The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11

August Is. The insur.
gent military organization under
General Lane is still progressing
Arms are being supplied, and his
troops drilled for action. We are
threatened with the seizure of the
polls, at various points, by these in
surgent forces. When it is remcm-
bered that the Topeka party claim
to outnumber their opponents at least
ten to one, the pretext for Assem-.
bling these forces to protect the polls
is evidently most fallacious.
1t thus appears to the Committee,
from official evidence, that the OPP
position in Kansas to the Lecompton
Convention consisted Of persons en-
gagged in instruction, rebellion and
revolution. Some few are known To
be citizens of the United States
Whether the others are citizens or
aliens, whether in allegiance or not,
they are all known to be enemies of
the government, and openly engaged
in attempts against law and order
in the Territory, and against the
peace and quietude Of society. Many
have been shown by Governor Walk.
er to be hired mercenarics, sent out
by the abolition societies OF the
East, and all working in concert to
accomplish in Kansas what the SUI
preme Court and public sentiment
have decided Congress has no power
to do, that is, to prohibit slavery IN
the Territory of Kansas; and more
than that, prevent the people of the
Territory from exercising the privi'
lege of deciding that question for
themselves in their own way. To
do which they have gotten up mill.
tary organizations OF rebellious
character; have committed the most
revolving outrages against persons
and property, threatening to delugc
the land in blood; alternating one
section of the Union from the other,
and endangering the existence of
free government.
Such are the characters such are
the objects and dangerous results
of the opponents of the Lecompton
Constitution
But, without regard TO this insur-
rcctionary movement, the regularly
legal Convention of Kansas, in pur-
suance of law, assembled and adop-
ted the Constitution now before the
Committee, which is thoroughly Re.
publican in form. Out Of Difference
TO those who might be opposed to
African slavery, and to avoid oil
pretcxt Of complaint on the part Of
opponents, this Convention submit
ted the question Of slavery or no
slavery to a direct voice Of the bona
tide inhabitants of the Territory
That election was ordered for the
2Ist December, 1857, when itawas
accordingly held, and resultcai AZ
follows:
Constitution with slavery ........ G.22G votes.
Constitution without slavery ...... 500 votes.
Making an aggregate Of .... 6.I9S votes.
An opportunity has consequently
been afforded to the people Of Kansas
to decide the question Of slavery for
themselves, and that decision is now
before us with all the sanction Of
law. No real or valid exception can
be taken - any other part Of the
Constitution. On this subject Pres
ident Buchanan has well said in his
message:
In fact, the general provisions Of
our recent State Constitutions after
an experience Of eighty years, are 80
similar and 80 excellent, that it
would be difficult to go far wrong at
the present day in framing new
Constitution.
The Constitution conforms precise.
ly to what Governor Walker said
would meet his most cordial APPROX
al. and that he should devote his
whole time in addresses every day
10 the people Of every county in the
Territory 70 ensure its adoption lie
says:
Adopt Constitution very similar
10 that Of some Of the Southern States,
securing the right to the slaves now
in the Territory, numbering probably
from two 70 three hundred, but pro-
hibiting the introduction Of any more /;
excluding all free negroes, enforcing
by most stringent provisions the ex-
ecution Of the Fugitive Slave Law,
securing the right Of appeal in all
constitutional cases 81 the Supreme
Court Of the United States, and re-
curing all officers Of the government
executive and Judicial, the judges
and inspectors Of all elections, and
the attorneys Of all courts, to take
an oath 10 support the Constitution
Il