Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-03-11


10 be followed out. Now the South, in the
organic act for Kansas. Obtained all that 1t
asked for and the main result has been ex-
actly what southern men logesaw. The
South has nothing Whatever TO gain by the
adoption of The Lecompton conSti ution-
1t presents no question of prac. .ical advau-
tage 10 the South, and Il cannot be pretend
cd that the admission of Kansas under il
will carry with it any advantage to the
South. As question on the score of ex-
pediency it does nothing but injury to the
Sou.b; the issue, presented as IA southern
one. is uniimely and mistaken. uaw:se, and
anything but national.
And would it wound any at the South
less to have the people of Kansas. as soon
the general government is on Of the way,
undo all that has been done? Is il noi
more respectful to the SOUTH 10 state the
ease msnfulv and ,emperately, and rely
on soaihern magnanimiiy and sense of JUS
tire?
A Again: il is said the Union is in danger;
the Union is To be dissolved There is no
present danger to the Union. The suffer
ers of wrong in Kansas have been alnosl
all northern men, and the No tn has no
wish To desert, or dissolve or weaken the
Union.
Bu. i is urged tn men of Kansas are in
rebellion The imposition of a loathsome
and rejeced constitution is an odd RENE
dy for rebellion, which, as far know, hes
no precedent. except in King George and
the British Parliament in l774 If Gov.
Walker found discon .ent there, the prom
ises of equity made in the name of the
President quelled rebellion by means oil
the ballot bx. The waves never rise un
less the wind blows. If the menace vl
the constitu ion seemed likely to excite dis
tur5ances. Gov. Stanton, 10 his honor be il
said. lulled the Using commolion, not by
calling in the army of the United States.
but by peaceably convoking the legal legis
lature of the country.
There is now no insurreclion in Kansas
there is no rebellion there. Cease to dis
pute the unquesiionab!e right of tie sal
Of peace will rise serenely. the s,orm will
BE- hushed, and the waves subsile. The
government will rot find a rebellion there
let i; not provoke one.
And what contrast between the G "
ernor Of a Terri ory restoring Eeace thr"u gh
the representatives of th people. and M
officer of the general government. calin
himself Presideni Of convention. tax
ing an escort from he army of the United
SAFES to make his entry INFO TIE ca.9i al Of
KlhSts ami the murmlrs Of she people
If t. he question be ween the Lscoinp-
toa constilution anl lhe people of Kansas
we apply lhe test If prrcipe. We fad tha
tie enforcement Of that cons tuition will be
An ACT OF power against right; of the army
against the people; of force against reason;
of usurpa,ion against the ri ghtful will of a
majority. 1t will be a viola. lien of the fun
damenlal principle of free government,
which is government by consent. Ii is di-
reclly at war with democracy, whose car
dini point is the power Of the people
the supporters of the Lecompton cons j.
tulion have not one square inch of demo
cratic ground TO stand upon. A consi.u-
ton for its validity needs The concurrence
Of the majority of the people, either silent
y by general acluiescence or by an APP
peal to The polls Shall full and undoubt-
ed evidence be required for deed of a
foot Of land or a gift by will of II shilling
shall "A merchant or banker have power to
stop payment of check fraudulenlly held;
and shall The people have no power to stop
their servants from sequestering their
rights? Shall the most insignificant treaty
Of Minister Plenipolentiary want validity
ill it is ralfied-at,d shall the highest
treaty Of the people with themselves be
made in a corner 5y their servants with
out their assent? Is form everything; and
substance noting? Is appearance every
thing and truth and right and realty
nothing?
There is not a precedent for enforcing
constitution against the consent of the
people. The principle of popular raiitica
ton is sanctioned in the Minnesota act.
The President in his annual message
emphaticaly declares that the example Of
submitting constitution to the people is
founded on correct principle; so that his
instructions to GuvernO. Walker on that
subject were properly expressed in unqual-
ified terms.
Again: Congress has power to admit
States but no power whatever to make
constitution for a State; still less to impose
Oh State constitution which the MAORI
ty of people loathe and reject. The ten
dency to Capitalization of power in the
general government is rapid and danger
Gus. We protest against its further in
crease and against its presentexcess. The
trne basis of political organization between
all parts OF the Union was, from its begin
ming, the rights of the States. and that ba-
sis offers for the future, as 1t has for the
past, the most perfect guarantee for secu-
rity and union.
Redress must come from the people OF
the United States. They in their strength
must remedy the existing evil, by dis
tinct expression of their will The mo-
mani Ia f.aufrht with dancers which tho !