The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-17
THE NEWEST STATE or THE KAN
sAS<4RoU BILE.

n an SSA6s6N1in the last TWO mOntns. FIRST,
~ Election on the 2lst December, held un-
der the authority Of the Convention that
framed what is called the Lecompton Cons:i-
tuition. At this election the constitution
was partially submitted TO vote of the peo-
pie. The vote was restricted to the Slavery
clause. The whole instrument was not sub
mitted to vote Of the people. The consti-
tuition as formed by the Cow ention, the peo
pie Of Kansas were compelled to receive as
a whole, with the single privilege Of having
it with or without Slavery. The vote was
to be "The Constitution with Slavery" or,
"The Constitution without Slavery" That is,
they were to receive the Constitution with
all its provisions, and could only say in ref
erence to the future, whether there should or
should not be@Slavery in Kansas. The Con
stitution contains provision that the slaves
already in Kansas shall remain in that con-
ditiop. This provision Of course was often
sive to the ans;-Siavery party-Thai, with
the unusual course adopted by the convention,
in not submitting the entire constitution to
be accepted or rejected ~ vote of the PEG.
pie, determined nearly the whole of the anti
Slavery party to take no part whatever IN
the election. The result was, on the 2lSt of
December, that the constitution with Slavery
WAS carried by vote Of 6,l43 for to $50
against. Secondly, The Convention ordered
an election to be held on the 4th Of January
for the choice of state officers under the new
constitution. Stanton, beca Inc the acting
Governor of Kansas after the resignation
of W alker, and he convened an extra Session
of the Legislature Of Kansas, which accord
ingly assembled on the 9th December. For
this act. the Preside mt removed him from Of
flee, and appointed Denver in his place. The
Legislature authorized another election, to
come off on the 4th January, at the same
time the election fol- State officers, was fixed
BY the Convention. At this election, authori-
zed BY the Legislature, the achole constitution
was submitted to vote Of the.peope, and the
result was, that there were against the Con-
sti;ution 10, 226, and for it with Slavery" 81
aud for it without Slavery" 1873. Now, 1t is
worthy of especial remark, that the admins
tra,ion has re cognized the legality Of each Of
these three elections. Denver was instructed
by dispatch under date of llth Dec, ''to
respect the righful action oe the Legislature
and Mr.. Cass added: should it the Legsla-
ture1 authorize an election for any purpose
this election should be held without inter
rupti on, no less than those authorized 10y tie
Convention"
The Lccompton Constitution has been
returned to Congress, as having been alop-
ted by the people Of Kansas with Slavery
and the whole power, and influence of the
administration are brought to bear TO carry ii
through Congress. Dous'as at the head of fh'
free-sol party, is pitied against the measure
and the excitement and the struggle bids fair
to be porientous.
We confess ourselves at loss to account
Tor the faulty, that seems 10 us to ac!nate
politicians on this same Kansas question:
There certainly can be no intelligent man
in the ration, in The. smallest degree CONVEX
sant with the facts relating to the political
character of the people Of Kansas, who does
not know with perfect certainty, that ihe ma
jority OF the PEG pie OF that Territory, are de-
cidrdly opposed to the institution OF Slavery.
Not only does every man who knows any
thing on the subject know, that there is a
majority there opposed to Slavery, but he
knows that ma)uri', ~ be overwhelming; he
knows it to be utterly vain for the mere trac-
ton of pro Slavery men there, to think OF
contending against that majority. Al! con
cede that Kansas must be free State: that
this is inevitable Under this State O. facts
then, we are amazed that an effort is made
10 oppose this settled doom, this fixed fate Of
the new commonwealth All concede that
the people have the right to regulate thel'
domestic institutions in their own way. That
is the ''great principle" of the Kansas Ne
braska act, SO loudly Wanted by the .domi
nal party. 1t makes part of their platform,
it is their song of peace and their song q
war; aad yet in the face Of this great prin
cple - and in direct contravent!on of it, the
administration is exerting all its power tc
carry through Congress the Lecompton Con
sttution with Slavery. And what is sran
Ger still, Mr. buchanan insists at'"Domes
tic peace will be the happy consequences Of
its admission;''. and he says that after admis
sion ''if majority OF them desire to abolish
domestic Slavery there is no other possible
mode by which this can be effected SC
speedily as by prompt admission" And again