The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-04-03

league of Gen. James Shields, from the State
of Minnesota. The letter was not designed,
perhaps for publication but in the absence
of any injunction to the contrary, l take the
liberty of asking for it place in the columns
OF the Northeast, because OF the clearaeSs
with which his views Oh the Kansas pohcy
of Mr.. Buchanan are set forth.
Very truly. yours,
JOHN ID. JEANINGs.
COL II. II. HEALTH, Ed. Northeast.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1853.
DEAR SIR Yours of the 9th inst, is re-
ceived. 1t is useless for me to speak of caus
es which led to results which L cannot ap-
prove Of Had / been resident OF that
Territory, would have insisted upon having
the constitution submitted TO the people, Is |
did in the Enabling Act for Minnesota, be-
leving that such course would have been
more satisfactory to her citizens. The Con-
vention which framed the Constitution was
legally elected-it had the undoubted right
to submit the Constitution in whole or in
part, or not at all, to the people ; it chose to
submit onlya part-the slavery question,
which was the only one that ever disturbed
the peace of the Territory-the people adop
ted the ''Constitution with slavery" Nov it
is charged that the Convention acted in bad
faith-that it did not carry out the pledges
its members made prior to their election
that it was not governed by tue procla'na-
tons and stump speech promises made by
Gov. Walker. Admitting all this be true,
what have the people of the States to do
with it Suppose the people of Iowa had
been anxious to have certain laws passed by
their Legislature, and the voters had exact
ed promises from every candidate that he
would enact such laws; the candidates pleds-
ed were elected, met and disregarded the
wishes of nineteen-twentieths of their con.
stituents-coulG that people under any cir
cumstances assemble and legally annul the
laws passed by the said Legislature because
its members had violated their pledges a
man who would advance such an idea wculd
be called mad-yet many claim that the pee
pie of Kansas can, in an 'nldrfHl manner an
null a h,rfut act The moment he people OF
Kansas voted to adopt the Lecompton Co..
stituton, that moment Kansas beam III
spirit State and neither Congress nor the
Territorial Legislature has anything to do
with the acts of the Convention. If tie
Constitution is Republican in form, Congress
would be grossly violating its duty, if it did
not admit Kansas as State.
We may all regret the course the Leconp.
ton Convention saw fit to pursue, but we
must abide by its works until they CAT be
legally undone and | am satisfied that the
only legal power on earth that can have a
right to attempt to do away with or change
that Constitution must emanate from the IleO
pie Of the State Of Kansas. They are to be
the final arbiters Of their own institution;
and destiny-thc citizens Of the Ierri'orl
have nothing to DO with it, the citizens OF the
| United States have nothing to do with 1t
neither has Congress, except to admit the
State. Is sovereign State more helpless
than Territory? Is man in the prime o
| life less able to take care of himself thai. 6
child &? When Kansas shall be admitted. she
will be left free to regulate her own affairs
in her own way and she must be admitted
under her present Constitution, or the great
principle of non-snterventiOn must be ahan
doned by the Democratic party. The ship
of State was placed in the hands of Mr.. gu
chanan-a Captain whose experience, ability
and honesty have never been doubted. liz
selected his officers-the entire country ap
proved Of his selection confidence was re
stored, peace and quiet prevailed Throughout
the States. The Captain STOOD upon thu
deck-the pilot was at the helm the watch
man was on duty the cry went round iaa
all was well but suddenly cry was raised
among the passengers which produced con
sternation upon all except TIE Captain an,
his officers. With steady, cool deterni IA
ton they worked the ship regardless of th'
cries Of its inmates. The alarm was fals'
one; the passengers are beginning to see it
and all will soon in my opinion, lock ~ t.
the President with renewed confidence.
have now given you in hasty manner
my views, and can only add that shall sup
port the Administration, firmly believin.
that any other course would tend to strens th
en- a sectional party, e party whose princiE lie
conflict with the rights of States.
With kind regards to your good lady,
am truly yours,
HENRY NJ. RICE.
TO JOHN D. JENNINGS, Esq.