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

the People of Kansas reject the Lecompton
Constitution.
If could hope that the words of one so
humble as myself could -each the presence
of one SO high as the President of the
United States, | would entreat him to lend
his ear reverent'y, and hear and respect the
voice Of the people Of Kansas, however
lowlv they may seem in the log cabins and
homes that they have made for themselves
in the wilderness. What they have accom-
plished there under unexampled trials and
difficulties i the miracle of the age A
commonwealth in all its fair proportions has
grown ~, as it were. in the nighttime. If
the President of the United States will have
4 peaceful administration; if he will. by and
By, have dignity in retirement; if he viii
stand well with the word OF mankind; if,
ike Washington and all our great Presi
dents, he wishes to stand well with poster
ity. let him respect the will of the people
of Kansas.
II is said that the whole affair is of little
cons .quence; that the wrong, if it be a
wrong, is a small one. But there is in po-
litical justice no such thing as a small wrong.
A small wrong contains within itself the
seeds of all evil.
1t is further said that the people were fac
tiuns. and as they meant at any rate TO re-
lect the Lecomp'on Constitution, it was
right rot to give them a chance to do so
But If the Constitution for any reason did
ut please them, they had a right to reject
it; nothing is so ~factious as a minority at
tempting TO rule a majority
1t is said they should be punished for not
going to the polls at the bidding OF men
who were believed to be disposed ts.@5Saud
them. They went to the polls the ErSfmo-
ment that they were satisfied of any chance
of a fair return, even Though suffering under
great Disadvantages in the aPportionment Of
representatives.
Il is spid that the people of Kansas. once
admitted into the Union, may change their
Constitution. If this is dishonesty said,
will not use the language which would
properly describe the proposition. If, as it
is to be presumed, it is honestly said, and !
am sure it lie honestly said by the President,
then why give to the men of Kansas a
reversionary right where they have a right
! Of possession! Way do wrong, simply that
wrong may be undone! If this is all that is
intended, if there lies nothing behind This,
if there are no indications of a wish to per-
| plex the national councils, and SO to pave
the way for a change of the national policy
or for disuninn, then mischief has been done
wantonly and gratunusly; the country is
cnnvnlsed by its public authorities. for an
issue as ludicrous as it is wrong. 1t Wa
hardly worth the while to shatter the Demo.
cratic party for anything so paltry. But
while it is admitted that the subm iSsion OF
a Constitution 10 the people is the cOrrec'
principle, il is said that fourteen State.
would be d;sp|eased il this correct principle
were To be followed ont. Now the South,
in the organic act for Kansas. obtained all
that it a<kei for and the main result has
hepn exactly what Southern men foresaw
The South has nothing whatelnr to gain by
the adoption of the Lpcomptnn Constitution
1t presents no question of practical advan-
taCe to the South, and it cannot De preten,
drd that The admission of Kansas under il
will carry with tit any advantage for The
S,uth. As a question on the score Of ex-
peiiency. it does notlii ing bat injury TO the
South; the Issue presented as Il Southern
one is untimeiy and mistaked, unwise, and
anything but national.
And wonld it wound any a: the S nth less
to have the people OF Kansas, as soon as
the General Government is out OF the way,
respectful the South to state the case man.
fully and temporarily and rely on Southern
magnanimity and sense Of justice!
Again, it 10 said that The 'UnFa - in
danger; the Union is to be dissolved. There
is no present danger to the Union. The
sufferers of wrong in Kansas have been
almost all Northern men; and the North has
no wish to desert, or dissolve, or weaken
the UnIan.
But it is urged the men OF Kansas are in
rebellion. The imposition OF a loAthsome
and rejected Constitution is an odd remedy
for pretended rebellion. which. as far as |
know. has no precedent. except in King
George and the British Parliament, in I774.
i Gov. Wllker found disc Dntents there. the
promises Of equity VIII ich he made in the
name of,he President quelIed rebellion by
means of the ballot box. The waves never
rise unless the wind blows If the menace
of the Lecomp,on Constitution seemed
likely to excite Disturbances, Governor
Stanton, to is honor be il said, lulled the
rising commotion. rot by calling in the
Army of the United States, but by peace
fully convoHing the legal Legislature of the
Territory.
There is now no inSurrection in Kansas;
there is M rebellion th're Cease to dis
pnte the unquestiona5le right of the major-
itv, and the star OF peace rise sereneiY, the
storm will be hushed, and the waves sub
SIDE. The Government will not find a re-
bellion there; ct it not provYke one.
And what a contrast between a Governor
of a Territory restoring peace through thu
OF the General Government, calling himself
Il President OF Il Convention. taking an eS-
cort from the Army of the United States, to
nuke his entry into the Capitol OF Kansas
amid the murmurs OF its people.
If to the question between the Leconp-
ton Constitution and the people Of Kansas
we apply tho ties, Of principle, we find that
the enforcement of that Constitution will oe
an act of power against right; of the Army
against the people; of force against reason;
OF usnrpaiio1 against the righiful will of a
major ". 1t vii. he a violation of The funda-
mentaI principe # rec government, which
is Cover ment by consent. II is directly al
war with democracy, whose cardinal point
ls the POKER Of IN peup'e. The supporters
of the L'rcmpton CORs'itu'ic- hdvsfrrun
square inch Of democratic ground TO stand
noa, .ap-,it,.icn for -. u.liI:,, ,-,l.