The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-13

The annexed interesting letter from the Hon. Mr..
Rice published recently in the Dubuque Northwest
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 1858.
DKAn SIN Yours of the 9th inst is this day received
1t is useless for ME to speak of thg which led to
results that cannot approve or Had Beer resident
of Kansas Territory would have insisted having the
constitution submitted to the people, did in the
abling act for Minnesota believing that course would
have been satisfactory to her citizens. The
venon which framed the constitution Uecompton)
legally elected 1t had the undoubted right to submit
the constitution, in whole in part not at all to
the people 1t chose to submit only the slavery
question the only that disturbed the
peace of the Territory The people adopted the consti
tuition with slavery
Now it is charged that the convention acted in bad faith
that II did not carry out the pledges made by its
bes prior to election that 1t not governed by the
procamations and stump speech promises made by
Gov. Walker Admit all this TO be true what have the
people of the States to do with III
Suppose the people OF your State had been anxious 10
have certain laws passed by tclf legislature and the
voters had exactcd promises from every candidate to
enact such laws tho candidates pledged elected
meet and Disregard the wishes Of nneteentwcntcths of
their constituents the people, under any crcum-
stances assemble and legally ann the laws made by said
legislature because its members had violated their pledgcsf
man advancing such m idea would be thought mad J;
aud yet many claim that the people of Kansas can
MalamfM manner, danut id,rfti act
The moment the people Of Kansas voted to adopt the
Lecompton constitution, that moment Kansas became,
in spirit State and neither Congress the territorial
legislature has anything to do with the of the
vention If the constitution is republican in form Con-
gess will grossly violate its duty if Kansas is not admit
ted State.
We may all regret the adopted by the Lecomp
ton convention but the less bound to abide
by its works until they be Lydiy undoe and am
satisfied that the only competent power earth that
have the right to attempt to do away with change that
constitution must emanae from the people Of tic STATE Of
Kansas They to DO the final arbiters Of their own
institutions and destiny the citizens Of TERRITORY can do
nothing with it the citizens of the United States have
nothing TO do with it neither has Congress- except to
admit the State
Has sovereign State less power than Territory Is
man In the prime of life helpless than child
When Kansas shall have been admitted she will be free
to regulate her affairs in her way and she must
be admitted under her present constitution the great
principle of intervention must be abandoned by the
democratic party.
The ship of State placed in the hands of Mr.. Blu
chanan captain whose experience, ability, and honesty
have been doubted He selected his officers; the
entire country approved his selection confidence
stored peace and quiet prevailed throughout the States
The captain deck, the pilot at the helm, the
watch on duty, and the word was passed all well "
suddenly cry is heard among the passengers producing
CONSERVATION oil except the noble captain and his gal
liant officers With steady hand and cool determine
ton they work the ship, regardless of the cries of its
mates The alarm il false one the passengers be
ginning TO it, and in my opinion, all will soon look
up to worthy President with renewed confidence.
have now hastily given You my views, and will only
add that shall support the administration firmly be-
eving that any other would tend to strengthen
sectional partya party whose tenets conflict with the
rights of the States.
am truly, yours
HENRY NJ RICE
JONI d JENNINGS, Esq, Dubuque, Iowa