Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-12-15
EBENSBTRG, Pa, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER l5, 1858

the proposition submitted to the people by
Congress. This being the case. they are now
authorized to form another constitution pre-
paratory to admission into the Union, but not
until their number, as ascertained by cen
sus, shall equal or exceed the ratio required
to elect member to the House of Represen-
tatives.
1t is not probable, in the present state of
the case, shat third constitution can be law
fully framed and presented to Congress by
Kansas. befora its population shall have
reached the designated number Nor is it
to be presumed that after their SAD experi-
ence in resisting the territorial laws, they
will attempt to adopt constitution in express
violation of the provisions of an act of Con
gress. During the session Of 1855, much of
the time of Congress was occupied on the
question of the admission of Kansas under
the Topeka constitution Again, nearly the
whole of the last session was devoted to the
question of its admission under the Lecomp-
ton constitution. Surely it is not unreason-
able to require the people Of Kansas to wait
before making third attempt, until the mum
ber Of their inhabitants shall amount to nine
tY-three thousand four hundred aud twenty.
During this brief period the harmony of the
States, as well as the great business inter
ests of the country, demand that the people
of the Union shall not for a third time be
conydlsed by another agitation on the Kansas
question. BY waiting for short time, and
acting in obedience to law, Kansas will glide
iuto the Union without the slightest iInpedi-
ment. .... ....-
! This excellent provision which Congress
I have applied to Kansas ought to be extended
and rendered applicable to all Territories
( which may hereafter seek admission into the
/ Union
While Congress Possesses the undoubted
power of admitting new State into the Un-
I ion, however small may be the number of its
inhabitants, yet this power onght not, in my
opinion, to be exercised before the population
shall amount to the ratio required by the act
for the admission of Kansas. Had this been
previously the rule, the country would have
4 escaped all the evils and misfortunes to which
it has been exposed by the Kansas question.
OF course, it would be unjust to give this
rule retrospective application, and exclude
State which, acting under the past practice
of the government, has already formed its
constitution, elected its legislature and other
officers, and is now prepared to enter the
Union. -..--........
The rule ought to be adopted, whether we
consider its bearing on the people Of the Ter
ritories or upon the people of the existing
tates. Many of the serious discussions which
have prevailed in Congress and throughout
the country, would have been avoided, had
this rule been established at an earlier period
of the government.
Immediately upon the formation of a new
Territory, people from different States anC
from foreign countries rush into it, for tn,
laudable purpose Of improving their condi
ton. Their first duty to themselves is tc
Il o,,1tI AZ
to establish schools, to erect places of relig
ions worship, and to devote their energie
generally to reclaim the wilderness, and t.
lay the foundations of a fourishing and pros
, porous commonwealth. If, in this incipien
condition, with population of few thous
/ aud, they should prematurely enter the Un
ion, they are oppressed by the burden 0
State taxation. aud the means necessary 70
{ the improvement of the Territory and the ad
{ vaucement of their own interests, are thu
q diverted to very different purposes
/ The federal government has ever been a lii
!; eral parent to the Territories, and generot
T contributor to the useful enterprise of the ca
5 ly settlers. 1t has paid the expen ses of the
q governments, and Legislative assemblies out
y the common treasury, and thus relieved the
- from heavy charge. Under these circuu
e stances nothing can be better calculated
o retard their material PROCESS, than to dive
n them from their useful emp!oyments, by pr
/ maturely exciting angry political contests
i mong themselves for the benefit of aspirin
! leaders. 1t is surely no hardship for embry
It governors senators and members of Congres
e to wait until the number of inhabitants sh
! equal those of single congressional al dstric
S They surely ought not to be permitted to rus
r into the Union with a population less thu
: one half of several of the large counties in Il
It interior of some of the States. This was Il
If condition of Kansas when it made apple atiC
i to be admitted under the Topeka Constitute
l. Besides, it requires some time to render Il
1t mass of population collected in new Teri
c tory. al all homogeneous, and to unite the
i on anything like fixed policy. Establi
), the rule. and all will look forward to it al
d govern themselves accordingly,
e But justice to the people of the sever
Is States, requires that this rule should be
a tablished by Congress- Each State is en-
Of tied to two senators and at least one reprcse
le tative in Congress. Sh ould the people of t
r States fail to elect Vice President, the pow
lie devolves upon the Senate to select this offc
ID from the two highest candidates on the Ii
IL In case of the death of the President, t
IL Vice President thus elected by the Sena
a becomes President of the United States.
l. On all questions of legislation, the senate
N from the smallest States of the Union have
lg equal vote with those from the largest. I
Id same may be said in regard to the ratifcati
I'd of treaties and of Executive appointm IN
le All this has worked admirable in practi'
ed whilst it conforms iu principle with the h
ed aeter of a government instituted by soverei
D. States. presume no American citizen w
tn desire the slightest change in the arranG
ay ment. Still is it not unjust and unequal
the existing States to invent some forty
as fifty thousand people collected 10 Terrific
on with the attributes of sovereignty. and pl