Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-02-10
THE KANSAS MESSAGE.

sage OF Ircsiuent buchanan, submitting the
Lecompton Constitution to Congress- We are
influenced by no partisan spirit when we say
that it is clear logical ond unanswerabIe
argument, The following is the concluding
portion of the message, which we hope our
readers will peruse attentiyely:
The question of slavery was submitted to
an election of tho people of Kansas on the
:7lst of December last, in obedience to the
mandate of the Constitution Here again
fair opportunity was presented to the adher-
cnts of the Topeka Constitution, if they were
the majority. to decide this exciting question
In their own way" and thus restore peace
to the distracted Territory. But thcv again
refused the right of popular sovereignty, and
again suffered the election TO pass by de-
fault
heartily rejoice that wiser and better
spirit prcvalld among q large majority Of
these people on the first Monday in January,
and that they did that day vote under the
Lecompton Constitution for Governor and
other State officers, member ofCongress' and
members of the Legislature. This election
was warmly contested by parties, and larger
vote was pollcd than at any previous election
| in the Territory. We may now reasonably
! '
will be speedily and finally abandoned, and
this will go far toward the final settlement of
the unhappy differences in Kansas IF frauds
have been committed at this election, by one
or both parties the Legislature and the people
of X ansas, under The Constitution. will know
how to redress themselves, and punish these
detcstable, but too common crimes, without
auy outside Interference
The people Of Kansas have then, ''in their
own way" and in strict accordance with the
organic act, framed Constitution and State
/ government, have submitted the all-impor-
taut question Of slavery to the people, and
have elected a Governor, a member to repre-
sent them IN Congress-, members OF the State
Legislature, and other State officers. They
now ask admission into the Union, under this
Constitution, which is republican in its form
. It is f)- Congress to decide whether they will
admit Or reject tLo State which has thas been
created For my own part, | an decidedly
in favor Of It's admission, aud thus ternliua-
ating the Kansas question. This Will carry
ont the great principle of non-utcrvention,
recognized and sanctioned ley the organic act
which declares in express language in favor
of the non-iGtcrvention Of Congress- with Sla-
very in the States AMI Territories. " leaving
the pFple thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate the domestic institutions in their own
way, suhJcct o'ly to the Constitution Of the
United States" Ia this manner, by locaIi-
ziHg the question of slavery and conhning it
It to the people who are Immediately con-
cerned, every patriot anxiousIy expected this
question TO be banshed from the halls of
Congress, where It has alwaa exerted aHbalo-
tul influence througout the Country. 1t is
proper that | should refer briefly to the cleo
{ l.,ll -, H., > Z
islaturc, on the first Monday in January last,
on the Lecompton Constitution Tnis election
was held after thc Territory had been pre-
pared for admission into the Unien'as soy
ercign State, and when 10 authority existed
in the Territorial Legislature, which could
possibly destroy its existence or change its
character. The election, which vas peace
! fully conducted unlcr my instructions, nyol-
we'd stran5e Inconsistency, 4 large major
ty Of the persons who voted against the lie
compton Constitution, were, Mt the very same
! time and place. recognizing its valid existence
/ IN the most solemn and authentic manner by
! voting uuder its provisions | have as yet.
received no Official information Of the result
of this election.
As question ofexpediency, after the right
has been maintained, it may be wise to re
: feet upon the benefits to Kansas and to the
whole country, which would, result Fl ON its
immediate admission into the Union. as we'll
as the disasters which may follow its rejection
! Domestic peace will be the happy consequence
of IT'S admission, and that fine Territory, hllh-
erto torn by dissensions, will rapidly in,rea Sc
! in popu alton, and wealth, and speedily c'.azc
! the blessings and comforts Which follow agri-
cultural and mechanical industry The poop
/ e then Will be sovereign, snd can regulate
! their own affairs in their own way. II the
majority of them desire to abolish domestic
slavery within the State. there is no other
possible mode by which it can be effected so
! speedily as by It's prompt admission. The
| will of the minority is supreme and irresisti-
| ole, when expressed in an orderly and law
/ full manner They can make and unmake
/ Constitutions at pleasure. 1t would be abb
surd to say they can impose fettcrs upcn tn ir
own power, which they cannot afterwards re-
move If they could do this, they might tie
their own hands for hundred as we'll as for
ten years, These are the fundamental prin-
cples of American freedom. and arc recogn-
/ lzed, | believe, in some form or other, by
every State Constitution and if Congress, in
! the act of admission, should think proper to
recognize them, | can preceive no objection
to such course. j hi has beendonc cmpha-
! ticaliy IN the Constitution of Kansas 1t de-
clares in The Bill Of Rights, that ''al poiti-
cal power is Inherent in the people, aud all
free governments are founded on their anthor-
/ ity. and instituted for their benefit, and
therefore, they have at all times an inaliena-
bic and indefeasiblc right to alter, reform or
abolish their form of government, in such
manner as they may think proper" The
! great state of New York is at this moment gov
eyned under a Constitution framed in dir,
opposition to the mode prescribed by the pre-
vious Constitution. If, thei efore, the pco-
vision changing the Kansas Constitution af-
ter the year 1864, could by possibility be
construed into prohibition to make such a
change previous to that that period, this pro-
! hibiton would be wholly unayailing The