Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-17
BEDFORD. PA. FRIDAY. DECEMBER II. 1858.

1t is not probable. in the present stale OF
the ease, that a third constitution can be law
fully framed and presented TO Congress BY
Kansas, before its population shall have reach-
ed the designated nunter. Nor is it to be
presumed that, after their sad experience in re-
sistIng the territorial laws, they will attempt 10
adopt u constitution 10 express violation OF the
provisions Of an act Of Congress. Daring the
session of 1856, Iauch of the time OF Con-
gress was occupied GU the question Of admit
ting Kansas under the Topeka constitution
Again, nearly the whole Of the last session was
devoted to the question of its admission under
the LecoDrtoa constitution. Surely, 1t is not
unreasonable 10 require the people of Kansas
u wait, before making ihltd attempt, until
the number Of their Inhabitants shall amount
to nnety-three thousand four huudred and
twenty. During this brief period, the harmo-
ny Of the States, rs we'll as the great business
Interests of the country, demand tia; the peo-
pie of the Uuion shall not, for third time, be
cUnvulsed by another agit4;ion on the Kansas
question b. waiting for a short time, and
acting il obedience to law, Kansas will glide
into the Union without the slightest impede
meut.
This excellent provision, which Congress
have applied 10 Kansas, ough; to be exteuded
and rendered applicable 10 all territories which
may hereafter seek admission into the Union.
Whilst Congress possess the undouhted pow
CT OF admitting new State into The Union,
however small may be the number Of its iulabi-
tants, yet this power ought not, 10 my opia en
10 be exercised before the population shall
amount 10 the ratio require By the act for the
admits sion of Kansas. ii d this beer. previously
the rale the eeaulry would have escaped al tie
evils and misiortunes TO which il has been ex-
posed By the Kansas question,
OF course it would be unjas, 10 give this rule
. retrospective application, aud exclude State
which, acting upou the past practice Of the
government, has already formed its constitution,
elected us legisaGle sn4 other officer,, and is
now prepared TO cutter the Un.oa.
The rule ouzd; 70 be ad ,p,ed, whether we
consider lis bearing on tie people Of the terri
tories Or upon the people OF the existing States
Many OF the serious Gissentious which have
prevailed i'll Congress aud throughout the coun-
try, would have been avoided, had this rule
beea Established at an esat,erp.riod Of the gov
ern2ient.
Immediately upen tbe formation Of terri
tory, people frem different States and from
foreigu com rics rush ill:o If, for the iau,iable
purpose Of improving their condition. Their
first duty 20 themselves is TO open aud cultivate
farms, 10 construct roaGs, to esiah!!ah Schools,
to erect places oi religious worship, and to de-
vote their energies generally to reeiaim tue
wilderness and 70 lay the foundations cf u
Furnishing and prosperous commonwealth. Ii,
in this incpient condition, with population of
few Thousand, they should preAatdrcly enter
the Union, they are oppressed by the burden OF
State taxation: and tae means necessary for the
Improvement Of The territory ana the advance
ment OF their own Interests, are thus diverted
to yery different purposei.
The federal government has ever been a
liberal parent to the territories, and generous
contributor TO the useful enterprises of the
early settlers. II has paid the expenses of their
governments aud legislative assemblies cut of
The common treasury, and thus relieved them
from heavy charge. Under these cireum-
stances, nothing can be better calculated to
retard their material progress than 10 divert
them from their useful e,nployments, by prema-
tUeiy exciting angry political contests alncug
themselves, Tor tue benefit OF aspiring leaders.
1t is su. ely no hardship Tor embryo governors,
seuaturS, and nlelnJers of Congress, to wait un
nj the number OF inhabitants Shall equal those
1
ought hot 90 be permitted TO rush into the
Uuion, with population less than oue-halt of
several OF tue large couuties IN rhe interior of
some oi tue States. Ihis was the condition of
Kansas Y drn il made application to he admitted
uuder tho Topcka constitution. Besides, il
requires some time 10 render tue mass of a
population collected i'll new territory, at all
homogeneous, aud 10 unite them on ANYTHING
Ike "a fixed policy. Establish the rule, aud ali
VIII look !erwaru TO II aud govern themselves
accordingly.
But justice TO the people OF the several States
requires that this rule should be established by
Congress. Each State is entiiled to TWO sena-
tors aud at least one representative in Congress.
Should tue people OF the States fail TO elect u
Wee Presldout, the power devolyes upon the
Senatc TO select tins officer from the Two high
est caudIdatss Gu tie list. lu case OF the death
OF the President the Vice President. thus
tlccIed by the Senate, becomes President of
the United States. On ali questions OF legis-
iatloh TIE senators from tae smallest States of
the Union have au equal vote with those from
tue largest. Ihe saule may be said in regard
10 the ratification ot treaties, and of Executive
appointments. All this has worked admirA ably
i'll practice, whist II cuntornls In principle with
tue character OF government instituted By
sovereign States. prasuaie no American
citizens would desire tue slightest change il
the arrangement. Still, is it rot unjust and
unequal to the existing States to invest some
forty o. fifty thousand people, collected in a
territory, with the attributes of sovereignty,
aud place them on all equal footing with Vir-
ginla aus. New York in the Senate OF the United
States
For these reasons earnestly recommend the
passage of general act, which shall provlde
that upon the application of territorial legis-
lature, declaring their belief that the territory
contains number of inhabitants which, II an