Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-02-11

voted for q convention, the Legislature
shall, AZ is next Irregular session, call Con.
ventiOn, TO consist OF IS many members a.
there may be in the House Of Representa-.
iives At the time, 10 be chosen in the same
manner. At the same pisces, aud by tho
same electors, ths. chose the Rebresenta.
tives. Said delegates 50 elected shall meet
within three months after said election, for
the purpose Of revising. aiending, or
changing the Constitution; but no aIeya.
ton 'ea't Be made to ofee, hs rights of
property IN the otraersAip Of slqpes."
A fair submission Of the question, wbe,h.
er they will have a Constitution with or
without slsyeyl It Is no submission Of
the Constitution at all. In no event a;e
the people, or any one Of them, permitted
TO vote against the Constitution; lhey can
only vote for the Constitution with sls.
Eeiy. This is plain; for It is provided. If
the people should all vote for the Consti.
tuition with no Slavery, ye, The right Of
property in slaves now in The Territory
shall 10 no manner be interfared with and
the only effect, therefore, Of such vote
would be to cut of that provision Of the
instrument which provides for the further
importation Of slaves into the State. The
only question, then, that is submitted to
the people is, whether they will prohibit
the increase oftheir slave population by
future importations; and before they are
permitted to exercise even this privilege,
they must, il challenged. submit to the
bumiliating requirement oftakiug on oath
attest oath Of feslty 10 their masters,
and to their masters work, to wit: that
they will support this Constitution, if
adopted. As have said, its adoption is
made sure, for no one can vote against It;
all must vote for it, or not vote at all
And as il 20 add to the humiliation, and
sharpen the sting Of the indignities thus
heeped upon this invaded province of
Kr0sss, the President, with smooth dis.
speaking of the election pro-
vided for 10 the seventh section of the
schedule, to be held 2 lst Of !ast Decem-
Der, says:
AT this election, every citizen will have
an opportunity Of expressing his opin-
ion by his vote, whether Kansas shall be
received into the Union with or without
Slavery The election will be held un-
der legitimate authority; and il any por-
ton OF the inhabitants shall refuse to vote
q fair opportunity to do so having been
presented, this will be their own volunta-
ry act, and they alone will be response
b!e for the consequences"
Is 1t mere partisan heat and partisan
zeal, or is it the reckless arrogance Of pow
er, that prompts the President thus to
speak; thus to falsify the record; thus 10
insult sn outraged peopIel A legitimate
election and fair opPor unity to vote!-
A dictator determines and chooses the
places and the officers of the election, and,
with two Of bis co.conspirators, determines
the result Of the election; the people can
vote only for the Constitution framed and
presented 10 them by these conspirators.
They must, if required, swear, upon the
pains and penalties of perjury, to support
that Constitution when adopted, and by
its terms are restricted, and shall in no
event be permitted, by alteration or amend
mert tbereoRto "atfect the rights Of prop
erty 10 the owersLip of slaves" With tie
shadow Of this great calamity upon them,
its dubious twilight over all their
nabitations, tbreatning the Inauguration in
heir midst of that anarchy which is fear
'ul in energy and atheislical in creed,
tboir pale.faced villages with
war, and profaning their temples aud
ihrines with the blood Of murder, thew are
nocked with the Infamous and gratutious
counsel Of submission. Submit, submit,
iays the President, and vote, now that YOU
lave fair opportunity, for this Constitu-
ion, framed by usurpers and tyrauts, or
De yourselves "aIone responsible for the
consequences"
Responsible, sir, for what consequences?
For the consequences of refusing to sub
nit to Federal dictation and Federal usur-
for the consequences
If provoking, by this act Of disobedence,
hat vengeance which slumber in the
nm Of the Federal Executive. Sir, the
hreat is as week as it is wicked. Tie
Millions of the populous North would re-
'olt against the attempt of the Federal
Government to arrogate to itself the pow
n expressly reserved to the peopIe---tIe
)ower to form their own local and State
institutions. The President himself con-
esses that the people of Kansas are all
owed only to vote for this Constitution;
md that, although they should all vote
or it with no Slavery, they must, never
beless. have i nth Slavery. and must
upport it With Slavery; and to excuse this
'trOcious invasion Of the peoples rights,
be President says:
"ShouId the Constitution without Sls-
'ery be adopted by the votes of the ma
ority, the rights of property in slaves now
u the Territory are reserved. The num-.
,er Of th Sc is very small; but it it were
greater, the provision would be equally
ust and reasonable. These slaves were
brought into the Territory under the Con-
titution Of the United States, and ere
low the property Of their masters. This
point has at length been finally decided by
he highest judicial tribunal of the coun..
ny; and tLis upon the plain principle, that
when a confederncy of soveerign States sc,5
luire new Territory at theirjoint expense
both equality and justice demand that the
citizens of one and all Of them shall have
the right to take into it whatsoever is rec
ognized as property by the common Con-,
stitution."