The Washington union., 1858-01-31

the result by the speaker and president, and was
embraced by them in their aggregate. Hence it is
claimed that all the free4State officers have been
elected. N D @ a
General Calhoun will be here in few days, when
he will doubtless furnish complete returns
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS TO AL
y TER THEIR CONSTITUTION.
Authority is given to the people of Kansas by their
constitution to change, alter modify it after the
year 1864 BY the bill of rights accompanying the
same which is of equal authority with the consttu-
ton ITSELF it is directly affirmed that "al political
power is inherent in the people and all free govern
ments are founded on their authority"
History teaches us that the science of government,
as much as that of any other department of knowl-
edge, has been the slow development of ages. Great
political storms have ragged and subsidized, but
without disclosing purer atmosphere. This truth
has even been exhibited in country, evoked from
the trifng controversarics of State and fed
eral politics.
The State of New York adopted constitution in
1889. 1t contained many peculiar provisions, one
creating council Of revision, which endowed
with the veto power upon all laws passed by the
legislature The council was composed Of judges of
the supreme court and the chancellor of the State
sided over if we rccollect Alright by the chief justice
Judge Spencer, prominent and active politician of
the federal school, was the presiding genius of the
council, and became exceedingly obnoxious to the
democracy, who had grown into majority. The con-
stitution contained provision pointing out the
time or manner of its amendment. The democrats,
who held the governor and tho legislature took the
responsibility in defiance Of the council ofrevision,
to submit to the people proposition whether their
organic laws should be amended not, and the ma
jority voted in tho affirmative. In 1921 conven-
ton of representatives framed constitution,
embracing limitations touching the manner of its
amendment, which required that any proposed alter
alton should pass two consecutive legislatures by
vote Of majority Of all the members elected and
should be twice submitted to the people and be APP
proved by them. In 1916, during Silas Wrights ad-
minstraton, after considerable differences of opin-
ion had been expressed, another convention elected
under the simple act Of the Legislature, and
wholly disrcgarding the provisions of the consti-
tuition of 1921 in regard to amendment, but having
the direct sanction of majority Of the people,
organized dt Albany anu dle picScHI VI
law of New York. The State of Louisiana, we be-
lievc, adopted a few years ago the same principle
with reference the right Of the people at all times
to change, alter, or modify their constitution.
Without desiring to consult precedents any fur
ther, regarding only the reason Of the thing, it is
plain that the organic laws of the States of the
Union, made for the direction and guidance of rep
resentative organs of the people, and solely for their
benefit, are always in their hands, and subject Of
right to their absolute CONTROL The federal consti-
tuition is a compact or treaty contaminated between
independent natonaltics--a contract between legal
parties Between the latter and tho former there is
no possible analogy, except in name. The federal
compact was created by specific and limited dele
CATION of powers to the general government by the
STATES, not by the people Of the States. The
latter entered into the compact as independent ma
tions. There an obvious reason in framing such
an instrument for defining the terms and conditions
of its amendment net one of which is applicable to
State governments BY the former the parties to tho
compact undertook to have one revcnucand one pos
tai system army navy, ono special Judiciary,
to establish for the common benefit one diplomatic
and one navigation system. If we add to these the
war-making power, few trust duties and Legislative
and executive authority sufficient to carry the syste
into effect the specific purposes of the Union will
be seen Permancncy and regularity are the vital
elements which alone could assure it's success. The
government thus established was not popular gov
ernment 1t was not the work of the people in any
elective sense. Its Executive, and one branch of tho
Legislature, chosen by the States the house Of
representatives is electives but its powers checked
by two other coequal Legislative departments,
and an Executive in whom is intrusted the immense