Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-02-12
WHOLE NO. 267S.

governments are founded on their authority and inst
,@ntea @ ior Their benefit and they therefore have st all
times an nalcnabe and ndecasablc right 20 alter,
iorm and abolish their form Of government In such man
ncT as they may think proper"
The great State of New York is at this gov
erned under Constitution framed and established in d
rect opposition to the mode prescribed by previous
Constitution ~ therefore, provision changing the
Constitution of Kansas after the year S64 could BY pos
shiity be construed into prohibition to make such
change previous to that period of prohibition would be
wholly unavailing The Legislature already elected
may. frat session. submit the auoaton 10 vote on
the people, whether they will have convention TO
amend their Constitution and adopt all necessary
iorr giving effect TO the popular will.
II has been solcmny adudged by the highest judicial
tribunal that slavery exists in Kansas by virtue Of the
Constitution Of the United States Kansas is therefore
a. ms moment as much slave State As Georgia South
carolina Without this, the equality Of the sovereign
.nWp"Hht 'h1 = mon VIII Dc violated, and the use
ana eigoymemt ~ Territory acquired BY the common
treasure of all the States would be closed against the peo
pie and property Of nearly half the members Of the Con-
federacy Slavery therefore be prohibited in
Kansas, except through the means Of Constitutional
provision, and in no other manner this he obtained
promptly il the majority Of the people desire IT, as by
admitting her into the Union under the present Cons
tuition
On the other hand. should Congress reject the Cousd
uton under the idea ofifordng the dsaected in Kan
sas third opportunity 10 prohibit slavery in the State,
which they might have done twice before in the major
ny no man can fortch the consequence.
hCongress for the sake Of those who refused TO
vote Tor Delegates 70 the Convention, when they might
have excluded slavery from the Constitution and after
wards refused TO vote on the 2si ofDeecmbcr when they
might, as they claim, have stricken slavery from the
Constitution, should reject the State because slavery
remains IN the Constitution IL is manifest that the agi
taon upon this subject will be renewed in more alarm
ing form than il has ever before assumed.
Every patriot n the country had indulged the hope
that the Kansas Nebraska would have put final end
TO the slavery agitation in Congress- which had for more
men twenty years couculsed the country and cndangcr
ed tho Union This act involved great and fundamental
principles and fairly carried into effect will settle the
question Should agitation again be renewed, sh ould
people Of sister States be again esanged from the other
with more than former bitterness. this will arise from
cause 20 FAR as the interests of Kansas concerned,
more rhng and insignificant than has stirred the
elements of great people into commoton
To the people Of Kansas the only practical difference
between admission or rejection depends simply upon the
TACT whether they can themselves speedily change
their present constitution, II il does accord with the
will Of thc majority frame second c0nst,uti m be
submitted to Congress hereafter Even IL this were
question Of cxpedienoy. and Of right. small
difference OF time way the other Of the least
Importance when contrasted with the evils which must
" the slavery agitation.
In considering the question: Il should never be forgot
ten that 10 proportion to its nsgnifcancc let the decis
ion be- what may, so far as it may affect few thousand
inhabitants Of Kansas. who have from the beginning re-
sisted the Constitution and the laws for this very
rejection OF the Constitution will he much the more
keeny felt by the people Of fourteen States Of the Union
where slavery is recognized under the Constitution Of the
Again. the speedy admission Of Kansas into the Union
viii restore peace and quiet 20 the whole country. Al
ready the affairs Of the Territory have engrossed an n
due proportion Of the public attention. and have sadly af
ected the friendly relations Of the people Of the States
with each other and armed the fears Of patriots for the
Kansas once admitted, the excitement becomes local
lied, and would die away for Of outside ali
mcnt, and then every difficulty could be settled by the
ballot box Besides, and trifng consideration shall
then be enabled TO withdraw the troops from Kansas and
employ them in service where they are much needed.
They have been kept there the earnest opportunities
OF Gov Walker to maintain the existence Of the terrific
ra government and secure the execution Of the laws
lie considered at least 2O00 regular troops under the
command OF Gen. Haney, necessary Acting upon this
reliable information have been obliged in some degree
to interfere with the expedition Utah. order keep
down the rebellion in Kansas which has involved very
heavy expenses to the government Kansas admit
ted, Is believed that there will longer be occasion
there for the troops.
have thus performed my duty in this important ques-
tion under deep my responsibility God and
my country
My public life will terminate in brief period, and
have no other object Of earthly ambition than leave my
country IN peaceful and prosperous condition. and TO
hVe IN the affections and respect Of my countrymen
The dark and ominous clouds Impending over the
Union eonscientiously believe will be dssipated with
honor 70 every portion of it, by the admission Of Kansas
isie nresea session. Of Congress whereas il she
should be rejected greatly ss..s.s
como darker and omnous than yet
the Constitution and the Union.
JAMES BUCHANAN