Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-14

the Union with the Constitution, and resist
the waves of sectionalism, come whence they
may. But, sir, it is no difficult task to dis
cover that the rejection of Kansas would
| tend to the perpetuity and aggravation of this
fruitless strife about slavery-ths bitter feud
which is so rapidly cstranging the feelings of
one section of our country from the other.
rapidly exhausting those sources of fraternal
affection without which your Federal tics wo'd
be rope of sand. 1 believe in the cultiva-
tion of good feeling and affection amongst the
people as the greatest agency in maintaining
the family of States That can only be done
Wy dealing justly to all, especially towards the
weak The Constitution must be our bond
| and our guide Let the two States of Kan
! sas and Minnesota como in, one slave and one
free, as an exemplifcation of the compromi-
ses of 1850 and the beauties of the Demo
cratic faith. This will be wiser than the per-
petuity of the war of elimination and recrimi-
nation, of assault on the one hand, repulse on
| the other. But if Kansas be rejected, what
will be the truth of history on the subject =
| Will it be that the State was refused because
the mode of getting it up was not satisfactory
or because the Constitution recognized sla-
| very? l am confident some northern men,
! bers of Congress going against the admis-
rion of the State, who would not do so were
the proceedings in Kansas satisfactory to
them; but am still more confident that but
for the slavery article the opposition to the
admission would scarce have amounted to re-
spectability. On the stand witness |
could give no other testimony. There may
| be those who differ with in this opinion
but, sir, it is too clear that whilst it is CONGO
ded on all hards that Kansas is TO be Free
State, the shadow Of slavery that appears in
the Constitution is the real cause of hostility
to the admission on the Republic an side.
Then, again, srs what would follow in
Kansas were she rejected on her present ap-
! plication Let her be turned over to the
tender merces of General Lane and bis fol-
lowers, and what will they do? Who will
guarantee that they will make constitution
that could be accepted by Congress? What
reason have we to believe that we should not
have repetition of the scenes of violence
and excess that have sc far marked the pro-
gress Of that distracted people Who believes
that Lane and his party would exercise pow
er with moderation? The conduct of the re-
cent Republican Legislature is suggestive on
this point. l should be Disappointed agree
ably disappointed, sir-if the rejection did
not renew and hcighton the strife and com-
plications in the Territory If the one party
proceeded to make State, the other would
abstain from all agency in the work. Indeed
one party in the Territory are at this time
engaged in electing delegates to another con-
ventIon to make another constitution The
other party refuse to participate, and allege
that the election is being held without the au-
thority of any law the Governor having re-
fused to sanction it SO are to have new
complication. This new convention will be
violently anti slavery and shall be amazed
if they do not incorporate some extreme anti
slavery feature, having the effect to keep the
State out of the Union. They may interrupt
the execution of the fugitive slave law, or
confscate the property in the slaves that are
now in the Territory. 1t is evident that ev-
en- the Senator from Wisconsin does not like
: the Constitution now before the Senate, be-
cause it protects the property value In the
| slaves now in the Territory. Is this TO be
tie policy? Is this to be an issue? Is it to
be held that, under the doctrines of the COM
, promises guaranteeing te thc Territories ad-
/ mission, with or without slavery. slave own
ers are liable to lose the property value ii
slaves whenever a decision is made against
the institution? When the people of all tn,
: States go to the Territories, carrying Will
them their property, of whatsoever kind, il
t case the Territory should become a free State
are the owners OF slaves to lose the property
, value in such slaves? That has not been my
understanding of the Government. These
t complications and new issues could scarcely
fail to perpetuate this bitter controversy
+ which is so rapidly uprooting fraternity and
confidence between the northern and south
D ern States, and even poisoning the very chan
nels of commun ication between the people O
the several States
t Or the other hand, as l have inquired
t what evil consequences are to flow from tht
t admission of the State AS was so forcibly
0 remarked the oher day by the Senator from
: louisiana, (Mr Benjamin. what possible
e wrong do we infict on the people of Kansas
by comforting upon them the rights and dig
f Ditiee of sovereign State? We hear much
: aoout forcing a government upon Kansas
o whilst the truth is, she has proposed to come
: in and Congress is about to accept her pro
# position That is all 1t is said the Cons,i
S tuition is not acceptable to the will of the ma
: jority. Well, sir, that is their business. no
y ours If they do not like their Fundamental
n law, they can change it. Some gentleme
talk about this constitution as th!,Sus.n thu i wa
IS to be, like the The laws of Medes and Pers;ans
e unalterable. But SO far from this, the ques
/ ton of slavery, like every other feature
IS the instrument, will be forever subject to th
e will vi the majority. When this issue fir:
+, came up, in December last, it was a questio
e between admission under the Lecompton Con
y stltut.on on the one hand, aud an enablin
e act on the other An enabling act-wb;
'c for g? WY. to enable II c reop!e to make
e State government to suit thomsely's--the al
!? swer is. why not Go this under the suspiees
d State Constitution is the best enabling a
= that the wit OF man can dovisc. 1t has u
or the good qualities of an enabling act, witho'
10 its bad ones 1t would terminate, instead
es extend the strife,
s. TLcn. again. it as alleged, the popular wi
i nrt,