Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-03-04
LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION
--NO CHANGE UNTIL 1894,

Buchanan pledged himself TO the country
in 1856, that the people Of Kansas, should
at the proper time, appoint delegates to
Convention that should frame Constitu.
ton. and that Constitution should Be sub.
naiRed 10 the people Of Kansas, for their
ratification or rejection. There was no
mist about this. The proposition was a
distinct one. It was allied with no meas.
ure, and depended upon no contingency.
They were to vote directly on the Consti-
tuition, and il it suited them, they were to
accept it, il not they we're to reject it. But
how does the case present itself now Del
egates were selected to the Constitutional
Convention through process that prevent
ed large majority of the people from
participating in their election. They suf-
fersd this. They permitted the Conven.
ton to do itI work, believing that they
would have an opportunity Of voting upon
the Constitution as it came from the hands
Of those who madsit. They surely had ev-
erything to warrant this belief; for in ad,
dition to the pledge Of the President, that
they were to exercise this privilege, they bad
the word Of Gov. Walker, that he was in-
structed by the President to see that this
right was uot infringed upon; and more
over that "if the Constitution was not sub
mitted to the people he would join them
in opposition to it," Could stronger assu'
RANGES have been given theml Could they
have asked for anything more? Well what
was the RESULT The Convention framed
a Constitution. 1t established slavery
against the well.known wish Of three.
fourtbs of the people Of the Territory
1t was not TO be submitted to them for rat
ifcation or rejection, and Mr. Buchanan
sanctions this treachery, and endeavors to
force the iuiquitous thing, called Consti.
tuition, through Congress, and insultingly
tells the country that it was made by, and
expresses the will of the people Of Kansas
We had almost forgotten. He reminds
the residents Of that Territory, that if the
Constitution is not acceptable to them, they
can change it after they are admitted into
the Union under It. This 10 the point,
then. aud the only one, that Northern
Democrats cling to. If the Constitution
may be changed Immediately, say they,
why not admit Kansas at onceY This, they
continue, will settle the trouble, ard be-
fore another year passes, Kansas will be a
free State and quiet will reign within her
border Vain delusion! A clause in the
Lecompton Constitution declares that no
change shall be made in that instrument
prior to the year 1864. Now ii this Con-
stitutioa is put through Congress by Mr.
Buchanan, it will necessarily follow that
the whole machinery Of government and
law will be put in force under it. 1t will
likewise follow, that every legislator, every
judicial officer. and every governor &c. will
take a solemn oath 10 support that Consti-
tuition. How can they then make an ef-
fort to change il, or part Of it, when they
have sworn to support the whole of it?-
The Legislature, it is true, is the law-ma-
king power. But it has no virtue. no au-
thority, no force, but what it derives from
the Constitution that creates and governs
its action. 1t can do nothing, 10 point Of
fact, but what the Constitution gives it
permission to do. Can the Legislature
then change the Constitution of Kansas or
authorize itS change before 1864, when the
Constitution says expressly it shall NOT be
done before that period. II it can the doc,
trine will have been get up that the servant
is greater than bis master-that the thing
created is greater than the power that ere.
ated it.
But again. Were q Change in the or.
ganic law Of Kansas practicable, we can as
sure our readers that no such change would
be made. The argument Of change be-
fore 1854 is not the argument ofthe South
1t repudiates it, and at the present time
there is not Southern Democrat in eithel
branch Of Congress. but what laughs al
the idea, that the Constitution Of Kansa
will undergo change before the tine 'Pe
Gifted on its face. They are unanimous il
this, and as il to nail this Southern opinion
upon the country, the Majority Ofthe Sen
ate Committe, reported few days ag,
that the Lecompton instrument was
"a Constellation which they 1.-THE peopl
of Kansas) cannot change, ,OithOm resort
igg 10 rsvolutiOa, until the year 1854"
What remains then to be donel fifth
people of the Northern States desire to ali
The hardy freemeu Of Kansas, they mus
protest stoutly and quickly, against til
passage of this ill.conceivOd and changele'
Constitution. through Congress. As W
have repeatedly urged before, meeting
should be held. resolutions adopted, aud
united voice sent to Congress in orpostio
to this glaring and stgpsndQus wrong.