Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-02-11

opinion this would have been in opposition TO many
prccedents IN our history, commencing in the very
best age ofour Republic. Itwould havo been in
opposition to the principles which pevadcs our in
situations, and which is every day carried into
practice. that the people have right to dele gate
the Representatives chosen by themselves, with
sovereign power to frame constitutions. enact laws
and.perlorn nanny other acts, without requiring
that these should be subjected 70 their subsequent
appreciation. Ii willie a most announcement limi-
tat;on oftheir own power, imposed by the people
upon them selves to exclude them from exercising
their sovereignty in any lawful manner in which
they think proper. His true. thai the people Of
Kansas might, if they l,,d pleased, required the
Convention to submit Constitution to a popular
vote, butt they hive not done. The only rent
edy therefore in this is that which exists in all
other cases. Il the delegates Who framed the Con-
sttuhon, have, in any manner, violated the will of
their constituents, the people always possess the
power to change tina. Constitution or laws according
to their own pleasure.
The question ofSlavcrr was submitted TO the
election of the people tho 2ist December last.
in obedience TO the mandate of the Constitution
Here again fair opportunity was presented TO the
adherents of the Topeka Constitution If they were
the majority, to decide this exciting question in
their own way, and thus restore the peace of the
territory, but they again refused to exercise the
right of Popular Sovereignty aud again suffered the
election to pass By default.
/ heartily rejoice that wiser and better spirit
prevailed among large minority of the people on
the first Monday in January, and that they did on
that day vote under the Lecomrton Constitution
for Governor and other State officers. member
Of Congress and members Of the Legislature. This
election was warmly contested by the parties, and
larger vote polled than at any previous election in
the territory. We my now re lson,bly hope that
the revolutionary Topeka orr anizition will be
speedily and finally abandoned, and this will 90 far
towards the 6nal settlement OF tho unhappy differ
ences in Kansas II frauds have been committed at
this election, by one bcparties, the Legislature
and the people of Kansas, under their Constitution,
know how To redress themselves and punish these
dctcstable crimes, without outside interference
The people of Kansas have then, in their own way,
and in strict accordance with the organic act franz
ed Constitution and State Government, Rave SUBJ
mitted the all important question OF slavery to the
people, and hare elected Governor, a member OF
Congress, members of the State Legislature and
other officers, and they now ask adm ssion into the
| Union under this Constitution. Republican in
in its form, it il for Congress 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 thus terminating the Kansas
question This will carry Us to the great principle
of non -interrenton sanctioned by the organc act,
which declares in express language in favor OF the
non intervention of Congress with slavery in the
-lttS illu thS iChtiS tStiSSs
ly free to form AMI regulate their domestic insttu-
tons in their way, subject only to the Constu
ton of the United States. In this mtnnerby local
ixng the question of slavery and connlnS It to the
,oplc. who are Immediately concerned, every pa
trot anxiousy expected that the question would be
banishcd from the halls Of Congress-, where it has
alws W exerted b,neul influence to the country.
| Mr.. Rachauan flrther SAYS it has been soemnly
adudgcd by tho highest judicial tribunal, that
slavery exists in Kansas by virtue OF the Con-
stitulion ofthe United States. Kansas rs therefore
ut this moment as much a slave State as Georgia
| or South Carolina. Without this the equality of
the sovereign States, composing the Union, would
be violated, and the and enjoyment oil territor?
acquired BIZ the common treasure all tho States
would be closed against the people and property oil
nearly half OF the members OF the c0Eiederacy.-
Slavery can therefore never be prohibited in Nan
sis,except through the means OF Constitutional pro-
vsions, and in no other manner can this be obtain
cd 90 promptly, If the majority ofthe people desire
il, rs by admitting her into the Union under her
Constitution. On the other hand, should Congress
reject the Constitution under the idea OF ahoriny
the dis,fected in Kansas third opportunity to pro-
hibit slavery in the State, which they might have
done twice before, ii in the minority, no man can
forget the consequences. Ii Congress, tor the sake
of those men who refused to vote for delegates to
the Convention, when they might hvc excluded
slavery from the Constitution, and who nitersards
! refused to vote on the d. OF
nigh, az thev claim, have stricken slavery from the
Con .titution should now reject this stie, because
slavery rem aims in the Constitution j. Is manifest
that the excitement upon this subject will be renewed
in more alarming form thln it has ever before as-
sumed.
The Army Bill wasdebated, in the mts. OF which
the Presidents message was received and read
Mr. Big'er moved thstit be printed and referred
| to the Committee on Territories.
Mr. Tram ,ulI looked Oh the message ~ per.
ve.tel and incorrect history from beginning to end
on the difficulties in Kansas. He sud there WAS no
usurpaton in insls further than thai committed
bv the President and tho army. which had been or
dered there without authority of law. He argued
that the adm ssion OF Kansas under the Lecomptor
Constitution would be a violation of the Kansas
| Nebraski act. zee
| Mr.. Douglas would not 60 into argument rela
tive to the questions raisedhv the Presidents Mes
sage. His opinions had been clearly expressed on
previous occasions. lie thought the better course
would be to refer the Message TO the Committee or
| Territories Hoping that course would be adopted
| he a.ked leaves to present circumstances signed
by certain gentlemen as Governor and State officers
of Kansas against the reception of that State into
the Union under the Lecompton Constitution
which he moved be referred to the Committee OF
Territories and printed
Mr.. Toombs expressed his hearty approval to thu
Presidents Message. Adjourned.