The Washington union., 1858-02-21
WASHINGTON CITY,
SUNDAY MORNING, FEB. eI, Is6s.
REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TERRI


be found able instructive and entirely exhaustive
Of the argument. II is one of those State papers
which mark the era in which they appear, and will
rank as historical in our archives furnishing the
source from which historians wall draw the facts Tor
recountine the history of those troubled times. We
commend the attentive perusa of the country and
especially of such honest people of the North as
may have been misled by the distorted accounts and
cunningly.deyised stories of uncandid politicians.
RIITNpERS ABOUT SUBMISSION. THE VALIDITY
OF THE CONSTITUTION.
We have had, all over The country great amount
Of discussion upon the question of the manner and
terms of submission of the Leeompton constitution
10 the people of Kansas We infer from letters and
newspaper arguments, that the public impression is,
that there submission of the constitution to the
voters This is all msapprehension. There was
no submission of that instrument ut all. The vote
was called for upon the 'savery question" The de-
cison one way the other could not and was mol IN
tended to, affect the State government established
That constitution complete without reference to
the vote Ii WIS not put in issue. IL was ordained
and established by the convention. Any objection
submitted does not touch the validity of the instru-
nent ITSELF for that determined by the delegates
If they had power aud authority to frame constitu
ton then clearly they were bound to execute the du
ties in that respect, which had been devolved upon
them strictly in obedience to the law which cre-
ated them. We all, in aud oat of the Terrific
~, had a right to express opinions upon the
propriety of submission but we did not confer au-
thorty upon the delegates, and had no right, there
fore to control their action We had right to adj
wise tlem--to say what would do in the States
under similar crcumstances--w had a right to say
especially, that the slavery question should be
submitted, because that question had long been
disturbing element in politics. and had caused
great connection; but all this was advisory and not
mandatory The Cincinnati Convention passed sol
emn resolutions expressive of the Of the demo-
cratic party throughout the country upon the ques-
ton of slavery, that the people ofKansas, when they
might frame q constitution, should submit that lues-
ton to a vote. That adyisory--no one will say
it mandatory. Congress, by the organic act Of
Kansas did not 90 as far as the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, but inserted in that act declaration that
the people should be left perfectly free to establish
their institutions in their own way.
We will not discuss the question whether it was
the duty of Congress to have said that any constu-
ton which might be framed should be submitted to-
and ratified by majority of the people in order to
give it validity or not We prefer to take the case
find it; and we are clear that it is safer and
wiser, as ours is government of laws, to consult
the record to find what the case is. We are not
about to write history of rebellion, to defend or
assal parties factions, to depress promote pri
vate reputation it is political act that are to
perform, having special bearing upon the Ameri-
can Union. We propose to admit new member
into the family-to admit State, not people, to be
the equal of New York and Virginia in respect to
political rights and dignity. The applicant comes
Congress clothed in all the habiliments of
eighty with republican form and character, a writ
ten constitution, an elective government and with
solemn declaration that call power is inherent in the
people
BY what argument is it maintained that Congress
should refuse to receive the applicant, and invest
her with the high sanctions of an independent State
Not that she is unworthy of the honor that she
is too young, too small or too insignificant What,
them is the objection That il will disranchisc her
people And how is this established Because it
10 said her constitution not ratified by them.
This answer is insufficient and hypocritieal be-
cause, when once admitted if she is dissatisfied with
her constitution her people abolish it and ordain
a new one at pleasure.
1t is naughty, insolent and overbearng, because it
wholly dsregards the authority of the territorial
government established by Congress, discredits the
laws of the Legislature, the votes of the people un-
upon convention duly elected, for no better rea.
son than that portion of the people refused TO
vote.
1t is insulting and revolutionary because the men
who impeach its validity have for nearly four years
been in open rebellion against the government of the
United States, seeking its overthrow and its dis
placement by one Of their own creation
1t Is undigniied, unjust, and factious because it
refuses to receive the testimony of public records
ana descends by the device of folly into the
local affairs OF distant people to sit in Judgment
upon their elections to examine their returns to set
aside their decisonsand all this on the pretext of
protecting them against invasion and fraudl No in
suit to a people can be greater no assumption Of
power more offensive, no intervention more intolera
BILE and unjustifabe. While in territorial condition
it might possibly be overlooked; but Kansas has
risen to the state Of manhood, and if she has tbe
dignity of that high estate she will reject all in