Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-12-10

II tAClttlutul IHe luis
i Election may prove tc be lesson of wisdom
4 and of warning for our future guidance. Prac
tically considered, the question is simply
whether the people of that Territory should
| first come into the Union and then change any
provision in their constitution not agreeable to
| themselves, or accomplish the very same object
| by remaining out of the Union and framing
another constitution in accordance with their
will? In either case. the result would be pre-
cisely the same. The only difference in point
offact is, that the object would have been much
sooner attained, and the pacifcation of Kansas
more speedily effected, had it been admitted as
a State during the last session of Congress.
My recommendations, however for the i'm
mediate admission of Kansas failed TO meet the
| appreciation of Congress. They deemed it
wiser to adopt different measure for the set
tlcment of the question. For my own part
should have been willing 10 yield my assent to
almost any constitutional measure TO accom-
plish this object. |, therefore. cordially acqui-
esed in what has been called the English COM
promise, and approved the .'act for the admis-
sion of Kansas into the Union, upon the terms
| therein prescribed.
| Under the ordinance which accompanied the
Lecompton constitution, the people 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 toe Union; and also the alternate sec.
tions 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 4, 1858, to
which | heve just referred, for rhe admission of
/ the States, but ''upon the fundamental condi-
ton" that majority of the people thereof at
an election to be held for that purpose, should
in place of the very large granite of public lands
which they had demanded under the ordinadce,
accept such grants as had been made to MINES
ota and other new States.
| Under this act. should majority. reject the
proposition offered them, - it shall he deemed
and held that the people of Kansas do not de-
sire admission into he Union with said consti-
tuition under the conditions set forth in said
proposition" In that event, the act authori-
ses the people of the Territory to elect dele
gates to form constitution and State govern
ment for themselves, whenever. and not before
it is ascertained by census, duly and legally
taken, that the population of said Territory
equal or exceeds the ratio of representation re-
onired for a member of the House of Represcn-
tatives of the Congress of the United States"
The delegates thus assembled .'shall first de
termine by vote whether it is the wish of the
into the Union at that time. and. If So shall
proceed to form a constitution, and take all
necessary steps for the establishment of Il State
government in conformity with the federal con-
stitution.' After this constitution shall have
lecn formed, Congress, carrying out the prin-
ciples of popular sovereignty and nontervcIs-
ton, have left ..thc mode and manner of its
approval or ratification by the people of the
proposed States TO be ''prc>cribcd 10y law
and they shall then he admitted into the Union
"a State under such constitution thus fairly
and legally made with or without slavery. as
said constitution may prescribe
An election was held throughout Kansas, in pur-
suance Of the provisions of this Act on the second
day of August last and it resulted in the rejection
by a large majority, of the proposition submitted
to the people by Congress. This being the case
they are now authorized to farm another Cunsti-
tuition, preparatory to admission into the Unan
bnt until their number, ascertained by a CEN
sus, shall equal or exceed the ratio required to
1t is not probable in hs present statie 81 In.
case, that a third constitution can be lawfully
framed and presented to Congress by Kansas be-
fore its population shall have reached the desisna-
ted number. Nor is it to be presumed that, after
their sad experience in resisting the territorial
laws, they wlll attempt to adopt constitution in
express violation OF an act of Congress. During
the session of 1859, much of the time of Congress
as
under the Topeka cnnstitItion. Again, nearly the
whole OF the last session was devoted To the 1ues-
ton of its admission under the Lecumpto4 cUnsti.
tuition. Surely it Is not unreasonable To require
the people of Kansas TO wait before making third
attempt until the number of their inhabitants shall
amount to ninety-thrSe thousand four hundred and
twenty.
During this brief period the harmony of the
States as well rs the great business interests Of
the country, demand that the people of the Union
shall not for a third time be convulsed by another
agitation on the Kansas question. BY waiting for
a short time, and acting in obedience to law, Kan
sas will glide into the Union without the slightest
impedment.
This excellent provision; which Congress have
applied to Kansas ought to be extended and rem
dered applicable to all Territories which may here
after seek admission into the Union.
Whilst Congress possess the undoubted power
of admitting State into the Union, however
small may he the number of its inhabitants vet
this power ought not, in my opinion, to be exsr-
cised before the population amount to the ratio
required by the act for the admission of Kansas
Had this been previously the rule the country
would have escaped all the evils and misfortunes
to which it has been exposed by the Kansas ques-
ton.
OF course it would be unjust to give this rule a |
retrospective application, and exclude a State |
which, acting upon the past practice Of the govern
ment, has already formed its constitution, elected |
Its legislature and other officers, and pre-
pared to enter the Union.
The rule ought TO be adopted, whether we |
consider its bering on the people Of the Terrific
ries or upon the people of the existing States |
Many Of the serious dissensiOns which have pre- /
vailed in Congress and throughout the country,
would have been avoided, had this rule been es- |
tabiished at an earlier period OF government
Immediately upon the formation Of new
Territory, people from different States and for
eign countries rush into it, for the aulable pur-
pose Of improving their condition. Their first
duty to themselves is to open and cultivate farms,
to construct roads, TO establish schools. to erect
places of religious worship and to devote their
energies generally to reclaim the wilderness and
TO lay the foundation Of fiOurishing and pros
porous commonwealth
If, in this incipent condition, with a popula-
ton of a few thousand, they should prematurely
enter the Union, they are oppressed by the bur
den OF State taxation, and the means necessary
fer the improvement of the Territory and the
Advancement OF their own interests, are thus di-
verted to very different purposes.
The Federal government has ever been
liberal parent to the Territories, and a gener-
Gus contributor to the useful enterprises of the
early settlers. 1t has paid the expenses of
their governments and legislative assemblies
out OF the common treasury, and thus relieved
them from a heavy charge
Inr tbasn or