The Washington union., 1858-03-26
THE NEW DRAMA-MR. DOUGLAS IN NINE
PARTS


very month of March, than are the tactics OF the anti
Lecompites. Mr. Douglas entered the list against
the admission of Kansas the third day OF the ses-
sion. AS it was known that he would disayow his
offspring and declare its i.legtimacy, the country
was full of curiosity to see how he would do it and
what evidence he would offer to justify extraor-
binary proceeding. We all listened and heard
him say distinctly that it because the child was
not baptized by immersion in the pure waters of
popular sovereignty. To drop the metaphor the Lo-
compton constitution had not been submitted to a
direct vote of the people for their ratification
lection BY such proceeding alone could that nstru-
ment be regarded as legitimate. Mr.. Douglas did
not care to go into the elections to see whether
they were fair OF fowl, honest corrupt; it
enough for him that the people had not voted on the
law ITSELF he would regard anything short ofsuch
a vote as nuliity. 1t is true in addition to
this point Mr.. Douglas raised question of legitima-
cy touching the child's birth, account of some
defect in the constitution of its parents, which he
thought rendered them incapable of bearing such
fruits. He in fact denied that the law authorized
any such reproduction. Congress never gave the
people of Kansas any authority to make constitu-
ton But if they chose to go outside Of the law and
make one it was indispensable that it should be rat
fed by the people before he would consent to give
effect to it by the admission of the State into
tional family The fraud mania when Mr.. Douglas
opened the ball had not become epidemic. The con-
stitution had just gone print We doubt if Mr. Doug
las knew anything about its terms. He didn't want
to know. 1t had not been submitted to the people,
"
cregnty demanded its submission and he was ready
to plant himself upon that ground alone and resist
the recognition of new State. A little time and a
little discussion convinced Mr. Douglas that the
post he had tied to old rotten black repub-
can stump and would not hold the weight of fea-
ther. 1t was seen that third of the States of the
Union had neglected TO submit their organic laws
he required; and of course if his principles were
good for anything, that those laws void and
worthless. Besides the people of Kansas had roted
upon the question of their constitution and thereby
conferred upon their representatives full power to
form that instrument in their behalf, for their sole
use and advantage. This the very highest act
of sovereignty that people could perform with ref
erence to the establishment of their domestic ins-
tutons--an act equal in every respect with direct
vote upon their constitutional law. But Mr.. Douglas
did not look far enough into the subject to this.
1t reserved for others to enlighten hmand that
they succeedcds evdento the fact that the wind of
his policy veered to the northward and hesoon found
in the republican magazines far better material with
which to maintain his position. In June oflastyoar-
very month in which the Lecompton delegates were
clected--Mr Douglas defended the ''farness and
Justice of the law directing the election of the con-
ventien ''to decide as he said, "the question of
slavery and oil other important matters connected with
the future of the new State of Kansas. No matter
for that declaration it made six months before
the meeting Of Congress, and Mr.. Douglas had an
unquestionable right to change his opinions within
that long period lie did change his opinions de-
nouucng the convention Illegal because it did not
submit the constitution Three months more have
rolled by and where do we find Mr. Douglas now On
his December platform? No. On his June platform?
No. Where then is he? Why the cons tuition has
become illegal by the votes of the peopio of Kansas
since it was adopted The December election, which
did not involve the validity of the instrument was
immensely fraudulent The January election, which
had no more to do with the constitution than the
Astor riots with the recent revival in the city of
New York, was also fraudulent 1t is true, at the
aforementioned election the people of Kansas voted
in a legislature and State officers under the new
State organization, and Mr.. Douglas and his republi-
can friends have been fretting their gi2zards ever
since in fear that they might not get certificates of
election to Offices which they all agree in declaring
do not legally exist. Mr. Douglas rests his case
upon these grounds:
l. That the election of June was held under q fair
and just law.
IT, That the delegates were legally elected and
had power to frame constitution but that their la
Dor became worthless because it was not submitted
to the people
III That all the elections were illegal, fraudulent
and void
w. That the republicans justly entitled to
their certificates of election under the Lecompton
constitution
V. That that constitution is usurpation and
fraud and that all those who sustain it are morally
guilty accessory after the fact.
Now, will add three more points Of Mr.. Doug
lass associates
J. That the territorial government was surprise
and usurpation and therefore void
ii. That the Topeka constitution is the true or
ganic law of Kansas.