The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-10
URBANA. Feb. u.

GENTLEMEN : u polite note OF
the 25th instant,, inviting me-te-be
present at your meeting of the 9th
proximo, has been received, and in re-
ply 1 am compelled to say that i. will
be impossible for me to attend.
I am glad that my professional and
private engagements have thus far kept
me free from any participation in the
excitement which has been engendered
in regard to the admission of Kansas
into the Union.
The inhabitants of the Territory of
Kansas have the conceded right to es
ta6lish their W institutions; to regw
late them in their own way; 70 alter,
amend or abolish them at their own
pleasure; and this right being absolute,
paramount, contir uing, cannot be taken
away or impaired by any representative
assembly.
With this view of popular sovereignty,
I am of the opinion that the Federal
Legislature, the Legislatures of the
several States, and the people of the
several States and Territories, may with
great propriety, %confine their political
action to the regulation of their own
domestic concerns, and SO far observe
principle, policy and propriety, as to al
low the differences between the settlers
of Kansas to be adjusted among them
selves.
If the constitution they have adopted
by the representatives selected by them
selves, for that purpose, is republican in
its form, Congress has no choice but to
admit the young State into the sister,
hood, relying upon the proposition which
is elementary in a representative De-
mocracy, that the evils in our legisla-
ton arc to be remedied by the acts OF
future representation, selected with the
improved experience of society and with
reference to the increased and ever
changing wants our progress produces.
There is no limitation in a general
law which is not subject to modification
or repeal, and no governmental regular
ton which the sovereignty may not al
ter or abolish and if the Kansas Con
~stitution is liable to any objection, on
the part of the people who live under
it, it is their unquestienable right at
any time to correct that evil.
In any point of view in which the
subject can be considered, L think a diff.
Eferent course than that pursued by tho
President would have been inconsistent
with his high character as a Statesman
and jurist, and in violation of those
cardinal principles of civil liberty, the
preservation of which is so essential tc
our Independence.
While l am thus constrained to diff
fer with you as to the object and pur
poses of your meeting, 1 sympathizt
with you fully in the "rectitude of in
tention'' which prompts you to watct
carefully that no inroads are made upor
the great principle of popular soyer
eighty, and most deeply regret that, il
your indulgence of this generous senti
ment, you are obliged to fnd-youfselvel
co-workers with every element of opro
sitien to the great Democratic party o
the United States.
Within the whole range of my &C
quaintance and observation, every NAL
who has aver opposed US, by ''fair means
or foul" is nov found cooperating will
you, and | especially tender to each o
you my wishes that you may not here
after be compelled to exclaim, wit
Falstaf: {" Y~illainous company hatl
been the ruin of mel For myself.
must be excused fer devoting my hum
BILE energies to the maintenance of tn
integrity and dignity of. the Democrat
! party and of it's organization-beiiey
ing, as I fully do, that although error
: may intervene, which may be correcte
in duo time, yet the happiness, welfar
and honor of our country will be bes
protected, promoted and maintained D