Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-10

dition of to rvet the anxious attention Of
people ofthe whole country it. and it alone.
No person thought Of any other question. Forimy
gsuerafserms, infavor Of submitting the Consdtu-
ton ID she.peope, hsd no object in view except
the al.absorbing question of slavery. In, what
manner the people of Kansas might reguatessthelr
other concerns, was not q subject which attracted
any attention. In fact the general provisions OF
our recent State Constitutions after experience
of eighty years. are 50 similar and SO excellent that
it would be difficult to 60 far wrong at the present
day in framing new Constitution. .u.,..-.,.. -
then Believed and still believe, that, under the
organic act, the Kansas convention were bound to
submit this allimportaht question of slavery to the
people, 1t never, however, my opinion that, in.
dependenty Of this act they would have been bound
to submit any portion of the constitution to popu'
lar VOTE in order to give it validity. Had enter !
tanned such opinion, this would have been in OPP
position to many precedents in our history, COM I
mencing in the very best age OF the republic . 1t
would have been in opposition to the principle
which pervades our institutions and which is every
day carried out into practice, that the people have
the right to delegate to representatives. chosen oy
themselves, their sovereign power to frame cUnsti-
tutions enact laws. and perform many other I'M
portant acts without recurring that these SHOULD be
subjected to their subsequent appreciation 1t would
be most nconvenient Limitation OF their own pow
err imposed bv the people upon themselves, to ex.
cude them from exercising their sovereignty in any
lawful manner they think proper. 1t is true that
the people of Kansas might, if they had pleased,
have required the convention to submit the const'tu-
ton to popular vote but this they have not DONE
The only remedy, therefore, in this case, is that
which exists in all other similar If the dele
gates who framed the Kansas constitution have in
any manner violated the will Of their constituents,
the people always possess the power to change
their constitution or their laws, according to their
own pleasure.
The question of slavery was submitted to an eec-
ton of the people of Kansas on the 21st December
last in obedience to the mandate OF the constitution.
Here, again, fair opportunity was presented to the
adherent, of the Topeka constitution, If they were
the majority, to decide this exciting question, in
their own way" and thus restore peace TO the dis
tracted Territory but they again refused to exercise
their right Of popular sovereignty, and again suffer-
ed the election to pass by default
heartily rejoice that wise and better spirit pre-
vailed among large majority Of these people on the
first Monday of January and that they did, on that
day, vote underline Lecompton constitution for a
Governor and other State officers, member of Con-
gress, and for members Of the Legislature. This
election warmly contested by the parties, and a
in the Territory. We may now reasonably hope that
the revolutionary Topeka organization will be speed-
~ and finally abandoned aud this will 60 far towards
the final settlement Of the unhappy differences in
Kansas II frauds have been committed at this cleo
ton, either by one or both parties, the legislature
| will know how to redress themselves and punish
these dctestabe but too common crimes without any
| outside interference
The people of Kansas have then, I" in their own
way" and in strict accordance with the organic act,
! framed Constitution and State Government have
submitted the all-important question OF slavery to
| the people, and have elected Governor, member
to represent them in Congress- members of the State
Legislature, and other State officers. They now ask
admission into the Union under this Constitution,
| vyhi iS m in itS iS (onprpSS
to decide whether they will admit reject the State
| which has thus been created. For my own part,
am decidedly in favor of its admission and thus ter
pfpati9g the Kansas question. This will carry out
and sanctioned by the organic act. which declares
express language in favor of non-intervention by
Congress with slavery in the States or Territories"
leaving the people thereof perfectly free TO form
and regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the Constitution of the United
States" In this manner, by localizing the question
OF slavery, and combining it to the people whom it
Immediately concerned, every patriot anxiously ex-
pected that thisqueston would be banishcd from the
halls of Congress, where it has always exerted bale
| ful influence throughout the whole country.
1t is proper that should briefly refer to the cleo
ton held under act of the Territorial Legislature,
on the first Monday Of January last, the Lecomp
ton Constitution. This election helda the
territory had been prepared for admission into the
Union as sovereign State, and when no authority
existed in the Territorial Legislature which could
existence or chaHge It's
| The election which was peaceably conducted under
my instructions involved strange inconsistency
large majority OF the persons who voted against the
Lecompton Constitution, at the very same time
and place recognizing its valid existence in the most
solemn and authentic manner, by voting under its
provisions. have yet received official informa-
tion of the result of this election. 'fi
| AS question of expediency, after the right has
been maintained, it may be wise to reflect upon the
benefits to Kansas and to the whole country which
would result from its immediate admission into the
Union, as we'll the disasters which may follow its
| REJECTION Domestic peace will be the happy conse-
quence Of its admission, and that fine Territory,
which has hitherto been torn by discussions, will ra-
pidy increase in population and wealth, and speedily
realize the blessings and the comforts which follow
in the train Of agricultural and mechanical industry
The people will then be sovereign, and can regulate
their own affairs in their own way. If a majority OF
them desire to abolish domestic slavery within the
State, there is no other possible mode by which this
can be effected so speedily as by prompt admission
The will Of the majority supreme an6 irresistible
| when expressed in an orderly and lawful manner
they can make and unmake constitutions at pleas
ure. 1t would be absurd to say that they can i'm
pose letters upon their own power which they cannot
afterwards remove If they could do this they might
tie their own hands for hundred well for ten
years.
These are fundamental principles of American free
dom, and are recognized believe, in some form or
other by every State Constitution; and if Congress, in
the act Of admission should think proper to recognize
them, can perceive no objection to such course
This has been done cmphaticaly in the constitution
of Kansas 1t declares in the bill of rights that 'a
political power is inherent in the people, and all free
governments are founded on their authority and in
sttuted for their benefit and therefore they have at
all times an inaenable and indefeasable right alter
reform, abolish their form of government in such
manner as they may think proper" The great State
of New York is at this moment governed under a
constitution framed and established in direct oppos
ton to the mode prescribed by the previous consti
tuition. II, therefore, the provision changing the
Kansas constitution, after the year one thousand