Mariposa Democrat., 1858-03-18

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WIN. GODFREY.
THE LEGIsLATURE ON KANSAS.
The principal topic of discussion, in politi-
cal circles throughout the State, since our last
issue, has been the resolutions adopted by the
popular branch of the Legislature, instructing
our Senators, and requesting our Represent
atives in Congress, to vote for the immediate
"admission of Kansas into the Union on an
equal footing with the original States in all re-
spects whatever" These resolutions were
adopted by vote of 40 to IS, after a very
and opponents, all of whom won undying
fame in their oratorcal efforts for and against
their passage. The resolutions were also being
discussed in the Senate on the 18th, but the
final action of that body upon them, has not
yet reached US, and we can therefore only
surmise as to the ultimate disposition of them
in the Legislature. During the discussion in
the Senate the Chamber was densey crowd
ed, and the speakers were listened to with
the most earnest attention.
1t is natural, now that action has been taken
by portion of our Legislature on the Kansas
question, for every Californian to endeavor, by
IL. 4.
able effects upon the interest of our growing
State-lor that it will have marked influence
upon us hereafter, particularly if the Senate
concur with the Assembly, none versed in the
affairs of the country will deny.
The one great want of this State, as ac-
knowledged by all, is a speedy transit by
railroad, over the vast extent of country now
separating US from other States of the Union.
The beginning of this connection with tie
East is anxiously looked for by every inhabt-
ant of California who looks upon this State as
his future home. The bill for the construc-
ton of this great national work. which is to
be of such vast benefit to California, is now
before the Senate of the United States and
is being urged forward with vigor by its author,
Hon VIM. NJ. Gwin, our Senator, ably assisted
by his coadjutors in this, one of the greatest
to the United States the greatest-work Of the
age, with the Administration strongly in its IA
vor and consequently, with all these nfuen-
ces to assist it, the Pacific Riiroad bill may
be said to be in a fair way of being iavorably
passed upon at the present session of Con-
gress.
Taking these facts and this subject alone in
TO consideration not to mention the various
ways by which other great interests of Califor-
MIA might have been affected by the decision
of It's Legislature, or a portion of it, on the
Kansas question, we certainly think that it is
better for this State that the Administration
has been supported in its efforts to hasten the
admission of Kansas into the Union though,
upon principle we cannot but condemn the
step
We arc not blind to, and we will ever res
poet, those nalienablc rights which every
American holds so dear, one Of which we be-
lieve to be, the right of every freeman in our
land to vote directly FOR or against the State
Constitution by which he is to be governed, if
such Constitution is being passed upon while
he is resident of that State. But in Kansas
this has not been done, and the vote Of the
majority, rejecting the Constitution, has been
disregardcd on legal grounds This state of
things in Kansas has been brought about in
fact, by the Convention which framed the Le-
compton Constitution, who, as the represent
atives Of portion Of the people of the Terri-
tory, and in order to carry out certain views
towards another party in the Territory, to
which they were opposed, usurped the power
to dictate to the people Of the whole State,
and so framed the Constitution that, in iegdl
point of view, the administration could pursue
no other course than that followed by them (;
but greater emergencies have been met by
former administrations, and we are of opinion
that the Kansas question might also have been
settled with far greater regard for the princi-
pie Of popular sovereignty. Viewing howev-
or, the speedy admission Of Kansas as a GER
tainty, and that room will thereby be given
for the forwarding Of matters of much more
direct interest to this State, we think conees-
sons Of opinion are called for, and are COM
PEELED to say, that Notwithstanding our oppo-
slion TO the measure on principle, we will con
cede that the action Of the Assembly is proba-
bly, the best for this State, that could have
been had by them on the subject
TnE AREA OF UrAu-It may be matter of
interest to many of our readers to know some
thing of the comparative extent of that Terri
tory Of the United States whose chief officer
il bidding defiance to our Government Ac-