Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-03-04

w alker IOunC ulcCOutellts tHtfc, tf'
promises of enquiry which he made il
the name of the President quelled re
bellion by means of the ballot-box.-
The waves never rise unless the winc
blows. II the menace of the Lecomp
ton Constitution seemed likely TO ex
cite disturbances, Governor Stanton
to his honor be it said, lulled the ris'
ing commotion. not by calling in th'
Army of the United States, but by
peaceably convoking the legal Legis
lature of the Territory.
There is now no insurrection in
Kansas; there is no rebellion there
Cease to dispute the unquestionable
right of the majority, and the star OF
peace will rise serenely, the storm will
be hushed, and the waves subside.-
The Government will not find rebel
lion there; let 1t not provoke one.
And what a contrast between q
Governor of a Territory restoring
peace through the representatives OF
the people. and an officer of the Cen
eral Government, calling himself q
President of a Convention, taking an
escort from the Army of the United
States, to make his entry into the
Capitol of Kansas amid the murmurs
of its people.
If to the question between the Le-
compton Constitution and the people
of Kansas we apply the test of princi-
pie, we find that the enforcement of
that Constitution will be an act of
power against right; of the Army
against the people; of force against
reason; of usurpation against the
rightful will of majority. 1t will be
a violation of the fundamental princi-
pie of Free Government. which is
Government by consent. 1t is directly
at war with Democracy, whose cardi-
nal point is the power of the people.
The supporters OF the Lecompton Con-
stitution have not one square inch of
Democratic ground to stand upon. A
Constitution for its validity needs the
concurrence of the majority of the
people, either silently by general ac-
quiescence or by an appeal to the polls.
Shall full and undoubted evidence be
required for deed of foot of land or
a gift by will of shilling? Shall q
merchant or banker have power to
stop payment of check fraudulently
held, and shall the people have no
power to stop their servants from Sc
questering their rights? Shall the
most insignificant treaty of Minister
Plenipotentiary want validity till it is
ratified? And shall the highest treaty
of the people with themselves be made
in corner by their servants without
their assent? is form every thing and
substance nothing? Is appearance
every thing, and truth and right and
reality nothing?
There is not precedent for enforce
ing Constitution against the consent
of the people. The principal of popu-
lar ratification is sanctioned in the
Minnesota Act.
The President in his annual Message
emphatically declares that the example
of submitting Constitution to the
people is founded on correct princi-
pie; so that his instructions to Gov.
Walker on that subject were properly
expressed in unqualified terms.
Again: Congress has power to ad-
nit States, but no power whatever to
make a Constitution for State; still
less to impose on a State Constitu-
tion which the majority of its people
loathe and reject. The tendency to
Capitalization of power in the General
Government is rapid and dangerous.
We protest against its further increase
and against its present excess. The
true basis of political organization be-
tween all parts of the Union was, from
its beginning, the rights of the States,
and that basis offers for the future, as
it has for the past, the most perfect
guaranty for security and Union.
Redress must come from the people
of the United States. They in their
strength must remedy the existing evil,
by distinct expression of their will.
The moment is fraught with dangers,
which the adoption of the Lecompton
Constitution would only aggravate.
A departure from the principles on
which Government rests, is an evi-
dence of its decay. The violation of
the principle of Popular Sovereignty
wastes the life-blood of the Republic.
Again: In popular Government,
where the rulers are but servants, an
archy steps in when principle is for
gotten and expediency is made the
guide.
Again: the concentration of power
in the hands of Convention like that
of Lecompton, is not an American
idea. 1t is borrowed from those re-
publics of Europe which were not ca
pable of existing long, for the very
reason that power was so concentrated.
1t is derived from the worst examples
of the worst periods of revolutionary
France, when minorities usurped pow
er over a nation by terror and reckless
daring. If the rule of the minority
Convention is now formally sanction
ed by Congress, it will be a most dan
gerous precedent; an instrument OF
wrath, treasured up for day of wrath.
We appeal against this system to the
whole Democracy of the country; we
appeal to all people who love order,
and justice, and freedom.
This city. for its numbers, is the
wealthiest in the world. call on the
men of wealth in this great city, to
take to heart the danger Of establish
ing principle that majority of
80 IL IL. ol1cxol 81 , foc,oo,.ox,