The Nevada Democrat., 1858-01-13
A Precedent for the Kansas Case.
From the Chicago Times.

We are indebted to the Boston Post for ci-
ting q case directly in point with the Kansas
case.
In August, 1s46, Congress passed an act to
enable the people of Wisconsin to form Con-
stitution and State Government, with q view to
admission into the Union. On the 10th of De-
cember in that year, State Convention adop-
ted State Constitution, and forwarded the
document to Congress, asking for admission as
State. This Constitution tcds not Submitted to
the people, and though the Slavery question was
not mooted at all, there were other domestic
institutions" which the people desired to form
for themselves.
The Territory was divided in opinion the
Convention sought to block the business upon
certain local matters, just as the Kansas Con-
vention has done with respect to banks and
railroads, capital of the State. &c
Congress refused to force that Constitution
on the people, but by an act entitled IAN act
for the admission of the State of Wisconsin in
to the Union," approved March 3, IS47, by Mr.,
Polk, sent the Constitution back for popular ratca-
tion.
We give the preamble and first and fourth
sections of the act:
"Whereas, The people of the Territory of Wis
consin did, on the 10Th day of December, 1916,
by Convention of Delegates, called and as
scmbled for that purpose, form for themselves
o Constitution and State Government which
said Constitution is Republican and said Con
vention having asked the admission of said
Territory into the Union as State, on an equal
footing with the original States,
BE tt enacted, &C., That the State of Wisconsin
be, and the same is hereby, declared to be, one
Of the United States of America and is hereby
admitted into the Union on an equal footing
with the original States, in all respects what
ever.
SEC A. And be IL further enacted, That it is
made aud declared to be a fundamental condi-
ton of the admission of the said State of Wis
consin into the Union, that the Constitution
adopted at Madison, on the 10th day of Decem-
ber, in the year lS4G, shall be asssnted to by
the qualified electors in the manner and at the
times prescribed 10 the 9th section of the goth
article of said Constitution. And as soon as
such assent shall be given, the President of the
United States shall announce the same by proc
lamatiou; and therefsom and without any fur
ther proceedings on the part of Congress, the
admission of said State of Wisconsin into the
Union on an equal footing in all respects what
ever with the original States, shall be consid-
cred complete"
At the election upon the ratification of this
Constitution, the people turned out and rejected
the instrument. Here was recognition by Con-
gress of the right of the people to vote for or
against their constitution; it was a direct refu-
sal by Congress to force upon the people Con-
stituticn which they had not had an opportunity
of passing upon by vote at the polls. The
question of Slavery WAS not involved in this
Wisconsin case. But Congress thought that no
form of State government ought to be imposed
upon the people without their express consent.
Another Convention was held in Wisconsin
another Constitution adopted in February, lS4S;
the people voted upon and ratified it, and by
act approved May 20, lS4S, Wisconsin was ad-
mitted into the Union.
Here is case directly in point with the Kan
sas case. Wehope Congress will act as prompt
ly and as vigorously with the latter as it did
with our neighboring State The people of
Kansas are us free. and are as capable Of self.
government, and as much entitled 10 it, as the
good people of Wisconsin Let them have it.
The votes and debates OH the Wisconsin act are
peculiarly interesting, aud tomorrow we will
give some OF them.