Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-03-06
BUCKALEW'S REPORT
The Kansas Question.
In SENATE-Feb. "a, 1885,


into the Union as State, made the follow
ing report:
| That the Committee, in addition to re-
| porting back to the Senate the resolutions
referred to them--the one with recon
mendation that it be indefinitely postpohed;
and the other in an amended form-decm
it proper to state the grounds upon which
their action is founded.
So pertinacious and vehement have been
the efforts to render this measure OF ad-
mission obnoxious and unpopular, and so
much is the peace and harmony of the
country involved in a correct understanding
of it, that your committee believe that SOME
examination Of the subject In the Legisla.
ture, to be followed by the expression Of its
Judgment, in the form of a resolution, will
disabuse the minds of many from false
impressions, and have salutary effect
upon public opinion.
Our experience in Pennsylvania iu ME-
king and amending cons itutiors may be
examined, to aid US in solving the difficult
ties of this Kansas question. For that
purpose some reference will be made to
our own constitutional history. In 1776,
in consequence Of q circular from the
committee of safety of Philadelphia to the
committees of the several counties, enclos-
ing the resolution of the Continet tai Con-
grcss of the l5th May, members were ap-
pointed from the several counties to
Provincial Conference, which met in Phil
adelphia on the 18th June, and adjourned
finally the 25lh Of the same month. This
conference recommended the election Of
delegates, to assemble in convention, and
form constitution for Pennsylvania, as
an independent State, and provided the
manner in which the elections fer that
purpose should be held In consequence
of this recommendation, delegates were
chosen by the people, who assembled in
convention on the 18th day of July, l776,
and proceeded TO form the constitution of
that year, without submitting it to q vote
J Of the people or other process of ratifca.
, ton. That constitution, it will be seen,
had revolutionary origin, and it continued
, in force fourteen years, until 1890. Il
contained some faults which dis urbed its
practic operations. The Legislative de-
partmeut consisted of single body as in
f colonial times, and the executive consisted
of c'uncil and president, the latter being
I selected by the joint vote of the council
and assembly, A council Of censors was
also established, who were to review, from
time to time, he conduct Of the different
! departments of the government, and report
, 10 the people any violations of the cousti-
0 tuition by either; and they were empowered
by n two.thrd vote Of their number, TO call
a convention to amend The constitutional
A single legislative body, plural cxecu-
! tive, and a censoral council to critcise
= official action, but without power to enforce
! its Judgment, were the three capital errors
, of that constitution; and the arrangement
for amendment through the action of the
: ccnsors was found to be impractic able. A
n ma jority was in favor at one time of a
c convention, and at another against it; but
4 At no time could an Affirmative two.
8 thirds vote be obtained Finally, under
y the pressure Of necessity in favor of change,
o tie subject was taken up by the Legislature
it and on the 2fth of March, 1889, in Gene
| raj Assembly, resolutions were adopted
. setting forth that alterations and amend
rtents 10 the constitution were Immediately
e necessary; rocting from the Declaration
&c of independence the assertion Of the right
10 Of the people to alter or to abolish their
v government, and to institute new one
- and also the clause of the bill of rights in
the then existing constitution" That gov.
Il ernment is, or ought to be, instituted for
y the common benefit, protection and security
y of the people, nation or community, and
= not Tor the particular emolument or ad.
vantage OF any single man, family or sci
of men, who are a part only OF that com.
e. muuity--and that the community hath an
'r indubitable, unalienable and indefeasiblc
st right to reform, alter, or abolish govern.
ment in such manner as shall be to that
community judged most conducive to the
,, public veal" From all which, as we'll q,
oil the nature of society and the principles o.
le government, it manilestly appeared tina
al the people have, at all times, all inherent
70 right to alter and amend the form of gov
ernment in such manner as they shall thinl
;" proper and that they are not and canno
e. be limited to any certain rule or mode O.
10 accomplishing the same, but may make
a, choice of such method as may be bes
"a adapted to the end proposed, and that fo
further reasons assigned, the delay of th,
mode prescribed in the constitution TO
amendment ought not to be admitted. l
was therefore proposed and earnestly re
commended to the citizens of the Common
wealth to take this subect into their seriou
considerations, and, if they concurrod il
id opinion with The Assembly that a convention
X for the purpose of revising and alterin,
the constitution ofthc state ough 10 be called
- it was submitted to them whether it woul
.S' not be convenient and proper to olec
he members oil such convention at the mex
general election, and that, upon their plea
sure being siguifed at the next sitting
\" would provide by a law the time and plao
Of the meeting of the convention, and 70
- the payment of expenses incurred thereby
III These important resolutions were adopte
by the decisive vote cf fortyone TO seycl