The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-04-01
9oltttral
The Voice Of a Southern States
man and Patriot,
Speech of Hon. J. J. Crittenden,
or KENTUCKY,
Delivered IN the u. s. Senate, Narch II.
1853.


quate am, Mr. President to add any
thing to the various arguments that
have been employed on this subject dur
ing the long discussion through which .
we have passed. and yet I should not
perform my duty, according to my views,
II I omitted to express my SEN
timents and feelings on the subject be- |
fore the Senate I do not intend to oc-
cupy your time with exordiums, Sir
The right Of the people to govern them
selves is the great principle upon which
our Government and its institutions
all depend. 1t seems to me that this
great pricipIo is not inapplicable to the
present subject.
THE LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION
The President Of the United States
communicated to as an instrument
called the Constitution Of the people
of the Territory of Kansas, and he has,
with unusual earucstness, advised and
recommended us to admit Kansas uh-
der that Constitution, as a State, into
this Union The question, as it has
presented itself to my mind, involves
an inquiry as TO the. matters of fact
bearing upon this instrument of wri-
ting, and whether these authorize us
to regard this instrument as the Con-
stitution Of the people Of Kansas. Is
this their Constitution? Does it en-
body their will? Does it come here
under such sanctions that we are oblig.
ed to regard it, Or ought to regard it,
as the permanent, fundamental law and
Constitution of this new State? 1 do
not think it comes with such a sanction,
or ought to be regarded as the Constitu-
ton of the people of Kansas Sir, 1
shall not occupy your time longer on
this point.
What are the evidences that it is so?
tits made by a Convention, to be sure,
called under the authority of an act of
the Legislature Of Kansas. 1t is made
by delegates regularly elected by this
people, and pyima tacje it would ap-
pear that it had the sanction Of the
people of Kansas; but 1 think there
arc evidences of higher character to
show that il is not so, that it is but in
appearance a Constitution, and not in
reality.
In the first place, the fact is estab
lished beyond all controversy that an
overwhelming majority of the people of
Kansas are opposed to this instrument
as their Constitution. The two highest
officers of the Federal Government late.
ly there under appointment from the
President of the United States, Gov
Walker and Secretary Stanton, both as
sure us of that fact upon their persona
knowledge. This is high evidence t
establish the fact that it is against the
will of an overwhelming majority Of
the people upon whom it is to be i'm
posed as a Constitution.
THE VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTION.
The Constitu ion in part was submit
ted to the people. shall not stop tt
inquire how it was submitted, whethe
fairly or not. A part of it was submit
D ted, however to the people, and, upor
a vote taken by the people on the CLAUSE
thus submitted it received 6,00O votes
and a little more. These are the sane
tions with which it comes to US. Z,
this extent it would seem to have tn
, popular appreciation. But Sir, WheI
4 you come to look a little further into tn
a Investigations which have taken plac
in that Territory, it appears to us tina
of those 5000 votes, about 5000 Wer
4 fictitious and fraudulent That is re
q ported to us by the minority reports OF
our Committee on Territories; that
!, verified to us by the proclamation is
o sued by the President of the Counci
% and the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes Of the Territorial Legislator
of Kansas These high officials, VIII
4 were invited by Mr.. Calhoun to witnes
d the counting of the votes which wer
p returned to him, certify from their per
= sonal knowledge that more than 200
Of the 5000 votes which were given i
D three precincts in the counties of John
n son and Leavenworth were fctitiou
y votes 1 only call your attention t
r this, in order that it may appear truth
d fully who it was that approved Of thi
e Constitution.
= That vote was taken on the 21st o
U DEGGnDIa DElOLb Luhb NDLG was bhhEl
however, a Legislature, which was cleo
ed in October last, and which met o
10 the call Of the Acting Governor, Nj
Stanton, in December, passed an az
postponing that vote from the 21st q
December to the 4Jh Of January O
y the 4th Of January, under tho provi
,e ions Of that act, a question was take
10 upon the Constitution itself broadly
Is 1t provided that the question should
taken upon the Leoompton Constitute
with Slavery, the Lecompton Constit
ton without Slavery, and generally u
on the Constitution itself Upon tn
occasion, over 10000 voted against Il
Constitution; and the Legislature of Il
Territory Of Kansas have passed resol
IN tions unanimously protesting again
the reception Of this instrument as tI
Constitution of the State, declaring th
it was obtained by fraud, and that it h
Of not the sanction or concurrence Of an
ds except a small minority Of the peop
This Is the substance Of their resol
tions.
DOES THE CONSTITUTION REPRESENT Tl
WILL or THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS?
d.. Now, I ask you, Sin, upon this o,