The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-01-06
BRIGHT ON THE KANSAS CONsTiTU.

TON.
Senator Bright, BY invitation, attended
the Democratic meeting at Philadelphia
on the 18th ult, called to endorse the
course Of the Administration upon the |
Kansas question, at which he made a |
speech Iully committing himself to the |
iniauities OF the policy that has beenpur
sued. The following is the substance of
his speech on the occasion, which should
attract the attention of the Democracy of
the Pocket, that have recently without
dissenting voice, approved the course
OF Senator Douglas:
| Under these principles, the Territory of
| Kansas was organized; and now. after brief
and stormy production, it is asking admis-
sion into the Union us State. The consti-
| tuition hich it presents is Republican in its
form, and is the work of a legally organized
convention OF delegates. elected under au-
thority-ef Jaw. The question is, shall it be
admitted 1t costs me no effort to express
my determination TO stand by the principles
| OF the Kansas ebsaska act, and TO vote tor
it's admission ~ n State, without stopping to
inquire whether slavery be or be not recog-
nized by its constitution.
The principal objection that is now urged
against It's admission is, that the whole con-
slstution WAS not submitted to the people Tor
their ratification. j regret, with the Presi-
dent that this was not done. Looking at the
matter from this distant point, / believe it
woula have been more wise and prudent to
have submitted it; but that question was for
them not US to determine. 1t is not tor Us 70
force ! submission; that would be violation
| nj fbs.p mi. ,nfn m ary
ton of the Kansas act. which guarantees the
right OF regulating all domestic questions to
: the people themselves--that is, through the
representatives, tor it could be done in no
other way.
This is a representative government. not q
Democracy, like tho Republic Of Athens,
I where laws were submitted to vote OF the
I people en- masse We, the people. transact
our public business. make our laws and regu-
l late our Institutions through representatives
Year after year you are called upon to elect
representatives To your State Legislature to
= make laws. These laws effect your lives
e your liberties and your property: Yet. who
is wild enough to advocate the submission Of
. thc<e laws TO direct vote Of the people =
\ Who is 10 clnmsFical % to insist that vote
OF the people is necessary to give them vital
ityl
[ Why. my fellow-citizens, that great Con-
stitu Ion under which we live. and our faith.
: els lived, and have prospered W. never an.
Q ether people have prospereai--that sacred in
strument embodying the pure principles o
Republicanism. ard which will stand forever
: through countless ages. no y model of Amer
lean craftsmanship the Constitution OF th'
: United States never was submitted to di
rect vote of the people. 1t was ratified b,
the votes of the State Legislature Of the diff
terent States.
- And this was the early practice Of our Gov
eminent. Nearly every State in this brigh
" galaxy of States, has como into the Unior
a with Constitutions that were not submitted
20 tie people. Surely, no great wrong esr
n be committed by WALKING in tho Footsteps o
). our Revolutionary fathers by following th'
example they have set US. The State il
n which live came into this Union with
IL constitution not submitted to. the people. S,
OF VARIOUS other States ] could mention.
n state these facts 10 slow that this is no new
I maud; but, if presidents are to guide on
action. the vast bulk of them IL with tho-
Is who favor the admission OF Kansas under tn
o Lecompton Constitution.
o Why should ns,o sest be applied TO he
II unknown 10 the laws and countryi There
A but one test required under the Constitution
OF the United States in reference to The ad
mission Of new States. and that is, that thei
2. constitutions shall be republican in form.
deny the right TO travel outside the require
mcnts of the Constitution TO constitute ne'
tests not recognized by it. desire, az leg
is,ator, to square my action with its require
ments. ...,
: And am tine moro ready TO sustain its ad
9 mission, when l ses, on looking into the tw
g rival Constitutiors-the Lecompton and til
Topeka-tkat, so far rs the fundament,
JIG principles of government arc involved, n
IN former is quite faultless the latter. In
;os deed striking ont the provisions on the sub
'ss ject of slavery. about which unfortunatel
10 there is 40 much contrariety of opinion j
"a our country. would. IA a matter Of indivd
,Ss ual choice lreies'the former to the latter
so5 The ground Of this preference ia not mateTia
and will not, therefore stop here to state j
,Ss II is enough that the Lecom ptoh Constitu
ia ton unlike the other, comes 70 us in an a.
;2s thentic form-in the embodiment Of the put
~ lie will ss expressed through the legal
vi elected Delegates, and is republican in j
10 form. .-gl
lss