Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-02-25

i 70, lCOO.
ton Convention represented the sovereign
ty of the people, for another reason. In
the election of its members, majority of
those really entitled to vote were complete
ly disfranchised. 1t was thus made to be
the representative of minority merely
In the language of Governor Walker, sit
had vital, not technical, defects in the very
substance of its organization under the ter
ritorial law" Out of thirty-four counties
composing election districts, and in which
it was requisite census should be taken
and voters registered by officers appointed
by the Legislature itself, nineteen had no
census taken and no representation assign
ed them, and fifteen had no registry of vo-
ters, and could not. therefore, vote at all.
The nineteen counties were majority of
all the counties, and were unrepresented;
the fifteen counties had more votes than
were given to all the delegates who signed
the constitution, and could not cast a single
vote. How, then, can it be said that this
was convention of delegates of the peo-
pie; and, as such, entitled to speak for
them, act for them, and bind them? Un-
der such circumstances, are people left
sfree to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way!"
A further objection exists to the compo-
sition of this convention. It's members not
only did not represent majority, but those
who controlled its action procured their
election by fraud. The delegates from
Douglas county, including the president of
the convention, suspected of design to
fasten constitution upon the people with
out submitting it to them for their accept
ance or rejection, issued the following card
"7o the Democratic Voters of Douglas County:
'.It having been stated by that Abolition
newspaper, the Herald of Freedom, and by some
disafected bogus Democrats, who have got up
an independent ticket, for the purpose OF secur-
ing the vote of the Black Republicans, that the
regular nominees of the Democratic convention
were opposed to submitting the constitution to
the people, we. the candidates of the Democrat
ic party, submit the following resolutions, which
were adopted by the Democratic convention
which placed us in nomination, and which we
fully and heartily indorse, as complete refu-
tation of the ISLANDERS above referred TO.
JoHS CALHOUN, A. W. JONES.
| W. s. WELLS, Fl. BUTCHER,
L. S. Boiling. JOIN NJ. WALLACE,
VIM. L. SPICELY, L. A. PRATHER.
"LEcoMProN, KANSAS TERRITORY,
June 13, 1857"
"Resofred, That we will support no man as
delegate to the constitutional convention, whose
duties it will be to frame the constitution of the
future State ofKansas and to mould the political
institutions under which we, as people, are to
live, unless he pledges himself fully freely, and
without reservation, to use every honorable
| means to submit the same to every bona tide ac-
tual citizen of Kansas, at the proper time for
| the vote being taken upon the adoption by the
people, In order that the said constitution may
be adopted or rejected by the actual settlers in
this Territory as the majority of the voters shall
decide"
These men, by this act of baseness, not
only accomplished their election, but placed
the convention within their own control
Am l to be taught that our institutions
can only be supported, by public virtue,
and then asked 10 defend such a proceed
ing as have indicated, upon the ground
that it is sovereign, republican, and bind
ing upon the citizens! This is felon sover-.
eighty.
The injustice of the course pursued to-
wards the people of Kansas is very distinct.
They are by law empowered.to form their
institutions in their own way; and yet the
supporters Of the Lecompton convention
require them to adopt particular forms to
make known that will, not because the
bona .fde settlers approve of them, but be-
cause their supporters approve of them
If one tenth maintain the legislation orig
mating the constitution, and nine tenths re-
pudiate and condemn it, can it be said the
instrument is the offspring of sovereignty |?
But suppose every votable inhabitant had
sanctioned the call of convention, and
yet large majority should condemn the
work of such a body when finished; would
not plain, common-sense Interpretation of
the organic act require US TO reject it? The
proposition is too plain for argument. /
will merely inquire what the sentiment of
the people is; and when learn that, by
employing such means as are likely to re-
veal it, will aid it, whether I can saction
their conclusions or not. Anything else
would fall short of giving popular govern
ment; it would be but government of
force or fraud.
| deeply regret that those who support
the Lecompton constitution have not rest
ed that support upon a principle, bnt upon
expediency. As read The message of the
President, he sanctions it in order that the
country may get rid of the excitement
which has SO long prevailed on the subject.
What excitement, prays That which has
been caused BY repeated acts of violence,
smothering the popular will, and gagging
the popular voice. Its language is:
when once admitted into the Union. wheth-
er with or without slavery. the excitement be-
yond her own limits will speedily pass away,
and she will then, Tor the first time, be left, as
she ought to have been long since, to manage
her own affairs in her own way. Ifher consti-
tuition on the subject of slavery. or on any other
subject, be displeasing to majority of the peo-
| pie, no human power can prevent them from
changing it within brief period"
In my judgment principle should new
er be sacrificed to expediency. But deny
the expediency of the course recommended
and the argument to sustain it is, to my
mind, unfortunate. The President SAYS:
off her constitution on the subject of slavery,
or on any other subject, be displeasing to
a majority of the people, no human power
can prevent them from changing it within
brief period" The organic act promises
the people that they may Storm and regu-
late their domestic institutions in their own
way" now they are told they should take