The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-13

Fxrxow Cfrfrgxs or THE SENATE AND Horss OF
When we compare tho condi-
tion Of The country ~ the present DAY with what
was one year ago, at the meeting OF Congress, we
hays much recon Tor gratitude TO that Almighty
Provideuca which has never fsiied TO nerpose Tor
rslisi at the most critical period OF our hsto
~ One year ago. the sectional STRIFE between inc
Ncrth and Tn south on tho dangerous subject of
elavery had again become intense ~ TO threaten
the peace and perpetuity OF the cont deracy. The
application for the admission OF Kansas ~ q State
into the union fos,eted this unhappy agitation,
and brought the whole subject once more before
Congress TWAS the desire OF every patriot that
suck nsasurss ol,ieg might be- adopted that
would remove the excitement from the States and
conne /, % the territory where i legitimntely be-
longed Much has been done, am happy to say,
tow ards the accomplishment OF this object, during
the last session OF Congress.
The Supreme court OF the United States had |
previously decided, that all American citizens |
have an equal right 10 take into the teyritnries
oil the States, and To hold sucn property there
under the guardianship oi the federal cnnsti,u-
ton, 10 lonx rs the territorial condition shall re-
main.
This il now a well established position, and the
proceeding oil the last session were alone wanting
10 give il practical effect The principle has been
secog nixed, in soma form or other by an almos,
unanimous vote of both houses Of Congress. that
territory has right 10 come into the Union either
a. free q slave State, according to the will OF
Z majority Of it, people, The Just equality OF all
tho Statea he's thus been violated, and irightfuI
source otdangesoas discussion among them has
been removed.
Whilst sueh has been the beneficial tendency OF
your legislative proceedings outside OF Kansas
their influence has been nowhere happy rs within
that ,erritoty itself Left to manage and control
its own affairs IN ~ own way, Without the press
ufe al exsSrusl aaauencc. the rAyoniiunary Tnneka
organisation and all resistance to the territorial
government established by Congress have been
finally abandoned. An . natural consequence that
fine territory now appcuS 10 Be tranquil and pros
porous, and 10 attracting increasing thosands OF
immigrants 10 make II their happy home
The past unfortunate experience oil Kansas has
enforced the lesson 90 often already taught, that
resistance TO lawful authority under our form oi
government, cannot fail in the end 10 prove disss
uous TO its authors. Had the people OF toe terri
tory Yielded obedience TO the laws enscged by
thar Legislature, would at tho present moment
have contained large additional population ofin-
dustnous and enterprixing citizens, who have been
deferred from entering its borders BY the existence
ofciyil strife and organized rebellion.
Ii the resistance TO righifu authority and the
preserving attempts TO establish revolutionary
government under the Topeka constitution which
caused the people Of Kansas to commit the grave
ror OF re iusing vote Tor delegates 10 the con.
vention 10 frame constitution under law not do.
MED to be tA,r and just In IT. provisions This re-
fusai vote has been the prolific source OF all the
evils which have followed. In their hostility 4
ths territorial government they disrcg ssded thu
principle, absolutely essential to the wor king oil ou
form Vi government. that majority OF those VIII,
vote not the majority who may remain al home
from whatever cause--ulust decade the Tesul OF q
election tor this reason, seeking to take advan
taxe oil their own error, they denied the author,
Of the convention .hus elected TO frame q constitu
ticn.
The convention, notwithstanding, proceeds
to adopt constitution uncxcepiionAbie in il
general features. and providing for the submit.
sion Of the slavery question to = vote OF ID
people, which in my opinion, they were boun
10 do under the Kansas and Nebraska act. Thi
WAS the all important question which had alon
convuised the territory; aud yet the opponen,
of the lawful government, presisting In thei
first error, refrain from exercising their rigt
% vote, and preferred that slavery should COZ
tiuus rather than surrender their revolutionsr
Topeka organization
wiser and better spirit seemed 10 prsya
before the frat Monday Of January last, whe
IN election was held under the constitution
majority Of the people when voted for . Go,
ernor and other State officers, fer member
Congress. aud members Of the State legislator,
This election was warmly contested by the ~
political parties in Kansas, aud o greater voi
was poiled than NJ any previous election.
large majority OF the members Of the iegislatul
elect belonged TO that party which had pr
viously refused TO vote. The anti -islavery pari
were thus placed Ia the ascendant, and The p,
litical power Of the State WAS in their hands :
Had Congress admitted Kansas into the mic
under the Lecomptou constitution, the legisl,
ture might, u It's very first session, have sui
miited the question 10 vote Of the peopl
whether they would or would not have COZ
vention TO amend their constitution, either O
the slavery or any other question, and hay
adopted all necessary means for giving speed
effect to the will of the majority Thus III
kansas question would have been immedistei
and finally settled.
Under these circumstances, submitted
Congress the constitution thus framed, with q
the officers already elected necessary to put Il
State government into opera ion, accompAnie
by strong recommendation in favor Of the q
mission OF Kansas ~ State. In tho course
my long public life have never performed II
official Act which, in The retrospect, has affor
ed me more heartfelt satisfaction. lis admit
sion could have inflicted no possible injury q
any human being, whilst it woaid within br
period, have restored peace TO Kansas and hs
mony to the Union. In that event the SLAYER
question would ere this have been finally 30
tied, according to the legally expressed will
amsjority of the voters, and popular sovereig
~ would thus have been indicated in cons,
,utionsl manner.
have pursued no other course. 1, il true, tina
~ an idividual, ! had expressed an opinion
both before and during the session Of the col
vcnlion, Ia favor OF submitting the remanir
clauses Of the constitution. ~ we'll ~ that col
corning slavery, to the people. But, acting
an otiicial character, neither myself nor Al
human authority had the power to rejudse Il
proceedings Of the convention, and declare Il
constitution which it had framed To be 3 null
~. To have done this would have been = vi
lation Of the Kansas and NebraskA act, Viii,
left the peoplt Of the Territory perfectly fr
TO form and regulate their domestic institution
in their own way, subject only TO the constit
ton OF the uuited States" Ii would equal
have violated the great principle Of popular 30
ereignty, NJ the foundation OF our institution
to deprive the people Of the power, II tn
thought proper 10 exercise ii, Of confdinr
delegates elected by themselves the trusI
framing = constitution, without requiring tn,
70 subject their constituents to the trouble, 1
pense and delay of second election II wo.
have been In opp osition to many presidents
our history, commencing in tho very best age
the republic, Of the Admission Of territories
states into the Union, without previous '
Of ihspeople approving their constitution.
Ii ~ 70 bs lamsnted that question 20 ina
ni6csnt when viewed In its practical effects
tbs people " Kansas. whether decided one !
or Tie other. should have kindied such ! do
or excitement throughout the country r
revestioa may prove 10 be lesson Of wisd