The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-22

shed as aforesaid for least months prior to the
next general election, at which election such proposed
1 snail be submitted to the people for their ap
po or reJecton and il the majority of the vo-
ting at such election shall adopt such amendments tho
| same shall become part of the constitution
section j. When more than amendment is submit
ed at the same time they shall be submitted as to
oe e electors to vote upon each amendment separately
oecuon Il. NO convention for the formation of new
constitution shall be called and amendment to the
constitution shall be, by the general assembly made
before the year 1856 than once in five wears
| thereafter. '
The second reply is ths:-Suppose the grievance
real and that it ought to be redressed it is unne-
cessary Tor Congress to unlawfuy interfere for
that purpose, inasmuch as the IecomptOn Conven-
tlon mas provided full lawful and perfect remedy
lor every conceivable grievance, and placed that
remedy In the unrestricted hands of the majority
OF the people, by inserting in the constitution of
Kansas the following distinct and unequivocal re-
cognlzltion Of power:-
All political power inherent in the people, and all free
are founded on their authority, and instituted
or helr benefit and therefore they have at all times an
naenabe and ndeeasibe right to alter reform or abo
Sn their form OF government in such they may
think proper. -
The abolitionists of Kansas have thus far souobt
power by methods unknown to the law and by yio-
renee, and not through the peaceful agency of the
ballot box Claiming to have majority of the yo-
ters OF the Territory, and thetore able to elect leg
lsatures and conventions, they ask Congress- to
wrongtully do for them what they NAV. at LEGAL
tunes and legal places rightfully do for themselves;
that Is, change or abolish their constitution And
IN case Congress refuses to comply with their uncon
stltutiona demand, they threaten to aIict the conn
try with an attempt at bloodshed and revolution
Unless Congress will do for them what they assert
they are numerous enough to do for themselves but
Whch they Wllltully refuse to do, they threaten to
plunge the country into civil war. This conduct il
so exceedingly unreasonable as to force the conyic
ton upon the mind that they are conscious of being
IN hopeless minority, and only expect to be able to
compass their unwarrantable ends by extorting them
from the general love of peace and quiet. If your
committee are not greatly mistaken these reckless
men mlSludge the American people, and will be re-
CURED to seek peaceful methods for the redress of
mary. 7
The committee do not approve the ordinance ac-
c0mpanyng the constitution, and report against its
allowance; put they do not regard it any part of
the constitution will its approval or disapproyal
by congress affect the validity of that constitution
II the State be admitted into the Union as recon-
mended.
In conclusion, this committee is of opinion that
When constitution of newly formed State, crea-
TED out OF our own territory is presented to Con-
gress Tor admission into the Union. it is no part of
the duty or privilege of Congress either to approve
or dsapprOve the constitution itself and IFS various
PROVISIONS or any of them, but simply to see wheth
er 1t be the legal constitution of the new State,
whether it be republican in form, whether the
boundaries proposed be admissible, and whether the
number OF inhabitants be sufficient to Justify indie
pendent State organization.
belleVng that the paper presented is the legal
constitution of Kansas that it is republican in its
form, that the boundaries proposed by it are adms
s!ble and conceding the suilicency of the popula
uon, the committee recommend the admission of
Kansas into the Union upon the constitution pre-
sented, and report a bill accordingly
In order that our readers may have before them
all three sides of the question, presented by this tr
angular discussion, if such it may be called where
two OF the contending parties agree perfectly in
their conclusions, and only differ as to the modes of
reasoning whereby they arrive at that conclusion
we shall present hereafter the views embodied in |
the minority reports of Senators CoLLAMER and
DOUGLAS