The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-01-07
that the Constitution which they have


Nuht ahS OOasfhobOu tuty nave
made is not particularly obnoxious.
But. sir, the President of the United
States is really aud sincerely Of the opin.
ion that the Slavery clause has been fair.
ly nnd impartially submitted to the free
acceptance or rejection OF the people of
Kama; aud that inasInuch as that was
the exciting and paramount question, if
they get the ri Tito vote as they please
on that subject, they ought to be satisfied !;
aud possibly it might be better if we would
Scc"rt IT, and pat an cuI to the question.
Let lie ask, is the S.avcry clause fair
iy submitted, 30 that the people can vote
for or against! SuFro-e we're e;tiz n
Of kausas, aud should 10 up TO the polls
anl say, IL desire to vote TO make Kan
sas slave Ststei here is ny ballot. They
Ferly 10 me, Mr.. Douslat, Ju,t vote for
that Constitution FIRST, If you please. -
"Oh, 10! = | answer, 81 cannot vote for
that Con titutiou eouscieb;ionsly. am
opposed 20 the clause By which you To-
cate certain railroads, in such way as to
tacriice my county aud ny part of the
State. l am opposed to that banking
system. | am opposed TO this kuow
bothiog or American clause in the Con-
stitution about the qualification for Office.
caUnot vote for it," Then they answer,
You shall rot vote On making slave
State" | then say, 81 want TO make it
free State" They reply, "votc for
that Conttitution FIRST and, then you can
vote to make it free State, otherwise
YOU cannot" Thas hey disqualify ev-
cry slave State man who will not first vote
for the Constitution. No matter wheth
rr or not the voters state that they cannot
couscieutiouNly vote for those provisions,
they reply, "You cannot vote for or "a
gaast slavery then Take the Constitu-
zion as VIC have made it take the elective
franchise as We haSe established it, take
The banking system as We base dictated
If, take the railroad lines as We have To-
Gated them, take the judiciary system a.
we haze forred it, take it all as We have
fixed it to suit ourselves, and ask no
questions, but vote for it, or you shall not
vote either for a slave or free State. -
10 other words, the legal effect of the
scbednle is this. All those who are in
favor Of this Constitution may vote for or
against Slavery, as they please; but all
those who are against the Constitution are
DISTINGUISHED, aud shall not vote at ell.
That is the mode in hicl the Slavery
,ropo.i ition is submitted. Every man op-
yosrd 10 tie Constitution i, diSira nchi.ed
on the Slavery clause. How many are
they! They tell you there is a N ajori
ty, for they say the Constitution will be-
voted down instantly by an Overwhelming
majority, If yo2isliOu negative vote
This shows that a majority are against.
They di-qualify and di>franshise every
man who is againstit, thus referring the |
SlavcrJ clause OF ainority free to vote
for or against slavery as they choose,
Let me ask you if that is fair node
of >uba.:tting the Slavery cIau.e! Does
that mode of submitting that particular
clause leave people perfectly free to vote
for or against Slavery, Is they choose -
Am | free to vote as | choose OF the Sla- |
very question, i: you tel me | shall not
vote on it until vote for the Maine IL
qIor law Am | free to vote on the Sla-
very question, if you tell ne that | shall
not vote either way uutil vote for a bank
l, il freedom Of election to make your
light to vote upon one question depend
upon the mode III which you are going to
vo,e Oh soue other question which has no
come cction with it. l. that freedom of e.
lcctjou Is that the great fundamental
jriuciplc Of sclf-gOrerument, FOR which
,se coa.biBed and struggled, 10 this body
AMI th oughOat the country. to establish
Is the rule of action 10 all time to come !
TIE Pie,iGeut of the the United States
had made some TeDGrks in the message,
whieh itS;rikcs NE it ouid be very appro-
priate to read In this connection. He says:
"Thc friends aud supporters of the
Nebraska ard Kansas aat, Ehcn straz. |
giiug on rec@at occasion to sustain its
J, rovisiOns before the great tribunal of the
AWerican people, never differed about its
true meaning on this subject. Every
" berc tbroug hout the Uuion they public
ly pledged their faith and honor that they
would cbcerfuily submit the question of
Slavery to ihe decision of the 60na file
proplo eff Kansas, withot any restriction
or qualification whaeyer. All were cor
'liolly united upon the great doctrine OF
popular sovereignty, which is the vital
rrineifle Of cur free n'ttutions!'
Max this
Had it then been insiuuated, from any
quarter, that it would have been a sufi-
cleni compliance with the requisitions oil
the organic law for the memters of Con-
vention, thereafter to be elected, to with
hold the quettiou of Slavery from the
Icop,e, and to substitute their OWE will
for that of legally sseertaned majority
of their constituents, this would have been
instantly rejected"
Yes. sir, and viii add further, bad il |
been then intimo oted from any quarter,
a1d believed By tie American people,
that it would have submitted tie Slavery
clause, not only would the idea have been
reject. d. but the Democratic candidate
IN