Oroville daily Butte record. [volume] (Oroville, Butte County, Calif.) 1856-1858, 1858-01-19
The California Express of Monday, de.


gnments used, to arrive at an outrageously
anti-Democratic conclusion, seem to us some
what strange and unnatural to be employed
by National Democratic paper, we propose
to notice some Of them, and will endeavor to
do SO in spirit Of candor and fairness
We agree with the Express in the opinion
that
"The President of the United States has so liber
ally treated the subject in his message that Con-
gress Is not bound to look upon either side of the
question as an administration or anti administration
measure"
This being the case, Congress is free, so
far as the administration is concerned, to
settle the matter as they shall deem Just and
proper. There is but one way in which this
Democratic Congress can settle the question.
with honor to themselves and simple Justice
to their constituents, and that is by an ap-
plication of the principles embraced in the
national Democratic platform. A contrary
course, besides being tyrrannical and I'M
just towards the people of that Territory.
must inevitably overwhelm the party with
ruin and disgrace, by depriving the Democ-
racy of the northern States OF the national
ground they have so successfully and patri-
otically occupied.
In endeavoring to justify the reception of
the Lecompton constitution by Congress-, the
Express argues that the free State men of
Kanzas, which it admits are in the majority,
"Have rsfused-and of that there is no question:
to allow any constitutional convention to be called
so far as their consent was concerned in any other
way but their own, and when called upon to vote
fairly and squarely for delegates to such conven-
ton, stubbornly remained from the polls"
Why was not the census taken in the counties
and the registry of votes made in all cases. as
CURED Simply because the free state men, obsti.
nate and rebeous to the last refused to afford any
facilities for having these things done, but rather
interposed every possible difficulty in the way"
After admitting that the free State men
in KaDzas constitute the majority party,
the Express urges as reason why the con.
sutton framed by minority should be re-
eeiyed by Congress, that the free State party
(the admitted majority refused to allow
convention to be called in any other way
but their own! Nothing further is required
to be said upon this point. We apprehend
the most ardent advocate of the Lecompton
would hardly contend that
there was anything Democratic in that
point of argument.
In regard to the refusal of the free state
men to attend the polls at the election of
delegates to the Convention as alledged in
the above extract, we will let the Hon r j.
Walker, Governor of Kanzas, answer. Gov.
Walkers national Democracy has never
been doubted, and the article we are now
fully justfies his course. Gov.
Walker says:
ION reference to the territorial law under which
the convention was assembled, thirty -four regularly
organized counties were named as election districts
for delegates to the Convention In each and all of
these counties it was required by law thata census
should be taken and the voters registered a nd when
this was completed. that delegates to the csnven-
ton should be apportoned accordingly. In nine
teen of these counties there census and
therefore there could be such apportionment
there of delegates. based upon such census And in
fifteen Of these les there was no registry of
voters. These fifteen counties, including many of
the oldest organized counties of the Ter iorv were
entirely DISTINGUISHED. and did not give AND BY no
FAULT os THtER owe, could not give solitary vote
for delegates to the convention.
This result was superindueed by The factthat the
Territorial Legislature appointed all the Sheris and
Probate Judges in all these counties to whom was
assigned the duty by law of making this csnsus and
registry These officers political partizans dis
sening from the views andsopinions of the people of
these counties, proved by the election of 0ctober
st These officers from want of funds as thew AL
lege negec ted refused to take any census or make
any reg sry in these counties, and therefore thew
were entirely disfranched and could and did not
give single vote at the election for delegates to
the constitution convention
- Nor could it be said these conn
ties aequiesced, for wherever they endeavored by a
subsequent registry of their own to sunpIv
this def ct occasioned by the previous neglect of the
ia officers, the delegates thus chosen ware
rejected by the convention
Considering Gov Walkers facilities for
acquiring correct information upon this sub
ject as superior to those of the Frpress, we
will'rot pursue this point further
So tar as "full and fair vote" being Oh.
tanned upon any constitution that might
have been submitted to the people, we are
incin to believe that Gov. Walker. by the
aid of the United States troops, would have
secured fair if not full vote
But is it not little singular that paper
protesting to be a Union loving, constitu-
ton supporting, National Democratic organ
should contend for the adoption of a. consti-
ton Of which ii speaks as follows:
"As to the provision which forbids any Amendment
of the Constitution previous 10 1864 and then for
bids any change shich Affects the right property
in slaves we are incliDed to the opinion that il is
daa OF tar