The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-02-25
FrO11l WnshImuf,nn.

length the evontn IN kAnoues anu al-ytU
that the majority Of the people may simPly,
% in ancient days, nsmase mssiiug. inakel
the COnstiIutioni they may elect representa-.
tivss to make one for them, or elect repre-.
sentatives TO draft one to be submitted for
approval or rejection. The last method has
been the most approved during the past few
yesFs. though formerly the second method
I was very generally fesorted to. The call.
| ing Of . Convention, asNn this case, was
conceded 70 have been strictly legal. and
1 also the election Of delegates. Was it net
4 Logical 90 infer that che CoHvsHtion wss lssI
/ gslIy elected and clothed with authority TO-
make Constitution, which can no more be-
intefferfsd with BY Governor, 5udge or Leg.
islstlon, either to increase or dimihiSh ~
/ power, Or alter, modify or nslity itS acts,
4 than the people could be interiesFsA with
! had they assembled en- nlasse instead Of rep.
resentatiVesi In conclusion, the Commit.
tee ssys that the Aboliiionists in Kansas
have thus lar sought power BY methods uu.
known to Law and by violence, not through
the pesceful agency OF the ballot box.
j Claiming to have majority Of the voters Of
the territory, and therefore able to elect q
Legislature and Convention, they ask Con.
gress to wrongtully do for them what they
may at legal times and legal places right
fully do for themselves; that 10, to change
or abolish their Constitution, and, 10 case
Congress refuse TO comply with their con.
s,itutional demands, they threaten TO ufaict
| the country with an attempt at bloOdshed
and revolution. Unless Congress will do
for them what they assert they are anxious
not to do Tor themselves, but which they
wiifully refusOto DO, they threaten 10 plague
1.-THE country into civiliwa This conduct is
90 exceedingly, unreasonable as to force the
E conviction upon the mind that they are con.
4 scious Of being powerIess minority and
, only expect to be able to compass their On
4 waTrsntsbie ends BY departing from the
b general way Of peace and quiet. IL youl
/. Committee are not greatly mistaken those
Il reckless men misjudge the American peo
Il pie, and will be required to seek for peace
!. fu methods for the redress OF nll thei
II grievances, whether they be real or impri
10 nsty. -. -. .ar..... ~.f ra sa-
The bill recites that the people OF Kansa
a framed for themselves o Constitution an
ID State government, republican in form; nm
IS the Convention held at Lecompton has, il
to their name and behalf, asked Congress /
admit her There it is declared that Kan
III sas, should be admitted into the Union 0
oi. an equal footing with the original States i
ial all respects whatever. The bill prescribe
II. boundaries, and contains the usual regul,
,e. tions relative to and grants OF public lnnt
IN, as in the case OF Minnesota, and gives Kar
MS sas for the present, one representative
ke the House OF Representatives.. ."'' '# 't
lat Mr.. Douglas in his report, disssnts fro
mt the views Of the majority for reason
Of among others, that no satisfactory evident
at exists that the Constitution framed by Il
is Lscompton Convention is the act and De-
Of the people Of Kansas, or embodes the
N" will. He shows that the Convention wi
The not clothed with competent power 10 esta
|di. lish Constitution without the ns;ent
or. Congress. which has been expressly wit
co. held in this e.ss; keace the Convention o
are ly had such power ss the Territori ] Co
but vention could rightfully coaler, and no mo
ese which was to form 4 Constitution and Gel
up. to Congress a. memorial Tor admlssi
for which could be accepted or r,jacted, accor
Sc. ing ss it cmbo lied the popular will Th
'pi. all the proceedings Of the Convention shou
- have been held in strict obedience to d
rk. authority Of the Territorial govsrnmel
ire while in fact ii was declared TO be in fore
de, and take effect, in deianee OF the authori
ub. Of the Territorial government, as well
3. without the consent Of Congress; that q
rth only lawful election held on the adoption
ads the Constitution was that OF the 4lh Of Ja
sly Uary last, which wus in obedience 10 L
tu Inv framed by the Territora al Legislatu
lar established by Congress, with full egsI
ut tive power on all rightiul subject within t
ted Territory .....
ow MeSsrs. Coliamer and Wade, in subm
on. ting their views, say that the territorial 20
md ernment Oi Kansas was never organized
tal, provided in the ori inal act; that 10 by
az own people-but was usurptd by fore
red force, conquered and suOdued by arms, al
he q minority, installed in power, which HI
ov. ever since been sustained by the genel
per government, instead of being examined
The to and corrected. This has been done
ust establish end perpetuate slavery. The L
nds compton Constitution is the result Of the
aw proceedings, and il con :rary to the will o.
he great majority Of the people legally exprei
ed, ami for Congress in its discretion
on eonsu mmsto this Protractsd atrocity, esq
ade cially for such q purpose, iS o violation
r." the fundamental principles Of republic 60
sg. ernment, and can produce no permane
rn. peacs or satisfaction TO the people Of 4
the Territory. In the late territorial electio
&c. they have reclaimed their sights. and {
the territorial government is, for the FIRST tin
The now moving peaceably In its legitims
ind sphere to promised freedom. The Lscom
ties ton Constitution and its adoption was CO
us cocted and executed to supercede the Il
"a. umph of justice; to admit it by Congress
ike but to give success to fraud and encourag g
ha, ment to iniquity, aud to turn over thSt pc
law pie not TO an election iSirly and legs
Va conducted, but TO each State officers Z
Is legislators as Calhoun shall hereafter pI
'ce, claim, and ON surh contingency as he IN
,pt. determine; and his long, mysterious and
in excusable indecision and reserve, but q
With cOurages expectations in both parties, one
ord. which 10 doomed TO disappointment.
Gen. Calhoun, in his published defen
lure says that he has written to Denver 10 p
,ern cure the sworn statements Of judges,
ate: specting the controverted Delewrre Gro
to ing precinct, and have, them taken un
ish. such circumstances az will secure
en- and unbiased exhibition OF the facts
rob. sworn statements SO procured, and he 81
.om. be governed by the facts in giving the c
has tifcates of election, to members Of the /
N, if isIature from Leavenworth county, eve
en-. it shall, ds Il probably will, place the &
' to ernment Of Kansus in the hands Of his
avs emies. No one will regret it more, ye
er in shall honestly discharge his duty. s.,fr
estly Jack Henderson, Clerk 0t the Survt
ten General OF Kansas. and Mr.. Marsnall,
HI. fat aN - VI -