Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-11

by virtue of the Constitution of the United
States. Kansas is therefore at this moment as
much slave State as Georgia or South Caro-
lima. Without this, the equality of the soy.
ereign State composes this Union will be viola
ted, and the use and enjoyment of a Territory
acquired by the common treasure of all the
States, would be closed against the people and
property of nearly half the members of the
Coniederacy. Slavery can therefore never be
PROMPTED IN Kansas, except through the means
OF Constitutional provision, and in no other
manner can this be obtained so promptly, if
the majority Of the people desire it, as by ad-
hitting her into the Union under the present
Constitution.
On the other hand, should Congress reject the
Constitution, under the idea of alfording the
dlsaitected in Kansas third opportunity to
prohibit slavery in the State, which they might
have done twice before if in the majority, no
man can ioretell the consequence.
If Congress, for the sake of those men who
refused to vote for Delegates to the Convention,
when they might have excluded slavery from
the Constitution, and afterwards refused to vote
on the list of December, when they might, as
they claim, have stricken slavery from the Con-
stltutlon, should now reject the State because
slavery remains in the Constitution, it is man
Hest that the agitation upon this subject will be
renewed IN more alarming form than it has
ever before assumed.
| Every patriot in the country had INDUCED
the hope that the Kansas Nebraska act would
haveput IA final end to the slavery agitation in
Congress, which had for more than twenty years
convulsed the country and endangered the
, Union. This act involved great and fundamen-
tai principles, and if fairly carried into effect
will settle the question. Should agitation
again be renewed, should people of sister States
be again estringed from the other with more
than former bitterness, this will arise from Il
cause, 50 far sshe interests of Kansas are con-
cerned, mese tFRitqg and1 insignificant than has
ever stirred the clements of a great people into
commotion.
10 the people of Kansas, the only practical
difference between admission or rejection de-
Ponds simply upon the fact whether they can
themselves more speedily change their present
constitution, if it does not accord with the will
OF the majority Or frame a second constitu-
ton, to be submitted to Congress hereafter.
Even IT this were a question of mere expedien-
cy, and not Of right, a small difference of time
one way or the other is not of the least impor-
lance when contrasted with the evils which
must necessarily result to the whole country
from the revival of the slavery agitation.
In considering the question, it should never
be forgotten that in proportion to its insig-
nlicance, let the decision be what it may, So
far as it may effect a few thousand inhabitants
Of Kansas, who have from the beginning resist
nd thn t1t,n H. l., Al
reason, rejection of the Constitution will bt
SO much the more kccnly felt by the people Of
fourteen States of the Union, where slavery is
recognized under the Constitution Of the United
States
Again, the speedy admission of Kansas into
the Union will restore peace and quiet to the
whole country. Already the affairs of the
Territory have engrossed an undue proportion
OF the public attention, and have sadly affected
the friendly relations of the people of the Statei
with each other, and alarmed the fears of pat
riots for the safety of the Union
Kansas once admitted, the excitement be-
comes localized, and would soon die away fol
want of outside aliment, and then every diff
ficulty could be settled by the ballot-box. Be
sides, and no trifmg consideration, | shall ther
be enabled to withdraw the troops from Kansas
and employ them in service where they ar,
much needed. They have been kept there OF
the earnest opportunities of Gov. Walker tx
maintain the existence of the territorial gov
ernment and secure the execution of the laws
lie considered st least 5000 regular troops
under the comma nd of Gen. Harvey, necessar,
Acting upon this reliable information, | hav
been obliged, in s,me degree to interfere witt
the expedition to tltah, in order to keep dow
the rebellion in Kapsas, which has involved yer,
heavy expenses Is the government Kansa
once admitted, it is believed that there will n,
longer be occasion there for the troops
have thus performed my duty in the impor
tant question, under a deep sense of my respon
sibilty to God and my country.
My public life will terminate ina brief period
and have no other object of earthly ambition
than to leave my country in a peaceful ant
prosperous condition, and to live in the ahec
tions and respect Of my countrymen.
The dark and omnous clouds now impending
over the Union conscientiously believe will b
dissipated with homer to every portion of it b,
the admission of Kansas during the present ses
sion of Congress; whereas, if she should be re
jectcd greatly fear those clouds will becom
darker and more ominous than ever yet threat
ened the Constitution and the Union.
JAMES BUCHANAN.