The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-03-04

HaRRIsBuRG, Pa, Feb. "a, 1888,

! Ia Uue D6lidIS tO-udy IilS 'JoiioC N''h
mittee on Kansas Resolutions reported the
resolution in favor OF the Lecompton Con-
sti,utiop, accompanied by lengthy re-
port, urging the speedy admission OF Kan
sas under the Lecompton Constitution,
with declaration Of the right OF the peo-
pie to alter the same whenever they de-
Sire to do 50 through proper and legal
means. and sustaining the ground assuln-
ed III the Presidents Message,
The report WAS ordered to be printed,
/ \ motion to postpone action, in order TO
allow the minority Of the Committee to
report, was defeated by the united vote OF
the Democrats.
We fnd the above in the kilograms Of
the New York dailies Of 18th ult,, and
have since read the majority report OF Mr,
Buckalcw. 1t is, like the Message which
it attempts to defend, misrepresentation
of weil-kaown facts; but is ably written,
and argues the subject with zeal which
would deserve the highest praise if ex-
pended in a nobler object than the sub
version of popular rights and personal lib
erty. The report is mainly an attempt
to justify the Lecompton Scheme by com,
pairing it with the Constitutional Couvcn-
tions which framed the two c, Institutions
under which, respectively, the people of
o. "a tl.,t knt \,
the latter were adopted in convention,
without subsequent opportunity for the
people to pass upon them. 1t is very
true that no direct vote Of the people was
had upon either the Old or the New Con
stitution of this state; nevertheless, the
people had an opportunity to pass upon
them indirectly, and quite as positively
as if the vote had been by special election
i-inasmuch as the Constitutions were each
questions at issue in the general elections
which followed their adoption in Conven-
tion-a privilege which the Lccompton
Constitution, in the most positive terms,
denies to the people of Kansas, inasmuch
as it provides that it shall not be amend
ed previous to the year 1864. The peo-
pie of the Independent State of Pennsyl-
vania lived under their primitive consti-
tuition fourteen years, until l790, when
they changed it, for the one under which
they lived until 1888; when in turn that
was 50 amended as to constitute the pres
ent constitution of the State-the chief
provision of which, is that all future
amendments shall Lc Submitted to a cote
Of tie people.
But even if that had not been the case,
there is great difference between the
People Of Kansas Of to-day, and the Peo-
pie of Pennsylvania in 1900 and even
lS38-the respective dates at which our
Constitutions were adopted. Then, the
question which is now threatening the
stability Of the Union was one of second
ary mportaace-aoW, it is the ail-impor-
tant issue, not oal y in our nation, but is
: fast becoming the axis upon which the
entiro political world reyolves; and one
which We arc free to confess that we b.
licve will shake the whole foundation OF
the present political fabric Of the world,
under Whatever code it may be found.
Tao people Of this country have before
them too many precee}cnts, not to be jeal-
oas of their rights when asSailed By pvlit-
lcal patronage or personal ambition and
have seen too much of the sad effects of
inactivity when those rights are assailed,
even II their own past political history.
They have resolved upon a reform in this
respect, and all the perfdy and sophistry
of their delegated servants cannot change
their purpose. They have resolved no
longer to be blinded, by party fidelity, to
the demands of national principles, and
are too we'll Informed to be misleI in their
efforts to bring about that refarm, which
is to remove a great blot from our nation
81 character and give tia place among the
free nations of the world. The blind en-
thusian which our autocratic President
has recently exhibited in behalf of Slavery,
will fall harmless at the feet of those whom
1t was intended to crush it has even al
ready created happy zeal, in quarters
heretofore indifferent to its Importance, in
behalf of the great reform now so sincerely
undertaken by the true patriots of our ma
ton; and from them, in the present in
stance, will the political ambition of mon
archical usurpers receive its first check
and soon its final quietus.
Of the attempt of the Committee ma