constitution IN
the prescribe"
pa An election was held throughout Kans
of in pursuance Of the provisions Of this act,
bo l..