The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-01
GREAT LETTER OF
GOV. R0BT. ]. WALKER, TO OHIO.
WAsHINGroN CRY, March 8, 1858.

MESSRS. II. ID. TANNE AMI OEhEnSt
Committee Gentlemen Y onr letrcr Of
the 22nd ult, has been received, inviting
me to attend and address mass meet
ing of the Democracy of Ohio on the 10th
of this month. regret that it is impos-
sible for me to be with you on that occa
ison butmost cordially concur in the great
object of your netting.
For the FIRST time in our history. an ef-
fort is now made to force q Constitution
and Government upon an inchoate State,
against the we'll, known will of large
majority of its people. Nothing can be
moro clear or conclusive than the evi-
dence demonstrating the fact that an
an overwhelming majority Of the people oi
Kansas are opposed to the Leeompton
Constitution. This is indicated by the
disfr anchisement of half the counties OF
X Kansas in the election of delegates to the
Constitution; by the skeleton vote glveo
to those delegates. averaging not more
than thirty for each; by the withholding
of the Constitution by the Convention. a
eainst their we'll known pledges, from
the people; by theresult of the election OF
the Territorial Legislature in October
last, when both parties participated; by
the miserable frauds and forgeries perpe-
tratcd by the minority, to supply the
place of real electors; and finally rem
dered certain by a majority of ten thou
sand against the Constitution, in the e.
lection holden on the 4th of January last.
This last vote was taken under the call OF
the Territorial Legislature of Kansas, the
same authority by which the Convention
was asse embed, and this Law was enacted
by that Legislature before any vote had
been taken BY the people on the Lecomp
ton schedule. Now, the Convention de-
rived its authority exclusively from IN act
passed by the Territorial legislature. un
der the comprehensive powers vested il
that body by Congress; but before the ac
of the Convention was consum ated by q
popular vote, and whilst the whole pro
cecdiug was as yet imperfect, tho Terri
torial Legislature, BY a valid law, au
thorized the people to vote for or against
the Constitution. The vote under tba
law indicated an undi>pnted majority o
more than ten thousand of the people o
Kansas against the Lecompton Consttu
ton. Indeed, one of the reasons giyel
why the Lecompton Constitution shoult
be adopted BY Congress is this: that if ii
, had been submitted to a vote of the peo
pie. it would huve been rejected BY theu
at the polls.
The fact then is progen ineontestabl.
nay, it is conceded-that majority o
the people of Kansas are opposed to th'
Lecompton Constitution, and if this in
>trument is ratified by Congress, it viii
be forced upon that people against thei
will. This is the great controlling fac
which stands out in bold relief, and thu
presents case involving that fundamen
tai principle ofpublio liberty and of th
Constitution, shall proved and aduittet
minority seek to establish Constitution
and Government for the people of an in
choa,e Stated The great doctrine of Stat
rights and State sovereignty lies at th
foundation of all our institutions.
The most vital of all the rights of
State is the establishment of Constitu
ton, and if this right can be disregardet
by Congress, the whole doctrine of Stat
and popular sovereignty is discarded ant
overthrown. In doing such an act, W
are setting q most fatal precedent; We arr
undermining the very pillars upon which
reposes the whole fabric of popular liber
ty; we are permitting small minority tc
supercede majority in framiag State
Government, and Congress is becoming
the ally and accomplish of that minority
in overthrowing the rights of the people
These are solemn and momentous ques
tions. The real issue il, shall the minor
ity or the majority Of the people of q
State frame their Government Tha
is vital question; it involves the precise
difference between Democracy and Oil
garchy, Monarchy or Despoti.m. 1t is
the first and | fear the last step toward,
the overthrow of our free institutions; and
if this can be done now, and by an au.
thority SO high as Congress, what will be
the demand next made by the minority!
Why, that they, the minority. shall con.
troll, not only Kansas, but the Federal
Government, under threats of overthrow.
ing the Constitution and the Union. II
submission is now yielded to this doc.
trine, it is very plain to me that the Fed
eral Government itself must pass into the
hands of minority. and that the great
fund damental principle of the Constitution
must be overthrown and subverted
cannot by single vote, for a solitary
moment. sanction a doctrine which mus.
gradually undermine our system, and
lead directly to anarchy or despotism.-
1t is not the case of Kansas alone on
which We are now deIiberating. but upon
great fundamental principle, which is
now to be sustained or subvorted. That
principle comes home to the heart and
Judgment Of every elector 10 the Repub.
lie. Shall the elective franchise become
an empty form! Shall the votes of the
majority prevail, or shall they be super
seded by technical bubbles. unworthy = the
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