Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-05-15
Mn. ENGLisus LEcoMProS BI,L

TIES ana absurdlty oil TINS bill which was tor- |
ced through Congress by the free use Of gov |
eminent pap and patronage.
The action of the Congress Of the United
States on Friday week, decided the following
propositions aud contradictions 1nasmuch
as this action is not aeettlement, buta wicked
re-opening Of that which honest Legislation
would have forever tranquilized, it is desra-
BILE that the reader will preserve and remem-
Der these facts:
|. That although the people Of Kansas
have repeatedly rejected the Lecompton Con-
stitution, with all its protection to slavery
they must take that Constitution now, or
wait till they have a population of $4,000 or
100000
III. That the people can have no voteupon
this Lecompton Constitution under the En.
glish bill, as lately, most positively, and dis
tinctly shown by Senators Douglas and Green
in the Senate, and by Mr.. Stephens in the
House.
Ill But in order to bribe them to take it,
some four millions of acres Of land are offered
to them, which it they accept, they 60 into
the Union with Lecompton, and which fthey
reject, they remain out an indefinite period
OF time.
~. If they take Lecompton with the land
bribe which is q slave Constitution. simply
and wholly they enter the Union with &c, 900
Of population if they refuse it, they will
remain in a territorial condition under pro-
slavery management, for years to come.
V. That the commission appointed TO hold
the election in Kansas, when the land ordi-
nance mot the Constitution) is submitted
has been constituted by the English billy to
consist majority e proslavery men, who
will OF course count only to suit themselves ;
tho ITOnsa Mil nadia tho cnn, mic csin cta
two and two.
VI. That the clause so highly favored by
the Lecomptonites, that the people OF Kan
sas should alter the Constitution at any time
outside OF its forms, has been carefully eXclu-
ded by the English legerdemain.
VII. That all the Southern men say there
is no submission of the Constitution 70 the
people of Kansas, while their partsans from
the North say there is.
| We oppose this last fraud, to use the Ian.
guage CT Senator Stuart, of Michigan, on Fri
day. for the following, among other reasons ::
81 oppose it on the same ground that |
would oppose an accumulation of property in
dishonorablo way ! oppose it as | would
oppose the reception of stolen property know
ing it to be stolen oppose i. because it is
unbecoming the magnanlmity aud generosity
Of great people, and a Congress represent
! luB great peoplei ptCuuse "nne III ebeCl
the people may destroy this Constitution,
those who report it here to-day in their pla-
ces have said that the Constitution is not
submitted; ! oppose it, sir upon higher prin-
ciples than any possible personal consequ9n.
ces oppose it because it seeks to lay down
in the admission Of States into this Union one
set Of propositions Of one character of States,
and another set Of propositions for different
character OF States l oppose 1t because in
stead Of giving peace TO the country, which
most fervently desire, it will inevitably in
crease and promote excitement and discord
! throughout the confederacy and because it
/ is in plain violation of the letter and spirit of
/ the organic law Of Kansas, and the true prin-
cples Of self-government.
Il have said, sir, aud beg leave TO repeat
it again from the very bottom Of my heart, !
wish to-day in the settlement of this principle
that this Lecompton Constitution was a free
State Constitution, that it might be seen
how Indignantly the Representatives Of the
North would despise aud condemn, and deride
aud trample under foot such proposition as
this. Sir will never agree 20 any sucn un.
just, desplcable Discrimination as is continued
in this bill.
Sir, we are called upon TO say to the peo-
pie Of Kansas, "if you will take this obuox.
iOus Constitution you may come IN now, al
once, by the proclamation Of the President
a Constitution which we know is obnoxious
to every impulse of your nature; but if you
insist upon framing Constitution that is
agreeable to your Judgment and your wishes
you shall not come in until you have doubled
your population and yet | am asked to vote
for it. Why, Sir, if it were submitted tc
me as the only alternative, il were sc
borne down by oppression or under duress
that | was compelled to falsfy all my opin'
ions of constitutional authority, and take the
naked Senate bill or take this thing Infinite.
ly would prefer the original Senate bill, be.
cause that does stand, aud can stand upon
technical legal authority, if you choose TO use
that in opposition to the known will of the
people. This can stand on nothing either
human or divine. If you were to set it up
and apply the commandment TO it, you could
not make it out heresy to worship it, for it is
not like anything in the heavens above or in
the earth beneath, or the waters under the
earth. 1t is an anomaly. miserable, ingeni
ously.concocted pretence to smuggle througt
Congress, and fasten upon the Eecks of the
people of Kansas, an obnoxious organic law.