The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-08
THE LECOIPT0N CONSTITUTION.
Gov. Walker 30 The Democracy Of New
Jersev
iIoDoKEN, N. J. March, 81, 1859.

" OENILEMEN L reSTet that II Is not
IN my power to accept your kind invita-
tIon to address the Democracy of Sussex
County, New-Jcrsey, at the meeting call
ed Tor Tuesday next, to express their op
position to the Lecompton Constitution.
That is an appropriate name for that in
strument, for it is not the Cous titutioh of
the State of Kansas. The Constitution
of State is their FIRST great fundament-
al law-their Magma Charta-not em.
bodying however, rights, as mere priyi-
legcs granted by royal power, either to
loyal or robclious subjects, but as the
free will of the people themselves. BY
that people it must be fairly aud freely
made, and by them presented for the ac.
ceptance of Congress; and if it he not the
will of the people of Kansas, it is not
their Constitution, under whatever spe-
cious forms, or fraudulent devices, or
transparent forgeries, it may be forced
upon them. The Lecompton fiction is
not State Constitution, for that can on
ly be fairly and freely made by the peo-
pie of State; but it is wretched coun-
terfeit, sought to be forced by violence,
frauds and forgeries, under the pretend
ed forms of law upon protesting people.
And when did not usurpation, fraud and
forgery invest themselves with the sem
blance Of legal forms and powers !
When the British Parliament adopted
the obnoxious tea tax and stamp duties,
it was done under all the forms of law.
1t passed the British Parliament; it re-
ceivcd the royal signet; asserting or ex-
pcctant place men, timid or corrupt, gave
it their wretched sanction. Nay, more;
the royal G Gorge (like his Stuart prede-
cessor, James the lst,) denounced our
ancestors, who opposed these laws, as
rebels and traitors; but we, the people.
who have simply protested against tho
adoption of such laws, are visited With
similar threats and condemnation. Rcb-
els against what! Traitors to whom =
Is it to our country which we love, to the
Federal Constitution we revere, to the
Union we would perpetuate, to State and
popular sovereignty we would fortify and
uphold, or is it to our insolent servants,
now By our votes exercising little brief
authority, and dcnouncing the people,
their masters, with treason and rebellion!
When the usurpations preceding the
Revolution occurred, under tue forms of
law; the people, asserting their majesty,
rose in opposition. First, they pctitioned;
next they protested, then they denounced:
and last they fought for the great princi-
pie of self-governmcnt. Among the rest,
the people of New Jerscp then rose to the
rescue of their threatened liberty. They
conquered, even by bullets, where We
may now succeed by ballots only New
Jersey in that day was not only then the
headquarters of Washington-tbe STRAIT
egical line of military operations i but
also the victorious battle field of the Rev
olution. From the glorious hills Of old
Morris, first touched by the sunlight of
liberty ere it reached the plains below,
from the bloody ground of Monmouth to
the decisive triumphs of Trenton and
Princeton, the people of New Jersey rose
in defense of their rights and libertlcs.-
After a long night of gloom aud dark
ness, victory perched at length upon our
standard. Marathon witnessed the birth
of Grecian liberty, but Trenton and
Princeton not only beheld the dawn of
our freedom, but it is hoped also, unlike
Marathon, will never witness our decline
But We are now in the midst of the bat
tie; the bugle notes are sounding to the
advance of the approaching columns; the
principles of our Revolutionary Fathers
are now endangered; the right Of self
government is again invaded, and the
people of New Jersey are called once
M ore to the rescue. Talk to Us not now
of any of tie Democracy which admits
not in form only, but in reality. the pow
er of the people. Talk to us not now of
State rights if, under frauds and forge
ries, proved and established, under forms
or fctions however specious, the people
of State DO not. in fact, make their
Constitution Talk to us not Of popular
sovereignty, if the people in fact co not
establish all their own domestic instisa-
tions. Many criminals have escape un-
der the forms Of law; but seserelSn
State is not criminal Ne miserable
qui5bles, worthy the lowest Fie Poudre
Court, can touch the case of sovereign
State upon the great QAestiOn of her ad-
mission into the Upioh' On such ocea-
sions, affecting tbe sacred and sovereign
ri sht, of the people of State upon the
great aucsti5n of her admission iuto the
Union. Ga such an occasion, affecting the
sacred and sovereign rights of the people
of state, the great question Is 90 they
present their own Constitution, framed by |
themselves, and ask. under its provisions
to be admitted into the Union ! 1t not,
there is an end of the question; and u,
under such circumstances, Congress should
force the people of a State into the Union
their will. our Government would
have become consolidated despotism,
the liberties of the people would have |
vanished, and State rights have sunk, as
undiscoyerable spots upon the Orb oil
resistless central power. Ii this can now
T. 80 fho nrpte Xt hat (WrOnV and |