Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-12-17

S S'JN~'' - thSiSiOle, corulaily acqul-
esced IN what has been called the English
Compromise, and approved the Act for
the admission of the State Of Kansas
into the Union,' upon the terms therein
prescribed.
Under the ordinance which accompan-
led the Lecomptor constitution, tie peo-
pie of Kansas had claimed double the
quantity of public lands for the support
of common schools, which had ever been
previously granted to any State upon
entering the Union and also the alter
nate sections of land for twelve miles on
each side Of two railroads, proposed TO
be constructed from the northern TO the
southern boundary, and from the eastern
to the western boundary of the State
Congress, deeming these claims unrea-
sonable, provided, by the act of May 1,
1853, to which / have just referred, for
the admission of the State on an equal
footing with the original States, but upon
the fundamental condition precedent"
that a majority Of the people thereof, at
an election to be held for that purpose
should, in place of the very large grants
OF public lands, which they had demand
ed under the ordinance, accept such
grants as had been made to Minnesota
and other new States. Under this act.
should majority reject the proposition
offered them, sit shall be deemed and
held that the people of Kansas do not
desire admission into the Union with
said constitution under the conditions set
forth ia said proposition" In that event
the act authorises the people of the
Territory to elect delegates to form a
constitution and State government for
themselves, " whenever, and not before.
it is ascertained by census, duly and
legally taken, that the population of said
Territory equals or exceeds the ratio of
representation required for a member of
the House of Representatives of the
Congress of the United States" The
delegates thus assembled shall first
determine by a vote whether it is the
wish of the people of the proposed State
to be admitted into the Union at that time.
and, if so, shall proceed to form a consti-
tuition, and take all necessary steps for
the establishment of State government
in conformity with the federal constitu-
ton" After this constitution shall have
been formed, Congress, carrying out the
principles of Popular sovereignty and
nonintervention, have left g the mode
and manner of its approval or ratifca-
ItiOn by the people of the proposed State"
to be prescribed by law" and they
shall then be admitted into the Union
as State under such constitution thus
fairly and legally made, with or without
slavery, as said constitution may pre-
scribe"
An election was held throughout Kan
sas in pursuance of the provisions of
this act, on the second day of ADJUST
last, and it resulted in the rejection, by a
large majority, of the proposition sub
mitted to the people by Congress. This
being the case, they are now authorized
to form another constitution, preparato-
ry to admission into the Union, but not
until their number. as ascertained by a
census, shall equal or exceed the ratio
required to elect member to the House
Of Representatives.
1t is not probable, in the present state
of the case, that a third constitution can
be lawfully framed and presented to
Congress by Kansas, before its popula-
ton shall have reached the designated
number. Nor is it to be presumed that
after their sad experience in resisting the
territorial laws, they will attempt TO
adopt constitution in express violation
of the provisions of an act of Congress
During the session of 1856, much of tne
time of Congress was occupied on the
question Of admitting Kansas under the
Topeka constitution. Again, nearly the
whole Of the last session was devoted to
the question of its admission under the
Lecompton constitution. Surely it i:
not unreasonable to require the people o.
Kansas TO wait before making a third
attempt, until the number of their inhab.
itants shall amount to ninety-three thou
sand four hundred and twenty. During
this brief period the harmony of the
States, as well as the great business inter
ests Of the country, demand that the peo
pie of the Union shall not for a thirC
time be conyulsed by another agitation
on the Kansas question. BY waitin,
for short time, and acting in obedienc,
to law, Kansas viii glide into the Union
II Al. IL - =