The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-02-10
/ have yet received no official information
of the result of this election"

OF the result OF this election"
We see no strange inconststsncies in .his
election. True, the Free State party
could not destroy the existence, or change
the character Of the Leeonpton Consti-
tuition, but they could ''ia the NEST solid
and authentic manner" by voting at that
election, for and against that Constitution,
show whether it vds or acas not the uiU of
the people of Kansas. Neither was there
any strange inconsistency" in their voting
for State officers and members of the Leg
islature, as Authorized by that Constita-
tion. 1t was their right and their duty to
vote, so that if it war determined, "by the
powers that be-" to. orce that Instrument
upon them, they ceLld at least have the
assurance that the officers elected under it
were the representatives of the majority
Of the bona fde citizens. Bat if accounts
be true, and should Kansas be admitted
with the Lecompton Constitution, not only
does their large majority against it 60 fer
naught, but by the outrageous frauds of
Calhoun, and his adhsrents, their majority
On State officers and members of the Leg
islature is also worthless TO them
Lest we be misunderstood oa this
question, we repeat now what we havo
frequently before said: Give the people
of Kansas fair vote upon their Constitu-
tion, and the Democracy Of the North
will be content, let it result for or against
the Lecempten Constitution, or for or
against Slavery. But we cannot bring
eur mind to consent that the people Of
Kansas shall have pro-slavery, or any
other kind Of constitution forced upon
them contrary to their known will and
wishes. And while we condemn the ras-
eality of the leaders Of the pro-slavsry
party in Kansas, we are equally free to ad-
nit that there are rascals and fosls in the
fres-ststs party, else they would abandon
their Topeka Constitution and not make
it the test Of fidelity to the free stats-cause
And hence we claim that it is the duty of
Congress to reject both the Lecompton
and Topeka ConstitutIons--pass Dou
glas' enabling act, and start the people
of that unfortunate territory on new
footing This we think will be more like
| ly to give peace than the admission of
Kansas with the Leeonpten Constitution.
The President says:
Domestic peace will be the happy
consequence Of the admission" &c. y =
If the majority desire to abolish domestic
slavery within the State, there is no other
possible mode by which it can be effected
SO speedily as by its prompt admission. "
* "Un the other hand should Con-
greress reject the constitution under the
idea of affording the disaffected in Kan
sas a third opportunity to prohibit slavery
in the State, which they might have
done twice before, if in the majority, ne
n an can foretell the consequences.
We wish We could believe that do
msstic peace would follow the admission
of Kansas, but We cannot so sec it. On
the other hand, it is not to afford the "dis-
affected in Kansas third opportunity te
prohibit slavery" that VIC oppose its admis.
sion; bat because they have never had
one tair opportunity to decide upon tina,
or any other question of fundamental law
But why should its admission bring peace
and it's rejection the dcplorab!e conse-
quences apprshended? There is no rea.
son in the world why it should, unless the
Lecomptenites expect to bully the people
into its support.
| The concluding paragraph Of. the Mes
snge is as follows:
THE dark and ominious clouds nos
impending over the Union l coascienti-
ously believe will be dissipated with honor
to every portion of it by the admission OF
Kansas during the present session of Con-
gress; whereas, if she should be rejected,
/ greatly fear these clouds will become
darker and more ominous than ever yet
threatened the Constitution and the
UnioH."
We cannot for the life of US see why
those dark and ominieus closds should be-
come darker and more ominious by the re-
jsction of the Lecompten Consultation.
Is it by carrying cut the will Of . major
ity Of any people that dire calanities are
to he apprehended, or is it when the will
of the majority is disregarded, and laws
and institutions forced upon them at the
will and pleasure OF the minority?
For the Spirit of Democracy.
Mr. EDITOR roads are now, and
have been for some time worse thau the
undersigned has ever seen them; and ye'
| L