The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-01-08

vote on the question Of slavery as proposed by
the late convention, disconnected from ail,other
subjects, in preference 10 a vote on the constitu-
iton as a whole.
For It's action the convention has been most
roundv abused and Do no; intend to come to
its defence. for from rnauy Of the details Of its
proceedings dissent But it would not be
candid to contend that then. vas nothing in the
hearing of th- enemies Of the convention to
imppl il Ia fully exhaust. If moi 10 abuse, the
authority with which it had been clothed. The
inceSsant nrnacrS Of the violent isaderS OF thr
republican, party, who, IN Ny Judgment, never
desired to have the controversy settled, was
calculated to do this. The declaration that they
would not Judge OF the merits OF any form OF
government it might make, bat would reject IT,
If possible, at the pollS for reasons mischIerouS
and rebrlliouS, was also calculated TO produce
such action. Nor Is 1t canid 70 contend that
this class ot politicians IN the Territory, and
others out OF it, when they dwrlt on the ;mpor-
tance OF submitting the constitution 10 the test
of popular favor, had reference 10 disputes about
railroads, banks, corporations, courts, legislative
functions. The queStlon-thr aIl-a6sOrbfng,
and the only question-waS, shall Kansas BE-
free or slave State! believe Governor Walker
went mach further and vet the very men who
threatened to rebel on his hands at Topeka, and
who put him through the shorter catechIsm Of
Kansas politics, never would have met him
there, nor mentioned the name OF constitution,
mad il not been tor the qurStion of slavery.
They said ''consthution," it is true, for the idea
of a separate submission had not then been raised
but even they had no other question on their
H. hot Of b.,tb L,r.ao .cbo,,lI r.,
free or a slave State. Throughout this broad
land this has been treated as the question, and
the only one.
That question the people of Kansas had an
opportunity TO settle in June last, by eIecting
delegates TO carry out their will. They are TO
have another to-day, by voting on so much OF
the constitution as relates to that subject. After
all that has been said about fraud and trickery
touching this issue, the great overshadowing
fact cannot be denied, that the people of Kansas
have had two opportunities to make her free
State. am aware, sir, that the registry OF
voters at the election in June was very defec-
tive; but that was no reason why those who
were registered should not vote. That COM
plalni however, cannot BE- made as to the vote
the slavery article, for no registry is requir-
ed, and every white citizen above twenty-one
years of age can vote. | regard the registry as
very imperfect butI cannot understand the
picture presented by Governor Walker in
recent letter addressed to the President He
undertakes to show that less than one-haIf of
the voters were registered when the delegates
were elected, aud yet the records show that
over nine thousand names weIe registered in
June, and that the whole vote for the congress-
ional delegate in October last, after an exciting
contest, and a large increase of population, was
only a little over twelve thousand. How this
mystery is to be solved | cannot tell, but
the statements are siagullrly contradictory.
What my action may be on the question Of
admission, should the new constitution be pre-
sented, | cannot precisely lJresee. The case is |
not yet InllY d~~~Nopvd 10 snNHs Ga" 'vll " nat
a day may bring forth IN Kansas. Those who
are to conduct the election upon the slavery
article have been vested with large and danger
Gus powers, the use Of which they may, if they |
choose, abuse to such an extent as 10 forbid the
of the result, whatever 1t may be. |
But if that election be fairly conducted, | shall /
feel required To- vote for the admission of the |
State either with or without slavery. | should |
do this under the firm belief that it is the best
mode possible of putting an end 10 the existing
strife; for, after all, when we look al this |
question practically, it does not involve half so
much as some would make Us believe When |
the State shall have been admitted, not only |
slavery, bat all other institutions, will be subject
TO be changed and remodeled by the people. /
They can, il they please, do this within SIX
months after Kansas becomes a State, and enjoy
the same opportunity, whenever they desire |
it, forever thereafter Why then contest the !
question as though the institutions under which !.
the State may be admitted were to be, like the |
laws OF the AI,,des ana Persans, Interchangeable
know II is alleged thai the constitution cannot
be changed prior 10 1864 but that view cannot /
be naintained. Without discussing the terms OF
the schedule, which simply Prescrl0es the mode /
IN which the constitution ball be amended /
after 1864, the blll OF rights $ conclusive on
his point. i declares that
''Al political power Is inherent in the people, Tof
Kansas "ad all free governments a.'e founded on
he.r authority, and instituted foC their benefit, and
therefore they have at all times al Inai teHabe and
aisht to alter, reform, abolish their
orm OF government IN such hey may
.hink proper
The mode Of voting has also been subject
If criticism. The honorable senator main talns
hat the elrctor most give his sanction TO all
he other provisions of the constitution before
lie can enjoy the opportunity Of voting for o.
galnst slavery. This is clrarly mistake.
The ballot. constitution with slavery" o.
constitution without slavery" involves only
ne slavery clause 1t is simply the question
II whether Kansas shall br free OF d slave !
tate, under the general loru,s agreed upon by f
he constitution. That ths was Intended by .
be convection is made clear by lis proceedings
they have been given 10 me- accurately by /
Gentleman from LecompiJu. His rlforna-
ION is, that, before the adoption OF the form Of
oting, the sense Of the convention was taken
o the proposition to submit the whole conStltu- I
ION to vote of the people, which was deci- /
ed IN the negative, and never reconsidered.
a motion to submit the slavery c