Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-04

AN"S" MY apo
+ gress." Gen. Jackson delivered the de
sion Of his administration through Mr.. b.
Ter. his Attorney General. that a conye
ton assembled nnde- a Territorial Legs
o ture, without an express authority FRI
n Congress, had no right or power 10 prep1
the Terri ~ for admission int tie Tn
. as a sovereign STATE. and thereby aorosa
@ or impair the authority OF the fsrri,ori
c Legislature. 1t follows that the Lec"m.
ton Constitution should have been presen
ed TO Congress fer acceptance. Ike 81
[ other memorial OF petition l. these prime
pie- be correct the Convention at Lecom,
ton mad a right 10 assemble in al order
manner and pray Congress 10 abrOgate III
Territorial Government. and admit the
into the Union, but had no power to estat
liSh a Government or do any other &C; vi
der pretence OF preparing the Territory fe
admission. The President is mistaken i
~suppo,ing that the Lecomp;on Constitute
J did or could do any act depriving the lei
%ritorial Legislature of the power and RICH
10 pass a law referring the Constitution t
a vote of the people, Oh the 4th Of January
The Convention was the creature Of tn
Territorial Legislature, and as much in it
power on the 7th of December when th'
law providing for the election on the At
of January was enacted, as on the 18th o
February, when the Legislature called thu
Convention into existence. Therefore
whenever the Legislature ascertained thai
the Convention had devised 4 scheme tt
force a Constitution upon the people with
out their consent, and without authority
from Congress, it became its imperative
duty to interpose, and it deserves credit fo'
the promptness with which it acted. Not
only were the people authorized by the Act
of December II to vote for or against the
Constitution, but by unanimous vote OF
both houses, a preamble and resolutions de-
nouncing the constitution were passed and
forwarded to Congress.
In the face of all the evidences that the
LecomptOn Constitution is not the act OF
the people of Kansas. we are told by the
President OF The United States, that "Tu
the people of Kansas the only placiicrl diff
ference between admission or rejection de-
pends simply on the fact whether they can
themselves more speedily change the pres
ent Constitution if does not accord with
the will of the majority. or frame Il second
Constitution, to be submitted to Congress
thereafter.
There is a practical difference far more
important than the mere question OF siine,
and there are principles involved infinitely
more important than the practical difference.
There is a serious difference, whether tie
people of Kansas shall be perm tied 70 make
and adopt the Constitution under VIII Oh they
shall i've, or whether Congress will force
them INTO the UBiOn against their will, and
with a Constitution which they have repu-
dated by an overwhe ming majority.
Il It be true, as the President alleges.
kausas have teen n a state of rebellion
against the United S;ales Government ever
his Inauguration, and that up I'LL this
moment they stall adhere 10 their treason
able pertinacit,, is there ground for hope
the speedy admission oi Kansas into
the Union under the Lecompton Con-tjtu-
lion would restore peace aud guie: to tne
country! 1t is to be lameGted that
the President seems 10 misunderstood the
and character OF the Kansas contro-
v~ersies. From March, 1885, when the first
lnnua election tor members Ut the l. gi!lae
ture, and the officers was held, until the
election in October. 1857, the Fee
party, SO called, did bold y and persis-
refuse 20 recognize the Territorial
as a legally constituted legisla-
body, for the reason, as they alleged,
lis members were not elected by the
of Kansas, but by invaders from Mis-
it IS not my present purpose to inquire
lar these allegations are sustained by
he facts; | refer to them with the view of
upon what grounds the Free State
party claimed that they were Justified in
Withholding their allegiance to the Terrific
-;al Government, until a fair opportunity
as afforded the people to elect their own
Legislature. Since the October election,
all the oppopen S to the Lecomp-
LOn Constiiut ion have recognized the Ter
Government as valid. Thc October
election thus becomes a memorable pariod
the history OF Kansas. Up to this time
had been generally understood that the
had been called for the purpose
,l forming a constitution, and submitting it
% the people for ratification or rejection,
md OF sending it to Congress for acceptance
,nly in the event that 1t should first be rat
fed by a majority of all the legal voters of
he Territory.
The President himself instructed Cover
nor Walker undkr date OF March 80
"When such Constitution should be sub
nitted to the people OF the Territory, they
must be protected in the .~ererc,se of their
right of uoting for or against his instrument
and the fair expression OF the popular will
must not be interrupted by fraud or vio-
Governor Walker, in his off ;iai dispatch
to the Secretary OF State, under date of June
2, said:
"On one point the sentiments o. the peo-
pie is amos unanimous, that the Constitu-
ton must be submitted Ter ratification or
rejection. to a vote Of the people, who shall
be bona ide residents OF the Territory n xt
ia l."
And in his Inaugural Address to the peo-
pie o. Kansas, Governor Walker said:
NV nh these views. lreH kR0rR 10 TIE Pre-.
sident and Cabinet, and approred BY TEEN,
| accepted the apo ntment o. Governor OF
My instructions RON the Presi-
nent. through the Secretary of State. under
date OF the 39th March last, sustain ,he req
uiar Legislature OF the Territory in assem-
bling q Cpnyentiun to form 4 Constitution.
Aud they express the opinion Of the Pres
that when such Constitute on hail be
submitted to the people Of the Territory
they must be protested in the exercise Of
their right OF voting for or against that in
si.ument, and the lair expression of the pep
ular will must not be iEterirred with by
or violence. l repeal, then. as mG clear