Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-17
realized all their hopes by making the

realized all their hopes by making the
Constitution the fundamental law of
the State, unalterable until after 1864,
and then only by a two-thirds vote,
that they will, on the day they come
into power under it, permit it to be
subverted and abrogated by revolu-
tonary movement, when they will have
acquired the right, under the Constitu-
ton of the United States, to demand of
the President the use of the Federal
army to put down the instruction. and
protect the State against domestic vi
olence." When this demand shall be
made upon the President by the ''Leg-
islature already elected at its very first
session." or by the Governor "when
the Legislature cannot be convened
Will he not consider himself bound by
his official oath, and in obedience to
the Constitution of the United States.
to use the Federal troops to protect the
State against domestic violence, by
putting down the revolution, and by
SURPRISING instruction and maintain
ing the authority Of the constitution,
until lawfully changed in the manner
prescribed in the instrument?
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT WOULD DO.
Or, if it could be converted into iu-
dical, instead of a political question,
and brought before the Supreme Court
of the United States for adjudication,
can any one doubt the decision?-
Would not the Court be compelled to
decide that the Constitution, having
once become the fundamental law OF
the State, must be respected and obey
ed as such until changed or annulled
in pursuance of its own provisions:
Would not the Court be compelled to
declare as an inviolable and universal
rule Of Interpretation, that when a con
stitution prescribes one mode of amend
ment, it must be understood and con
stituted as having thereby precluded
all other modes, and prohibited all 9th
er means Of accomplishing the same
object? Suppose the people ofKansas
should attempt to change the Consti-
tuition in a mode and at time differ
ent from that authoized in the instru,
ment, and should proceed so far as to
adopt new Constitution, and set up q
State Government under it by an over
whelming majority, in antagonism to
the Constitution and State Government
with which Kansas was admitted into
the Union, which of the State Govern
ments would the President feel bound
to recognize, and ssprotect against do
nestle violence,'' when applied to in
the manner provided in the Federal
Constitution?
He would be compelled to use the
whole military power of the United
States, or SO much of it as shall be nee
essary to put down rebellion, and "pro-
tcct the State against domestic VIC
lence," when properly applied to for
that purpose. Hence the question will
arise, and it is important to know how
it is to be decided, in the event there
shall be two State Governments in Kan
sas, in antagonism with each other
the one organized under the Lecompton
Constitution, and the other established
by the people, il opposition to the Lee
compton Constitution-which will the
| President recognize as valid and le0it-
innate, and which will he denounce as
a Revolutionary government, adhered
to with such reasonable pertinacity''
as to make it his duty under the Con
stitution Of the United States to put
down the instruction and crush out
the rebellion with the Federal troops
It is important that this question should
be determined in order that the peo-
pie of Kansas may know how they are
to exercise that gteat indefeasible
right Of which the President speaks
when he says ''they can make and un-
make Constitutions at pleasure. -
Does he mean the inalienable right OF
revolution to which every people may
resort, when their oppression is intoler-
able, and submission is less evil than
resistance. If so, / fear that the bright
anticipations Of the President would
not be fully realized when he ilnagines
that the speedy admission of Kansas
into the Union under the Lecompton
Constitution "would restore peace and
quiet to the whole country" and ena-
bic him "to withdraw the troops of the
United States from Kansas and employ
them on branches Of the service where
they are much needed"