The Washington union., 1858-02-03
MAv

again refused to exercise their right of popular sovereign
ty and again suffered the election to pass by default
heartily rejoice that wiser and better spirit prevailed
among large majority Of these people the rst Mon
day of January and that they did, that day vote
under the Lecompon constitution for governor and
other State officers member OF Congress, and for mem
bers Of the legislature This election warmly
tested by the parties and larger vote poed than
any previous election in the Territory We may
reasonably hope that the revolutionary Topeka organiz
ton will be speedily and finally abandoned and this will
go far towards the final settlement of the unhappy differ
ences Kansas If frauds have been committed this
election either by both parties the Legislature and
the people of Kansas under their constitution will know
how redress themselves and punish these detestabe
but crimes without any outside interference
The people of Kansas have, then, in their own
way, and in strict accordance with the organic act
framed constitution and State government have
submitted the allmportant question of slavery the
people and have elected governor a member to
represent them in Congress- members Of the State egs-
lature and other State officers. They ask admission
into the Union under this constitution which is republican
in its form IL for Congress to decide whether they
will admit reject the State which has thus been
ated For my part, am decidedly in favor of its
admission, and thus terminating the Kansas question
This will out the great principle of nterven
ton recognised and sanctioned by the organic act which
declares In express language In favor of nterven
ton by Congress with slavery In the States Terrific
sies leaving the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way
subject only to the constitution of the United States
In this manner by ocalzng the question ofsavery and
confning ii to the people whom it immediately
cerned every patriot anxiousy expected that this ques
ton would be aished from the halls of Congress- where
it has always exered hale influence throughout the
whole country.
1t is proper that should briefly refer to the cleo
ton held under act of the territorial Legislature the
first Monday of January last the Lecompton constit
ton This election held after the Territory had been
prepared for admission into the Union as a sovereign
State, and when authority existed in the territorial
legislature which could possibly destroy its existence
lh.a
conducted under my Instructions involved strange in
consistency large majority of the persons who voted
against the Lecompton constitution the very
time and place recognising it's valid existence in the most
solemn and authentic manner by voting under its pro-
visions. have yet received official information of
the result of this election.
AS question of expediency, after the right has been
maintained it may be wise to reflect upon the benefits to
Kansas and to the whole country which would result from
its immediate admission into the Union, we'll the
disasters which may follow its rejection Domestic peace
will he the happy consequence of its admission and that
fine Territory, which has hitherto been torn by dssen-
sons will rapidly increase in population and wealth. and
speedily realize the blessings and the comforts which fol
low in the train of agricultural and mechanical industry
The people will then be sovereign and regulate their
affairs in their way. If majority of them desire
to abolish domestic slavery within the State there is
other possible mode by which this be effected
speedily as by prompt admission. The will Of the major
ity is supreme and irresistible when expressed in order
ly and lawful manner They can make and unnake
sutons at pleasure 1t would be absurd TO say that they
impose fetters upon their power which they
afterwards If they could do this they might
tic their hands for hundred well for ten
years. These fundamental principles of American
freedom and recognised believe, in form
other by every State constitution and If Congress- in the
act of admission should think proper to recognise them
| can perceive objection to such This has
been done emphaticaly in the constitution of Kansas
1t declares in the bill of rights that all political power
Inherent in the people, and all free governments
founded their authority and instituted for their bene
all
and ndefeasibe right TO alter, reform, abolish their
form OF government in such manner they may think
proper The great State of New York is at this moment
governed under constitution framed and established in
direct opposition to the mode prescribed by the previous
constitution. IT, therefore, the provision changing the
Kansas constitution after the year thousand eight
hundred and could by possibility be construed
into prohibition to make such change previous to that
period this prohibition would be wholly unavailing The
Legislature already elected may, at its very first session.
submit the question vote Of the people whether they
will or will not have convention to amend their cons
tuition and adopt all necessary for giving effect to
the popular will
1t has been solemny adjudgel by the highest judicial
tribunal known to laws that slavery exists in Kansas
by virtue of the constitution of the United States Kan
s therefore, Mt this moment much slave State
Georgia South Carolina Without this the equality of
the sovereign States composing the Union would be yio
lated and the and enjoyment of territory acquired
by the common treasure OF all the States would be closed
against the people and the property OF nearly half the mem
bers the conedeacy Slavery therefore never be
hbitcd in Kansas except by means of constitutional
provision and in other this be obtained
promptly if majority of the people desire it, by admit
ting it into the Union under its present constitution
On the other hand, should Congress reject the const
tuition under the idea of aorng the disaected in Kan
third opportunity of prohibiting slavery in the State
which they might done twice before il In the
iority, can foretcll the consequences
Congress- for the sake of those men who refused to
for delegates to the convention when they might
have excluded slavery from the constitution, and who
afterwards refused to vote the 2lst December last
when they might, they claim, have stricken slavery
the constitution, should reject the State be-
slavery remains in the constitution it is manifest
that the agitation upon this dangerous subject will be
newed in more alarming form than it has yet
sumed.
Every patriot in the country had ndulged the hope
that the Kansas and Nebraska act would put final end
the slavery agitation at least in Congress- which had
for than twenty years convulsed the country and
endangered the Union This act involved great and fun
damental principles and if fairly carried into effect will
vived should the people Of the sister States be again
estanged from each other with than their former bit
terness this will arise from cause far the interests
of Kansas concerned triing and insignificant
than has stirred the elements Of great people into
commotion To the people of Kansas, tho only practical
difference between admission rejection depends simply
upon the fact whether they themselves speedily
change the present constitution if it does accord with
the will of the majority, frame second constitution to
be submitted to Congress hereafter Even il this
question of mere expedency and not of right the small
difference of time way the other il of not the
least Importance when conrased with the evils which
must necessarily result to the whole country from
vival of the slavery agitation,
= 4. I,