The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-01


referred to. Our concern is specially with the
Republican members. They have their own
aims, principles, and motives. What others
think or desire is no rule for them. Some of
them have said that they would vote for the
admission of q slave State, provided the major
ity of the People, Independently of any illegiti-
mate influence, should have clearly decided the
question. Some aver that they never can vote
for the admission of q slave State. Some take
the ground that they win not vote for the ad-
mission of q slave State north of $50 30<. Some
decline to commit themselves one way or the
other, assuming that each case should be deci-
ded on its merits, and a. it may arise. All are
opposed to the extension of Slavery, the odious
principle asserted by the majority of the Judges
of the Supreme Court in the bred Scott case,
and to the continued rule of Slavery and all
favor the ultimate extinction of the evil in ways
peaceful, strictly constitutional and in accord.
ance with the rights of the States.
1t viii be seen at once that the directors to
the Crittenden amendment, if there be any, are
to be found only among two of these classes.
Having denounced the Lecompton Constitu-
ton as Aagrantly wrong, and declared their de-
termination to vote either against the admis.
sion of any Slave State, or against the sdmis-
sion of such State north of $50 3O<, how can
they, it is asked, without inconsistency and
sacrifice of principle, vote for q bin which pro-
poses to submit this wrong Constitution to the
People of Kansas, and, if they approve Of it,
to authorize the President to declare Kansas,
usder that Pro Slavery Constitution, a State of
the Union? We put the question. broadly and
markedly, for we do not wish to blink it, or hide
it from our readers. Our answer is, they
could not vote for it, either as an amendment,
or for the bill amended by it, without sacrifice
of principle, without violation of their pro-
fessions, without ridiculous and criminal incon-
sistency, if they had reason to believe that
the People Of Kansas would accept the Con-
stitution, and organize as STAGE State. But
vote has not necessarily an absolute, abstract
quality. Its moral as well as its political char
acter, in matters of legislation, often-we do
not say alsoays-depends on the purpose of the
voter and the effect of the uote.
Let us suppose that the gentlemen, who now
declare that they will not vote for the admission
of Slave State, should support the amend
ment, giving the People of Kansas the oppor-
tunity to pass judgment on this bad Constitu-
ton, is it their purpose to vote for the admis-
sion of Slave State? No. Will such be the
effect of their vote? No. Have they the
slightest reason to believe that such will be the
efsctf No. Do they not have conviction,
amounting to full assurance, that precisely the
reverse will be the efsct-that the People will
reject the Constitution, and form a free one?
Yes. Can they vote down this Constitution in
Congress? No. Can they, by voting for the
substitute bill, defeat the Administration, and
give the People Of Kansas an opportunity to
do what they cannot do-vote down the feloni
GUS Constitution? Yes! What, then, will be
the verdict of the conscience and common
sense of the country upon their conduct, should
they thus vote? That they acted wisely, con.
sistently, and in the only way in which they
could effsctuate their purpose-the establish
ment of Freedom in Kansas. The purpose of
Of their vote they know and God knows-the
policy. What need they care for the word logic
of metaphysical hair splitters, or the sneaking
misrepresentation of demagogues or even the
fastidiousness of honest friends 2. God knowj
what they meant-the event proves that the
effect and operation of their vote have been
just what they intended.
Why concern themselves about the erpres-
sion, the look of "the record 2" The record
has no significance, unless facts and circumstan-
ces outside of it be known. Their position,
their character, their antecedents, their known
principles, their unmistakable aims and pol
icy, the peculiar circumstances in which they
were placed, furnish the key to their record
determine the meaning of the vote. After all,
brave man will consult first his conscience
and his God, and then, if satisfied, be easy
about his "record." He will be far more anx-
ious to do right than to appear right. Men
sometimes, in their ambition to be correct on
the record, !" show more regard for their reputa-
ton than anything else. For one, we hold that
there are cases where q man is called upon to
risk even his reputation, rather than fail to
achieve . noble end-to suffer himself to be put
ON the record in such way as to be misunder.
stood by fools, misrepresented by foes, or doubt
ed even by friends, rather than abstain from
doing right.
"Well-if vote for this substitute, and it
should pass, and under it the people of Kansas
be empowered to vote on this Constitution, will
they do what cannot do-vote it DOWN." Is
there q man of common intelligence who does
not believe that, could the Free State men of
Kansas be present in the Capital to-day, they
would not beseech every friend of Justice in
Congress to give them the power to deal with
that instrument Governor Robinson, now in
this city, gives deep expression to this feeling
Were not thirteen thousand votes recorded on
the 4th of January against the Constitution
Were not only twenty-five hundred genuine
votes cast for it on the 2lst December2 Has
not the Territory since then been replenished
by the spring tide of free immigration? Have
not the Oxford, and Kickapoo, and Delaware
Crossing frauds been exposed, demonstrated,
and rendered 30 bare and odious, that they can
never be repeated? Have not the fraud mongers
been prosecuted, and with criminal processes
hanging over them, fed from the Territory,
fugitives from justice7 Did not our friends
last October obtain complete possession of the
Territorial Legislature are they not still in
powerf have they not passed the most rigor
Gus laws for the prevention and punishment of
frauds at the ballot boz? In word, have not
the Republicans asserted, again and again, and
does not the Public believe, that the Free State