Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-02-11

alt free Governments are founded on their
authority and instituted for their benefit, and
| therefore they have at all times the inaliena>
BILE and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or
abolish their form of Government in such
manner as they may think proper" The
great State of New York is at this moment
governed under Constitution framed in di,
rect opposition TO the mode prescribed by the
previous Constitution. II, therefore, the pro-
vision changing the Kansas Constitution,
after 1861, could by any possibility be con-
strued into the prohibition to make such
change previous to the period Of prohibition
it would be wholly unavailing. The Legis-
latnre already elected, may at its first session
submit the question to vote of the people,
whether they will or not have Convention
to amend their Constitution, and adopt all
necessary means for giving effect to the pop
ular will.
| IG has been solemnly adjudged by the high
est judicial tribunal that slavery exists in
Kansas by virtue of the Constitution of the
/ United States. Kansas is therefore at this
moment as much slave State as Georgia or
South Carolina. Without this, the equality
| of the sovereign States composing the Union
| would be violated, and the use and enjoys
ment Of trrritcry acquired by the common
! treasure Of all the States would be closed
| against the people and property of nearly
/ half the,members Of the Confederacy. Sla-
very can, therefore, never be prohibited in
! Kansas except by means of a constitutional
provision, and in no other manner can this
be obtained so promptly, if the majority of
the people desire it, as by admitting 1t into
! the Union under the present Constitution.
/ On the other hand, should Congress reject
| the Constitution, under the idea of affording
the dsafected in Kansas q third opportunity
i SNnka .Tnh tlarv
might have done twice before, If in the ma
1 iority, no man can foretell the consequences.
If Congress, for the sake of those men who
refused to vote for delegates to the Conven-
! ton, when they might have excluded slavery
/ from the Constitution, and who afterwards
refused to vote on the 2lst Of December,
/ when they might, hs they claim have strick'
/ en- slavery from the Constitution, it is manifest
that the agitation upon this important sub
! iect will be renewed in a more alarming form
than it has ever assumed.
Every patriot in the country bad INDUCED
the hope that the kansas-N ebraska act wo'd
put final end to the slavery agitation, at
least in Congress which had tor more than
twenty years eonvulsed the country and en-
dangered the Union. This act involved great
and fundamental principles, and, if fairly
carried into effect, will settle the question:
the people cf the sister States be again es-
tranged from each other with more than
their former bitterness, this will arise from a
cause, so far as the interests of Kansas are
concerned, more trifing and Insignificant
than has ever stirred the elements ofea great
people into eommotion.
To the people of Kansas, the only practi-
cal differenve between the admission or re-
lection depends simply upon the fact, wheth-
er they can themselves more speedily change
the present Constitution, if it does not ac-
cord with the will of the majority, or frame
second Constitution, to be submitted to
Congress hereafter. Even if this were a
question of mere expediency and not of right
the small differences of time, one way or the
other is not of the least Importance when
contrasted with the evils which must neces-
sarily result to the whole country, from the
revival of tie slavery agitation. If consid-
erins this question, it should never be for
gotten that in proportion to its insignificance
; let the decision be what it may, so far as may
affet cthe few thousand inhabitants of Kan
sas, who have from the beginning resisted
the Constitution and the laws, for this very
reason the rejection of the Constitution will
be so much more keenly felt by the people
of fourteen States of tbs Union where slay
erey is recognized under the Constitution o.
the United States.
Again the speedy admission Kansas int
the Union would restore peace and quiet Il
the whole country. Already the affairs o
the Territory have engrossed an andue pro
portion of the public attention, have sadl,
| affected the friendly relations of the people
with each other, and alarmed the fears O
, patriots for the safety of the Union. Kansas
once admitted, the excitement becomes local
lied, and will soon die away for want of out
f side aliment; then every difficulty would b.
settled at the ballot-box. Besides-and this
is no trif1ing consideration--I shall then b.
, enabled to withdraw the troops from kansa'
and employ their service where they art
much needed They have been kept there
on the earnest importantly of Gov. Walker tt
maintain the existence of the Territoria
, Government, and secure the execution of th'
, laws lie considered at least two thonsant
, troops under the command of Gen. HarEe.
necessary.
, Acting upon his reliable information,
have been obliged in some degree to interfer'
with the expedition to Utah, in order to keel
down the rebellion in Kansas. which has in
volyed very heavy expense to the Govern
ment. Kanas once admitted, it is believed
. there will no longer be any occasion ther
for the troops of the United States.
! / have thus performed my duty on this i'm
portant question under deep sense Of m.
j responsibility to God and to my country. Nj.
0 public life will terminate within brief pc
!. riod, and have no other object of earthly
!. ambition than to leave my country in a peace
q fnl, prosperous condition, and live in the af
ections and respect of my eountrymen. Th
! dark and ominous clouds now impendin
O over the Union, conscientiously believe
b will be dissipated with honor to every POI
}. ton of it by the admission of Kansas durin
r. the present session of Congress, whereas,
n it should be rejected, greatly fear that thes
i clouds will become more ominous tha
d auy that have ever yet threatened the Coz
{; stitution and the Union.
a, JAMES BUCHANAN.