Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-03-10
VOL. 5. NO II.

other points; they might undertake TO tell
them what the Constitution should be; and
that would defeat the whole purpose of ap
pealing to the people to electa Cons iituticn,
in order 10 form Constitution. 1t must
emanate from the people, not the Legislature.
They, however. deemed it proper TO suLmi.
the slave question. 1t submitted. l
know that the views of the minority represent
this submission as being unfair and unjust
saying that each man compelled TO vote
for the Constitution, and was not allowed to
vote against the Constitution This is incor-
rect; aud it is a little surprising to me that
the Senator from Illinois should SO misunder-
stand the position OF his friends. He
quotes largely from this subsequent action Of
the present dominant party in the Territorial
Leg gislature of Kansas. He even sends ur
the preamble and resolutions passed by them;
one of which resolutions disproves tho posi-
ton taken by that Senator, rs well by the
enator from Vermont. 1t IS this,
And whereas, tho members of said Con-
vention have refused. to submit their action
for the approval or disapproyal OF the voters
of the Territory, and iu thus acting have.
defed the known will of niEe tenths of the
voters thereof
The complaint here is that they submitted
it unfairly. The complaint there is that they
refused to submit it. They did not submit
it. The Constitution finally adopted.
seve and except one clause-that sanctioniug
African slavery. The article on tho subject
! of slavery was submitted TO direct vote Of
! the people. Here let 1t be borne in mind.
/ that when the clause or the subject Of slavery
| was submitted to vote Of the people, It was
! submitted 10 the whole people, whether
they registered under the registry law or
not. There can De no complaint that nine
Z taa. hayi M ipha -aro
disfrancbised at this vote; there can be no
complaint that any individual ii the Territory
! was disfranchised All had the unrestrained
privilege of coming up aud giving uttersncs
to their thoughts and their wishes on this sub
jeet; and If any one did not choose TO avail
himself OF that privilege it is no reason why
we should illegally undertake to correct what
they have illegally been tho cause of consum-
mating. If the men opposed to slavery have
the majority, as they assert, they could have
: voted out slavery; but it seems to me there
object was to let it be votsd IN by the pro-
i. slaverY.party, and then. If possible. defeat the
whole Constitution, and keep up turmoil and
confusion, TO answer tic ends of wild specu-
lation appealing to the fanascism of the East
Speculation in Kansas. aided by fanaticsl So
cieties in the East the one feeding the her.
is the mode of procedure on the part of this
party in Kansas.
1t is not my purpose and object to put .
check 10 the Legitimate speculation ] have
no objection to it. What is done fairly
without endangering the peace of the country
and without il justice t. our felow-eitizen., l. I
it be done: but when town sites and the ioca-
t on of car itals Of new State a to be parcell,
out, and Wild Jurore is raised to rush in a
population the pretext of excluding slavery
and yet they will not exclude it when they
have the power, but will keep the question
open, this discloses the object with which the
whole movement was undertaken. to wit to
fan the flames of excitement for political ends
, for pecuuiary reward, for speculation. To
accomplish this, Gov Walker saws they eonld
not succeed simply by appealing to the oomc>
mon sense and judgment Of the people, but
) they had hired mercenaries sent out there;
t When the legal authorities have extended the
privilege OF voting, OF registering, of acting;
1 of deciding, even TO mercenaries; when they
r have had that privilege, and, by the dffcta-
r ton of their superiors, did not exercise il,
y shall we stay our action and perpetrste :
0 still greater wrong2 | trust not
1t has been said, however tha. the vote o,
the 4th of January for State officers remain,
: yet in doubt, Why. Mr. President, shoe
: like to see the Senator who would rise in hi,
place and say before the country that we have
D right here, individually or collectively. to
t inquire what the vote of any State is for its
:; State officers. Where is the man who will
e give utterance to such fallacy as that? n,
: cannot be found. Why. then, make a com
S plant over a subject with which you have
y nothing to do The vote on the 4tb Of Ian.
S uary, on the Constitution was an illegal yots
If Why? The Constitution was perfect. com:
d plete before. Can She Legislatures of Ne,
e York, Pennsylrsnia. or Virginia, snnul thei
y Constitutions by submitting them to a vot
IF OF the people They cannot If the prio
e steps of the Lecompton Constitution be bind
J. ing, be legal, be such we can sanction b,
l. admitting them into the Union, all the pro:
ceedings subsequent TO the 2lst of Decem
/, Der lass when 1t was completed, are null AM
It void.
l. Il IS. however, said that the vote on on rh
l. 2lst of December was al illegal vote. 1t
" said in the statement of the Senator from Illi
or nois; and he says it is illegal for two reasons
lie one is. because the Territorial Legislature o.
J. the l.th, had passed law postponing it,
D. Could the Territorial Legislature on tho LIT
D. interfere with the people s couventio, =
e. delegates is equal to the people. aud it is Jus
he the same as if the people themselves were ae
to ting. They act not in their own name. the
o. act as mereagents. The people cannot b
1t interfe-ed with by Legislature. The peop
on had delegated speciai authority to the Cor
d ventlon Nosinsequent proceeding can am,
nd 1t. until 1t is exhausted in its existence. The
It subsequent proceedings may be institute,
ds growing out OF the Ike authority. conduct,
= In like ord.r'y. legal n ainer, for ehsns;-
I'm that Constitution. That is another
Ii But his otRer ohiectioa is. that t, ~
to ton Convention had no right 4e IIecc
! uo9 a lawi ',, | mad supposed :. pass an