Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-12-16

tolIal NoNeThIHeHl, tney ulSreSarOeC
the principle absolutely essential to tho
working of our form of government
that majority of those who vote-not
the majority who may remain at home
from whatever cause--must decide the
result of an election. For this reason
seeking to take advantage of their own
error, they denied the authority of the
Convention thus elected to frame Con
stitution.
The Convention, notwithstanding,
proceeded to adopt a Constitution I'M
exceptionable in its general features,
and providing for the submission of the
Slavery question TO a vote Of the peo-
pie, which, in my opinion, they were
bound TO do under the Kansas and Ne.
braska act. This was the all-important
question which had alone convulsed the
Territory; and yet the opponents of the
lawful government, persisting in their
first error, refrained from exercising
their right to vote, and preferred that
Slavery should continue rather than
surrender their revolutionary Topeka
Organization. rae. il. r....I...-.. 4.
A wiser and better spirit seemed to
prevail before the first Monday of Jan
uary last, when an election was held
under the Constitution. A majority of
the people then voted for Governor
and other State officers, for a member
OF Congress and members Of the State
Legislature. This election was warmly
contested by the two political parties in
KANSAS, and a greater vote was polled
than at any previous election. A large
majority of the members of the Legis-
!ature elect belonged to that party
which had previously refused to vote.
The Antl-Slavery party were thus
placed IN the ascendant, and the polit-
zeal power of the State was in their
own hands. Had Congress admitted
Kansas into the Union under the Lee
compton Constitution, the Legislature
might, at its very first session, have
submitted the question to vote of the
people, whether they would or would
not have Convention to amend their
Constitution, either on the Slavery or
any other question, and have adopted
| all necessary means for giving speedy
effect to the will of the majority. Thus
the Kansas question would have been
Immediately and finally settled.
! Under these circumstances, I sub
mitted to Congress the Constitution
thus framed, with all the officers al
ready elected necessary to put the State
Government into operation, accompa-
MED by strong recommendation in ia
vor of the admission of Kansas as a
State. In the course Of my long pub
lie life, | have never performed an Off
clal act which, in the retrospect, has
afforded me moro hoartfelt salts ia otion
Its admission could have inflicted no
possible injury on any human being.
while 1t would, within a brief period,
have restored peace to Kansas, and
harmony to the Union In that event,
the Slavery question would ere this have
been finally settled, according to the
legally expressed will of majority of
the voters, and Popular Sovereignty
would thus have been vindicated in a
constitutional manner.
With my deep convictions of duty.
could have pursued no other course.
1t IS true that, as an Individual, | had
expressed an opinion, both before and
during the session of the Convention,
in favor of submitting the remaining
clauses of the Constitution, as well as
that concerning Slavery, to the people.
But, acting in an official character, nei-
Their myself nor any human authority
had the power to rejudge the proceed
ings of the Convention, and declare the
Constitution which it had framed to be
a nullity. To have done this, would
have been a violation of the Kansas
and Nebraska act, which left the people
perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the Constitution of
the United States" 1t would equally
have violated the great principle of
Popular Sovereignty at the foundation
OF our institutions, to deprive the peo-
pie of the power, if they thought proper
to exercise it, of confding to delegates
elected by themselves the trust of franz
ing Constitution, without requiring
them to subject their constituents to
the trouble, expense and delay of a sec
ond election. 1t would have been in
opposition to many precedents in our
history, commencing in the very best
age of the Republic, of the admission
of Territories as States into the Union,
without previous vote of the people
approving their Constitution. -14
1t is to be lamented that 8 question
so insignificant when viewed in it's prac-
teal effects on the people of Kansas,
whether decided one way or the other,
should have kindled such a flame of ex,
| citement throughout the country. This
reflection may prove to be lesson OF
wisdom and of warning for our future
guidance. Practically considered, the
question is simply whether the people
OF that Territory should first come into
the Union and then change any provis
ion in their Constitution not agreeable
to themselves, or accomplish the very
same object by remaining out of TIE
Union and framing another Constitu
ton in accordance with their will? Ii
either case, the result would be precise
! ly the same. The only difference il
point of fact is, that the object would
have been much sooner attained, ant
the pacitcation of Kansas more speed
flily effected, had it been admitted as
State during the last session of Con
gress.
My recommendation, however, fo
. the immediate admission of Kansas
failed to meet the appreciation of Con
, gress. They deemed it wiser to adop
different measure for the settlement
/ of the question. For my own part,
should have been willing to yield m,
: assent to almost any constitutions
4 measure to accomplish this object.
z therefore cnraiall,r annuioscad In wha