The Washington union., 1858-02-10
KANSAS CONCLUSION FROM REPUBLICAN
PREMISES


The proposition ia to admit Kansas into the Union
under what is called the Lecompton constitution.
We propose to take the opposition view OF this ques
tion--to present, may be- the objections
which have been raised against admission.
|. 1t is alleged that majority Of the people Of
Kansas utterly opposed to the Lecompton consti
tuition; that they have expressed their opposition
thereto at general election. ""
H. 1t is asserted that the people of nineteen
ties of the Territory deprived of the right to
vote at the election Of the 18th Of June when the
delegates to the Lecompton convention chosen
and that, therefore, those delegates did not truly
represent the people Of Kansas.
III. That immense frauds were committed in the
election of the 2lst December when the question of
slavery was submitted To the vote of the people.
1V. That the constitution now before Congress
should have been submitted to the people for ratii
cation or rejection.
These objections have been repeatedly met and
answered, but let concede for the sake of the
argument, that they are well founded. They all
refer to the people of Kansas, and to nobody else
1t is their matter it is not ours We may desire to
correct any wrongs that have been committed, to
dress any and, if possible, all grievances they have
suffered. Well we propose, then, to admit them
into the Union a sovereign State. We propose to
put them in position, by one single act, of absolute
independence; and we desire to know how, and on
what rational ground, they object to the remedy
and relief which this act extends and to them?
If they object to the constitution, it is in their power
to repeal it and adopt which will suit them and
oh
ont of the Union. If the popular voice was sup
pressed in nineteen nine countless they will have
the amplest powers of acknowledgements the COM
pletest of redressng all grievances complained
of in this particular The election Of the 2lst De-
cember did not put in issue the validity Of the
stitution bnt If it had been So the utmost alleged
frauds are not sufficient to change the result But,
granting that it was all fraud the record is completes
and the remedy Of admission is absolutely more per-
feet and penary than if Congress, having the power,
should pass an enabling act, calling election,
and directing, as in the Of Minnesota the sub
mission of any constitution to be framed hereunder
to direct vote of approval disapproval of the
people of the Territory.
+ No enabling act is potent and plenary as adj
mission into the Union That is proceeding which
cuts of discussion and contention about the powers
granted and the manner they executed. Admis-
sion, then, ia enabling act, indeed comprehen-
sive, irrevocabe, plenary, and absolute. Does the
whole not include all the parts Are the people of
Kansas unwilling to redress their own grievances,
if they have any? Do they want Congress to do it
for them viii their rejection from the Union aid
them Do they want us to quarrel about their af
fairs 2 Do they maintain the utmost doctrines of
selfgovernment and yet refuse to govern them
selves sH
We say in all candor to the people Of Kansas
"You have acted very strangely and very badly.
You refused to vote and then claimed that you
were greatly wronged in not having been needed.
You determined not to recognise the authority Of
Congress- over your Territory; and in that you were
guilty Of a species of rebellion against your country