Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-18

behind this, if there are no indications of !
wish to perplex the national councils, and
so to pave the way for change of the na
tional policy or for disunion, then mischie
has been done wantonly and gratuitously
the country is convulsed by its public au
thorities, for an issue as ludicrous as it il
wrong. 1t was hardly worth the while to
sbatter the Democratic party for anything
SO paltry. But while it is admitted thai
the submission Of Constitution to the
people is correct principle, it is said that
that fourteen States would be displeased il
this correct principle were to be followed
out. Now the South in the organic act for
Kansas, obtained all that it asked for, and
the main result has been exactly wba,
Southern men foresaw. The South has
nothing whatever to gain BY the adoption
of the Lecompton Constitution. 1t pre-.
sents no question Of practical advantage
to the South, and it cannot be pretended
that the admission of Kansas under it will
carry with 1t any advantage for the South
As question on the score of expediency
it does nothing but injury to the South; the
issue presented as Southern one is un.
timely and mistaken unwise, and anything
| but national.
And would it wound any at the South
less TO have the people of Kansas, as soor
as the General Government is out of the
way, undo all that has been done? Is il
not more respectful to the South to state
the case manfully and temperately and rely
on Southern magnanimity and sense of jus
tice? .-..-r--.-...
Again, it is said that the Union is iI
danger; the Union is to be dissolved
There is no present danger to the Union
The sufferers of wrong in Kansas have been
almost all northern men; and the North
has no wish to desert, or dissolve, or weak
en- the Union.
But it is urged the men of Kansas are
in rebellion. The imposition of a loath.
some and rejected Constitution is an odd
remedy for pretended rebellion, which, as
far as l know, has no precedent, except in
King George and the British Parliament
in IVA. If Gov. Walker found discon.
tents there, the promises of equality which
he made. in the name of the President
quelled rebellion by means of the ballot
box. The waves never rise unless the wind
blows. Ifthe menace of the Lecompton
Constitution seemed likely to excite dis
turbances, Governor Stanton, to his honor
be it said, lulled the rising commotion, moi
BY calling in the Army of the United
States, but by peacefully convoking the le-
gal Legislature of the Territory.
There is now no insurection in Kansas
there is no rebellion there. Cease to dis
pute the questionable right of the MAORI
ty, and the star of peace will rise serenelyi
the storm will be hushed, and the waves
subside. The Government will not find 9
rebellion there; let it not provoke one.
And what contrast between Cover.
nor of Territory restoring peace through
The representatives of the people, and an
officer of the. General Governor, calling
himself President of Convention, tax.
ing an escort from the Army of the United
States, to make his entry into the Capitol
in Kansas amid the murmers of its people
If to the question between the Lecomp-
ton Constitution and the people of Kansas
we apply the test Of principle, we find that
the enforcement of the 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 9
majority. 1t will be violation of the fun.
damental principle of free government,
which is government by consent. It's di.
rectly at war with democracy, whose car.
dinal point is the power of the people
The supporters of the Lecompton Consti-
luton have not one square inch of Demo
cratic ground to stand upon. A constitu-
ton for its validity needs the concurrence
of the majority of the people, either silent
ly by general acquiescence or by an ap
peal to the polls. Shall full and undoubt
ed evidence be required for deed of a foot
of land or gift by will of a shilling?-
Shall merchant or banker have power te
stop payment of check frauduiehtly held
and shall the people have no power to stor
their servants from sequestering their rights
Shall the most insignificant treaty of q
Minister Plenipotentiary want validity Till
it is ratified? And shall the highest treaty
of the people with themselves be made in
a corner by their servants without theil
assent? Is form everything and substance
nothing? Is appearance everything, and
truth and right and reality nothings
There is not a precedent for enforcing a
Constitution against the consent of the peo
pie. The principle of popular ratification
is sanctioned in the Minnesota act.
The President in his annual message EN-.
phatically declares that the examples Of
submitting Constitution to the people is
founded on correct principle; SO that his
instructions TO Gov. Walker on that subject
were properly expressed in unqualified
terms.
Again: Congress has power to admit
States, but no power whatever to make
Constitution for State; still less to impose
on State Constitution which the majori-
ty of its people loathe and reject. The
tendency TO Capitalization of power in the
General Government is rspid and danger
Gus. We protest against its further increase
and against its present excess. The true
basis of political organization between all
parts of the Union was, from its beginning
the rights of the States, and that basis Of
fers for the future, as it has for the past,
the most perfect guaranty for security and
Union.
Redress must come from the peopIe oi
the United States. They in their strength
must remedy the existing evil, by distinct
| aYpression Of their will The moment is