Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-04-14

the President, over and over again, that
there was reasons 10 fear there would
be civil war if tyranny was persisted in,
and that the only way he could pacify
them WAS by assuring them, on the au
lhority Of the President, that they should
have the right to make their own Consti-
tuition. in their own way. He said that
was the only raciication be could offer
them; and if he had not done it, the Ter
ritory would have been in blaze of war
lie wrote 10 the President that he had
told the people of his consultations with
the President; he informed them that
they had the faith of the President and
the Cabinet that the Constitution would
be submitted to them. The people there
had had little experience of Presidents
and Cabinets. They said TO Governor
Walker, ''these are very fine words cf
yours; but we have been dealt with SO
falsely aud per6diousiy BY our Govern
ment, that we fear even your good faith
cannot protect u.s." but he gave such
assurances es ultimately pscifed them.
A SECRET HISTORY.
There must be some secret history
connected with the course of the Admin
istIation in reference to this matter,
which it would be exceedingly interest
ing to have unfolded. The President in
his inaugural had proclaimed, in the
hearing OF the whole people of the Uni
ted States, that the people of Kansas
should have free and fair opportunity
to vote on their own Constitulioa. He
proclaimed that, as matter of course,
that must be done He admits it in his
last message. He acknowledges in that
message that he made these general
statements, but he says his mind dwelt
on The question of Slavery only. Well, |
sir, am not a man who wishes to keep !
anything back, and l tell my friends
here who expect to support the people of
Kansas in their course, you cannot blink !
the question, 1t is Slavery that the peo
pie are opposed 10. l have no doubt
they would like 10 express their senti- !
ments on every part of the Constitution;
but l candidly admit that if there were
no Slavery in it, there would not be much |
contention about it on the other side of
tie Chamber. nor on this. Let not my
friends say that it makes no difference
whether there is Slavery in ii or not, and /
that The bare question is on the submis
sion. agree that they are right in prin /
ciple on that. The people should pass
upon nylhing and everything connected |
Iiilf their welfare, touching The Cous,i-
tuition under which they are 10 live; but
nevertheless the Slavery question is the
great matter that divides US.
Mr. President; there is something ex
traordinary in the manner in which this
Constitution was submitted. Was the
like of it ever heard of before? ] have
heard floating lumOrs that the ingenuity
OF this whole District was invoked to in
vent that form of submission; but l do
moi know how the fact was. l do not
believe that rude Border Ruilianism had
the ingenuity 10 invent these meshes of
Slavery. l fear that the fingers of msn
at the other end of the avenue may be
tainted with i. 1 do not know that; but
have shrewd surmises about it. How
was it submitted? l will ask, first, why
did you submit it at all? On the other
side of this Chamber you claim that the
Convention was under no obligation
whatever to the people. that the Con
yention IVES supreme; that it might do ,
as it pleased; that it it did not submit it,
the people must be content-a doctrine !
as much fraught with despoiism as any i
thing that can be found Is the Eastern ,
world. You say that set of men call }
ed into a Convention can, at their will ,
frame an instrument by which the whole
people are TO be bound, hand and foot /
against their will. Why. sir, it is an !
absurdity, in my judgement. altogether !
100 palpable for argument in any part of |
the United States. :
If We hold our liberties by such a !
tenure as that, they stand on a mora
fragile basis Than l have Supposed !
Why, SIR. have supposed that every
body understood, that 1hen Conven !;
lion was framing Constitution il was J.
merely making proposition TO the peo r
pie who were to be governed by it, :
They say 10 the people: "Will you :
nave this? We have done cur best to :
make constitution which We, as mem :
)ers of this community, have believed ;,
would be acceptable TO you. We pro- ;,
bose, therei;re, that you look into il. !,
md, if it meets your appreciation, make !
t your Constitution" have always ;.
that that was the meaning OF i,
he action of such a Convention; and :
certainly its if American liberty means = =
Inything. !
The men assembled at Lecomp:on =
Iare not present their Constitution to this
ody without some attempt to cover it
Ip: they must make an attempt TO sub to
nit it. How have they done it? Why, in
Ir. they have contrived. by ingenuity, g
o get up a scheme whereby the form of b.
oling might be preserved to the peo- s
lie, and the result be the same, let them n
ote as ihey would 1t makes me think d
f man who built hog pen up in our b
ountry once, and The rails were so U
looked and winding, that when his hogs n'
ot through and thoughtthey had gotout, Il
5 they wound along they came right in hi
Laug hterl So here, the people again. th
D say Constitution with Slavery" were "
r '.Constitution without Slavery" If tiC
ley said Constitution with Slavery" Il
hat gave them Slavery up to their ears; it be
ever could be done away with. If they ha
oted CONSTITUTION without Slavery" c.
that would an unsophis,icated man sup W
ose would come then? He would sup W
ose he had got out OF the pen; but the th
.ct is, it twisted him right in where hv pr
'as before. He had not gone an inch; W
lavery was there; it was to be there; di
was to be protected there forever, vote an
S you would. And they extorted an "
ath, before they put this nefarious fraud a
} the people, that they should support it. re
Now, sir, whoever devised this Sc
theme, had more mean and contempt ar