The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-03-19

va ~ hUouh 70 puuhnh Nh uto N"H ~ 1
sponsibility, not having obtained consent
to pr, sent IL In the House, sets out BY
saying that the subject matter to which
attention should be directed was:
First--The law for taking the census
Of the people.
Second--The law calling the Convention
Third-The registry Of the voters and
apporliontment under H.
Fourth-Tho assembling Of the Con
yention aud its journal.
Fifth--The Constitution so made.
Sixth.--The official vote on the ratin-
cation Of tho subject submitted.
Seventh The Committee do not deem
material the act Of December last, pro-
viding for vote for or against the slave
ry clause on the 4lh Of January.
Eighlh--The official announcement Of
chat State, and
Ninth-The written statement Of Gen.
Calhoun in relation to the registry Of
votes, &C., (hut which sheds no light on
the subject.
The report snvs that these facts show
sreat regularity aud strict conformity to
tho law, and that no State heretofore ap
plying for admission has shown a cleaner
record.
No objection to the admission Of Kan.
sas arises on the usual inquiries: Firstly,
as to the application secondly, as to the
regularity OF the proceedings; and third
ly, whether the Constitution is republi
can IN form.
The report then answers the objections
going very fully into a reply to Governor
Walkers argument founded on his as
sumption that the validity Of every State
Constitution depends upon its having re-
ceiyed the sanction Of a popular yote.-
This assumption is denied as not being
sustained by principle or authority
Sovereignty, Gov. Walker says, is inal
ienable, and vests exclusively in tho peo-
plo. This is granted, but the report says
II does not follow that sovereign power
cannot be delegate ;. The formation OF
Constitution requires the exercis5 Of
sovereign power, but so does the com
monesL legislation, If the one can be
delegated, so eau the other All the con
stitutions Of the old States were made by
conventions, without ratification, except
Massachusetts. The Constitution Of the
United States was ratified by the State
Conventions and never by the popular
vote. The amendments to il are TO be
conourred in by thJ State Legislatures,
and not by the popular vote, to give them
validity. If Governor Walkers doctrine
is correct, we should be without State
Constitutions or laws in half Of the States
Of the Union. The objection that an
enabling act is necessary, is also answered.
and shown to be untenable, both in prin-
ople and authority. The question rela-
tive to the registry and appointment is
very fully treated. The charge that
nineteen counties were disfranchised is
answered, There are but thirty-four Or
ganized counties in Kansas. Twenty .ons
Of them were represented. Nine of the
thirteen unrepresented counties have very
liltle population. In seven of them not
a vote was cast at the primary elections
against the Constitution. In two, others
- snO uIuo iOoo .uau Vue hundred votes
were thrown: and in the four remaining,
namely; Franklin, Anderson, Coffee aud
Breckinrdge there were but eleven and
35. In these 4 counties the officers were
prevented from making a register.
The report also shows, from the regis.
try and apportionment, together with tile
official returns, that at the 4th Of January
election, the five counties Of Leavenworth,
At0hison, Doniphan. and Jefferson, cast
5, 10 votes, which is a majority Of the
whole vote cast throughout the Territory
against the Constitution. Aud yet all
these counties were registered and repre-
senled in the Convention, having 36 of
the 60 delegates of which the Convention
was composed. II it be true that the
opponents Of the Constitution were SO
largely in the majority in those counties,
and so violent in their opposition, why
did they not elect men to form Con-
stituuou more to their liking2
They had within four votes Of two
thirds Of the Convention. Why did they
fail to act at the proper time? Their re-
fusAl, therefore, did not inyalidate the
just fair, and legal action of the Couven.
ton, The resolution under which the
Committee was appointed, directed them
to inquire whether the Lecompton Con.
stitaIion is acceptable and satisfactory to
the people. The reply to this is, that the
only correct test is the ballot-box, aud
such an expression Of the popular will as
is there given, at the proper time and
place, according to law, BY this test the
Constitution WIS adopted by an over
swhelping majority Of those who joined
ia sslesl9n, -@phesel y can be con.
sidersd as Inc bona ,fcie citizens Of Kan
rsas. Others wbo abstailed are bona ySds
residents, who went to Kansas for mis-
chief and strife. They ara self.aoknowl-
edged outlaws, and are not to be oonsi.
dereT constituent elements Of the commu.
nifty or society against which thoy arc in
open rebellion. But on the 4th Of Jan.
a; the election Of State officers under the
Constitution, they did go to the polls.
and thus showN conclusively that four
6iths Of the voters Of that territory were
willing to vote for State officers under the
Constitution. This shows that the Con-
sdtution was not only acceptable. but that
it had been accepted by at least four-6iths
Of the voters OF the Territory, though not
,nttroi,s eot;cT,ot,.v- A., al &C fInr,