The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-03-24

surrender it with honor. 1t already be-
comes her to consider her future Her
political skies are threatening, but the
darkest hour is just before dawn 1t re-
mains to be seen how the South will act
when her political power is Submerged;
but one thing is certain, she will never
submit to acquiescencs under violated
Constitution.
Mr. Pugh said he would be brief. His
State had instructed him how to vote, but
he wanted to state his convictions. He
did not admit the necessity of an enabling
act The three first States admitted into
the Union, Vermont Kentucky and Ten
nessee had.none. The first admitted with
such an act was his own State, and that
was under peculiar circumstances. Of
eighteen States admitted, eight had ena-
bling acts and ten had none. Referring
then to Kansas he SAID he considered the
Lecompton Constitution as legal. The
Constitution of the United States does
not require State to have Constitution,
at least not a written one. He here in
stanced Rhode Island, whose delegates
assembled in the forms of law. The peo-
pie may delegate them full power, or may
require them to submit their acts for ap-
proval. 5.,
In referring to the charge that the Le-
compton delegates had not fulfilled their
pledges to the people, he centended, that
that was question with which Congress
had nothing to do. They had no right
to revise Constitution for the people of
Kansas. He now came to his proposed
amendment. 1t is possible, he said, the
clause in the LecoVpton Constitution pro-
|. viding for its change in 1864, if the peo-
, pie choose. may prevent any change till
then. Our Republican ancestors held
that the power that could do an act, could
undo it.
, fH, Senators have called the Constitution q
, compact, and a compact can be dissolved
by mutual consent. He here cited several
, Authorities in support of his argument.
!. why, he asked, quote books. when we have
, the power in our own charter? He here
. quoted from the Declaration Of Indepen-
. dence, when governments become" &C.,
&C., "it is right of the people to abro-
! gate and form new" &c. Senators
+ had called this doctrine revolutionary
Against whom? Against what mighty
. sovereign? They have forgotten that gov
ernments are made for men, not men for
9 governments. The essence of republi.
e can government is that the people can
: change it peaceably. Mr.. Pugh now ad-
dressed himself to the apostles of popu.
liar sovereignty and asked if the ninety
! thousand Inhabitants of State who form
a constitution can bind and impose it as
an inexorable law upon two millions, il
may be, OF inhabitants in that State, wheT
it shall have expanded beyond the wildes
dreams of its founders? Is that popular
a sovereignty? He would call it the author
5 ity of dead mems bones. He here quotee
y from Judges Catron and Daniel, aud alss
from Daniel Webster, in support Of hi
o views. In referring to the Lecomptoi
|, Constitution, he refu,ed the statement
!. that the President or Judiciary can eve
interfere with whatever construction tn
q people of Kansas may. choose to plac
upon their constitution. The Suprem
. Court has decided that it has no powe
, to say which of the two instruments is th
n constitution of State; but, said Mr.
Il Pugh, my principle purpose was to stat
If the proposition that the President of tn
% Lecompton Convention is bound to com
q plete his trust before it comes before Us
!. which 1 hope will be the case before vot
r. is taken He concluded by speaking TO
= the admission of Kansas.
!. Mr.. Stuart, of Michigan, said he woul
e take an early opportunity to reply 10 tn
Senator from Ohio. Adjourned.