Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-03-09

NOsSs - - t+Aa OlO thoAliAA hhSb huO AAhlB Il
can do no WRONG. in this country the
people are sovereign, and they can do no |
wrong; and whcsver therefore chsrges on
an entire community that they committed |
nnismanagement in their own affairs, him |
self admits his error The peoplelof Kan |
sas have never accepted the Lecompton
project as their Constitution. The accep-
tance that is claimed for it, even if legal, |
is not fair. The. Cincinnati Platform
bases the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty
on the will of the people fairly and prop
erly- expressed. To show its dishonest
character. we need not.go farther than the
vote itself. 1t is fraud upon it's face,
for it did not permit the people Of Kansas
to vote on one clause without accepting
all tho rest. .-a,.-...-..--,-.,rs -.
But the vote taken on the 4th Jan. 1858,
against the whole constitution, was author
lzed by the Territorial Legislature, and
was fairly and properly taken. Nobody
has ever doubted that, because the author
ity of the Territorial Legislature was un-
touched. They had right to pass the
enactment for popular vote on the Con-
stitution, and the result, as we all know,
was majority of two to one against it.
Who could doubt the authority of the Ter
ritorial Legislature? Why, in the first
few years of Kansas Legislation, to utter a
word against the acts of the Territorial
Legislature--even the simple expression
of an honest opinion--was declared high
treason. Applause. But stand upon no
technicalities-I want the "facts." Ifthe
will of the people has not been fully and
fairly ascertained, that is "fact' enough
for me, and the voice of the people shall
be fully and fairly heard. Applause,l
To pass an act to admit Kansas under
the Lecompton Constitution, is to conquer
and compel her. If States are to be con-
quered and compelled into the Union. what
then, I ask, has become of the doctrine
of Popular Sovereignty?
1t is impossible on ordinary occasions
to expect every voter should turn out and
vote and when any elector declines to 90
to the polls, the implication is that he is
willing to abide the result. But suppose
the fact be otherwise, that he has reason
for staying away, aside from the fact that
he may or may not assent TO the result.
Suppose. as in the case that have put that
majori:y of the people have well-foun-
ded apprehension that they could not 20
to the polls and be fairly represented Is
it to be said they are to be bound by the
result? All! this is Democratic doctrine
just as it happens to suit the locality. In
Baltimore, they claim the ilegality of the
election, because the foreign born voters
were driven from the polls, and fraud and
! 1yinlnnNA ,1oaI al
But, the admission of Kansas under LIE.
compton was urged as tie easiest way o
getting rid of the question. The right o.
the people to govern themselves is one tha
we ought not to wish to get rid Of A
man might as we'll try to wipe out his
debts by dodging his creditors. If we can.
not do little wrong for great good
how much less should we do great wronl
for questionable good? But, such ad
mission would not give peace with tb'
people of Kanzas it must be either sub
mission or revolution.
The following resolutions were thel
passed:
Resolved, That the National Democracy
Of Cincinnati, adhering now, as ever tC
the principles of Popular Sovereignty
| liberty and law, announced in the Demo
cratic Platform of June, 1856, and tn,
Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854. solemnly
protest against the compu)sion of Kansas
into the Union as State by act of Con-
gress, under the so-calIed Lecomptor
; Constitution.
Resolved, That it is the imperative duty
Of Congress 10 reject the pending appli
cation for its admission under that insru
ment, rs made, not only without authorit,
: from the peple to be affected; but agans
: their known and express remonstrance
: and recorded votes.
RESOLVED, That this obligation rest
upon the plainest principles of the Consti
= tuition justice and popular rights. IT.
3 faithful performance Is essential to tn
t integrity of the Democratic party--to the
5 peace of the country, and preservation o
: the Union of the States.
4 Also, in the language of the Democrati
e platform, "ResoiVed, That we recogniz
Y the right of the people of all the Terrific
} ries, including Kansas and Nebraska
l acting through the legally and fairy ex
+ pressed will of majority of actual resi-
dents, ana Whatever the NUMBER Ot thel
, inhabtance justiGes it, to form Consttu
3 ton with or without domestic slavery, anC
S be admitted into the Union upon terms @
E perfect equality with the other States.
C Resolved. That we heartily approve thu
, past course ofthe Representatives in Con
gress from this county, in opposition /
the admission of Kansas under the LIE
compton Constitution, and tender ou
r greatful thanks to Senators Douglas
e Stuart, and Broderick, to Henry A. Wise
Robert j. Walker, and Frederick P. Stan
D ton. for the courage with which they hav
yindicated the Democratic creed and tn
rights of the people.
: RESOLVED, That the Democracy Of Ham
: iton County participate in full strength a
: the "Mass Convention ofthe Ohio Democ
3 racy," in Columbus, on Wednesday
!. March 10, and Committee of FIVE b