True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-24
VOL. NO. 8,


have an opportunity Of expressing his
opinion by his vote, whether Kansas shall
be received into the Union with or with
out Slavery The election will be held
under Legitimate authority and If any
portion Of the inhabitants shall refuse 10,
vote, q fair opportunity to do SO having
been presented, this will be their own vol.
untary act, and they alone will be respon-
sible for theeonsequences."
Is il mere partisan heat and partisan
zeal, or is it the reckless arrogance Of
power, that prompts the President Thus
to speak; thus TO faIsify the record
thus TO insult an outraged people I? A
Legitimate election and fair opportunity
to vote A dictator determines and choo-
ses the places and the officers Of the elec-
tion, and, with two or three of his co.
conspirators, determines the result Of the
election the people can vote only for
the Constitution framed and presented 10
them by these conspiralors. They must.
if required. swear, upon the pains and
penalties of perjury, to support that con-
stitution when adopted, and by its terms
are restricted, and shall in no event be
permitted, by alteration or amendment
thereof, to "affect the rights Of property
in the ownership Of slaves" With the
shadow of this great calamity upon them,
shedding its dubious twilight over all
their habitations, threatening the inauga-
ration in their midst of that anarchy
which is fearful in energy and atheistical
in creed, Tightening their pale faced vii.
lagos with war, and profaning their tenn
Piles and shrines with the blood of murder,
they are mocked with the Infamous and
gratultous counsel Of submission. Sub.
nit, submit, says the President. and vote
now that you have fair opportunity, for
this Constitution, framed by the usurpers
and tyranls, or be yourselves, j." alone
responsible for the consequences.
Responsible, sir, for what consequen.
ces! For the consequences of refusing
to submit 10 Federal diclation and Federal
surpation-responsibIe for the conss-
quences of provoking, by this act of die
obedience, that vengeance which slumbers
in the arm Of the Federal Executive.
Sir, the threat is as weak as it is wicked.
The millions of the populouS North would
revolt against the attempt Of the Federal
Government 10 arrogate to itself the pow
er expressly reserved to the people-the
power to form their own local and State
institutions. The President himself con-
fesses that the people Of Kansas are al
lowed only to vote for this Constitution;
and that. although they should all vote
for it with no Slavery, they must, never
theless. have it ,Oith Slavery, and must
support it with Slavery and to excuse
this atrocious invasion of the peoples
rights, the. President says;
"Should the Constitution without Sla-
very be adopted by the votes of the majori-
! ty, the rights of property in slaves now in
the Territory are reserved. The number
of these is very small but it were grea-
ter. the provision would be equally just
and reasonable. These slaves were bro't
into the Territory under the Constitution
of the United States, and are now the pro-
perty of their masters. This point has at
length been finally decided by the highest
judicial tribunal of the country; and this
upon the plain principle, that when con-
federacy ofsovereign States acquire new
Territory at their joint expense, both
equality and justice demands that the citi-
zens Of one and all Of them shall have the
right to take into it whatsoever is recog-
, missed as property by the common Constitu
tion." 02I
l A most humilating confession-should
. the people adop. the Constitution without
Slavery, the rights Of property in slaves
7 now in the Territory are reserved, and
therefore they have Constitution with
F., Slavery; and this, we are told by the
! President, "is just and reasonable" be-
cause "these slaves were brought into the
, Territory under the Constitution Of the
United States" and "are now the prop
erty of their masters" II only remains
for the President 10 say that all the peo-
5 pie Of Kansas are now the property Of
r their masters. In another communica.
} tion, the President has told the country
9 "Ihat Slavery existed in Kansas under
/. the Constitution of the United States; -
and now he says 'this point has been
1 decided by the highest judicial tribunal;"
5 and yet he says. as if he were demented,
o ''the question has been fairly and ex-
t pressly referred to the people, whether
r they will have Constitution with or
{ without Slavery, and every citizen may
/; express, by his vote. whether Kansas
e shall be received into the Union with OF
j. without Slavery" Surely this cannot
}. be, If Slavery is in Kansas under and by
# virtue Of the Constitution Of the United
i. Stetes. Why talk Of Submitting it to the
1 people, when Slavery is there, not by
e force Of their will, but by force Of the
Q Constitution Of the United Statesl Why
/ talk Of the peopla Of Territory exclu
0 ding that which the Constitution of tn,
# United States sanctions and upholds p
!. Can The people Of Kansas repeal. by vote
t. or otherwise, the Constitution Of the Uni
of ted Statesl Is i not written on the fac,
n of that instrument, 'this Constitution
St shall be the supreme law ofihe land, hi
Constitution and laws Of any State 70 thl
II contrary Notwithstanding I" If there