The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-17
T he a hND UNION.

government, to make q change of its
form of government. Its government is
composed of It's oficers--a Senate, House
of Representatives., Governor, and so on.
The constitution generally points out a
effect a change in the constitution
There is also an original power of change
behind, superior to and overtowering
that by which the people may call a con
ventiou. and this convention, acting in
conformity with the constituted author
tiles, may be called regularly, as was
that of Kansas, and form a constitution
and adopt it themselves, or submit it as
they please to the people.
Now, let US take the case of Kansas
and exemplify. Four ffths of the poo
pie, says the Senator, are on his side.
Pm other words, four ffths Of them are
opposed to the constitution. In the very
first Legislature that meets there will
be foul ffths OF the Senate and Hsuse,
and the whole of the Governor, in favor
of a convention. Four ffths of both
| Houses. and the whole Governcr-be
cause we cannot parcel him out-will
pass o law calling a convention. They
will make just such a constitution as
they please, and four 6fths of the people
will ratify it, if you will have it sub
Raitted for a vote; and after that, those
four ifths win elect another Governor,
another House of Representatives, auo-
Their Senate, and fill the Offices of State.
1 do not apprehend any conflict of au-
thority. This thing has been done tea
thousand times, to speak by mere way
of hyperbole; it has been done an indefi-
mite number of times. The question in
the Rhode Island case was entirely diff.
ferent from this. It was there the PEG
pie acting in opposition to the govern
ment. The initiative steps for a
change of governments we're not taken by
tao government itself, and of that there
was complaint. 1 do not pretend to go
into the question whether that was right
full or wrongful. 1 have about enough
potts to consider now without tagging
in unnecessary ones. | do say, however,
that it has never been held, and will not
be held by the Senator himself when he
reflects on it, that if four ifths of tho
people of Kansas desire to change their
constitution they cannot do it in three
months II 6hey please
Mr.. DOUGLAS. BY revolution.
Mr.. GREEN. a revolution insti-
tuted by the government itself, condue-
ted by the government itself, a change
| effected in such a manner as does not
conflict with the government. It was
done in the Senator's ewn State. Was
that revolution
Mr.. DOUGLAS. It was done in
conformity with tie constitution there
not in opposition to it.
mr.. GREEN. There is one part Of
the constitution of Kansas which /:
worthy of being considered, for it bears
on this subject.
+" All political power
Say the people of Kansas speaking
through their convention
/. is Inherent in the people, and all free gov
ernments are founded on. their authority, anC
INSTITUTED for their benefit, and therefore theJ
have at all times an inalienable and indefea
sib1e right to alter, reform, or abolish thei
form of government in such manner as the,
may think proper"
That is a part of the constitution o
Kansas. Surely, therefore, the regular
government of Kansas can institute
proceeding which will result in the exer
else of those inalienable and indefeasib1i
rights in perfect and entire reformation
of the constitution. There is no ques
tion on this point; there is no difficult.
II it. is a very little thing brough
in as a m~akeweight.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. At the desire o
the Senator from Pennsylvania, mi
BIGLER, l renew the motion to postpon
the further consideration of this ques
tion until Monday next.
The motion was agreed to.