Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-27
BRIDGEPORT, Nav il, 1858.

To the Editor of the Belmont Chronicle:
Sir: The Lecompton fraud has passed
Congress, that is one step in the programme.
What will be the next! 1t is said by some
the "Kansas affair" is settled. We'll, SIR
we will see what we will see. Would that
it was settled in a just way for the people
of Kansas. Our friend Lawrence & Co.,
rebelled against Lecomp:on, made great
noise, said many things, and nothing would
suit them but popular Sovereignty" "Pure
Popular Sovereignty" But when Lecomp-
ton got to be the most disgusting, when
ike an ulcer, it offended all the senses of
honest men, then they could vote for it,
when Hunter of the Senate and Stephens
of the House, both declared that it was not
the purpose of the English Bill that Tthe
Constitution of Kansas should go to the
people at ALL 1t this Popular Sovereignty
What is this bill, which is the test of true
Democracy, for which these gentlemen have
voted! An Ordnance is submitted to the
people Of Kansas, containi ng Land clause
which, if accepted by the people of that
Territory, gives them millions of acres of
land for specific purposes, and Kansas oe-
comes state under the obnoxious Lecomp-
ton Constitution, no difference how few in
habitants she may have. If they reject
4 81. Il fbo Con
stituton and compels Kansas to remain a
Territory till she has $4,000 inhabitants
Then, Lawrance & Co., must understand
Popular Sovereignty to be, if a Territory
wishes to come into the Union as Slave
State, we will admit it with thirty or forty
thousand Inhabitants, and give land to; bul
Free State must have SO 200 inhabitants
and even then we will do as we please
| What are the inducements for Kansas tc
accept this bribe! She will at once be-
| come state under the belous LecomPton
Constitution. with slavery and all its curses
enta lied on her forever; the result which
would be to stop all immigration, deprecia'
ton of all landed property, and blight up
on the prosperity. If they reject it, they
4 keep out slavery and slave labor, and make
more room for free labor. and the lands re-
main with the general government, subject
to entry BY actual settlers. and the ratio ne
cessary to entite her TO Representative
in Congress, as free state will soon bt
attained. We think they will reject it
and wait for another Congress, when W,
have no doubt the true friends of Kansa
will have control at he ad quarters. s.
much for Popular Sovereignty. Where i
there precedent in the history of our coun
try, of this fagrant attempt to saddle slav
cry upon Kansas by Offering them liberia
grant Of landl We think it will be reject
ed; but, is this Democracy National De
mocracy! Equal and exact justice TO al
was once the Democratic creed, but rot s.
nov with our Nationals of these times
t Fraud, cunning and hypocrisy are their at
tributes. They govern by the spoils; vote
are purchased; measures are carried b.
large apportlonments of plunder. Th
English Bill is a true growth OF the Grea
! National Democracy, 1t is combination o
the Dodge and the Bribe, it is only carry
! ing out their principles. English halls fron
Indiana, which can boast of two unelected
Senators holding their seats under this sam
Re gime, any way to carry our ends. Now
Sir, the question is not shall negroes b
held as slaves, or shall negro slavery be ex
tended; but. shall white free men be mad
slaves, shall they have their rights takel
from them, or shall they have equal rights
which our Great Charter of Liberty, tht
Constitution gives TO all. This is the ques
ton, for the American people to decide.
Yours, u. WILSON.