The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-07

which was Immediately transmitted to you
for the information Of the President and
Cabinet it Ia evident that the IAcompton
Convention was not such body. That
Convention had vital, not technical, defects,
In the very substance Of its organization un-
der the Territorial law, which could only
be cured, in my Judgment, as set forth in
my Inaugural and other addresses. by the
submission Of the constitution for ratification
O rejection by the people
On reference to the territorial law under
which the convention was assembled, thirty.
four regularly organized counties were
named as election districts for delegates TO
the convention. In each and all Of these
counties it was required by law that cen
SUD ghonld be taken and the voters register
ed and when this was completed, that del
egates 20 the convention should be appor.
toned accordingly. In nineteen Of these
counties there was no census, and therefore
there could be no such apportionment there
OF delegates, bastd upon such census. And
in fifteen of these counties there was no reg
stry OF voters. These fifteen counties, in
GLIDING many Of the oldest organized coun-
ties OF the territory, were entirely disfran-
chised, and did not give, and by no fault Of
their own, could 10, give solitary vote for
delegates TO the convention.
This result was superinduced by the fact
that the Territorial Legislature appointed
all the sheritIs and probate judges in all
these counties, to whom was assigned the
duty, by law, Of making this census and
registry. These officers were poltl, part
Asas-s s!...sseH:!as assnT the vIcSs and oTrn
ions Of the people Of these counties, a.
proved by the election Of October last
These officers, from want Of funds, as they
allege, neglected or refused to take any
census or make any registry in these coun-
ties and therefore they were entirely dis.
franchised, and could not and did not give q
single vote at the election for delegates to
the Constitutional Convention And here
] wish TO call attention 10 the distinction.
which will appear in my inaugural address,
in reference TO those counties where the vO-
ters were fairly registered and did not vote
In such counties, where full and free OBJ.
portunity was given to register and vote,
and they did not choose to exercise that priv.
egc, the question is very different from
those counties where there was no ceusus or
registry, and no vote was given or could be
given, however ANXIOUS the people might he
to participate in the election Of delegates TO
the convention. Nor could il be said these
counties acquiesced for wherever they en-
deavored 10y a Subsequent census or registry
Of their own to supply this defect occasioned
by the previous neglect Of the Territorial
officers the delegates were rejected by the
convention. ! repeat that in nineteen coun.
ties out of thirty four, there was no census.
In fifteen counties out of thirty. four there
was no registry. and not single vote was
given or could he given for delegates to the
convention IN any one of these counties.
Surely. then, IL caunot be said that such a
convention. chosen by scarcely more than
onestenth OF the present voters of X ansas
represented the people of that Territory. and
could rightfully impose a constitution upon
them without their consent. These nine.
teen counties in which there was no cen
sus, constituted a majority OF the counties
Of the Territory, and these fifteen counties
IN which there was no registry, gave a
much larger vote ut the October election.
even with the six months qualification, than
the whole vote given TO the delegates
who signed the lecompton Constitution on
the 9Th Of November last. If then. sovc.
reignty can he delegated. and conventions
as such, arc sovereign, which ,ieny, surely
It must bc only in such cases us when such
conventions are chosen by the people, which
we have s,en was not the case - regards
the late Lccomp,on Convention. II was Tor
this. among other reasons that in nv inau.
gural and other addresses. insisted tha.
the constitution should be submitted TO IA,
people by the convention a. the only means
of curing the vital defects in its organiza.
ton.
II was. therefore. among other reasons
when, as YOU know. the organization of the
socaled Topeka State Government, and, rs
consequence an inevitable civil! war and
conflict with the troops must have eusucd
these results were prevented by my assuring
not the Aboli,ionists. as has been erroneous
" statcd--ior my address was not 10 them
but the people Of X ansas--'hat iu my iudg
mcut the constitution would be submitted
fairly and freely for ratification or rejection
NY NHti Nott, am iliat " llifs was NOT zone
would unite with them. (,he people, "a
now DO, in lawful opposition TO such pro
c,,lure.
The power and responsibility being de-
voIyed exclusively upon me by the Presiden,
! If using the Federal army in X ans;,s 10 sup
prsss insurrection, the alternative was dis.
tinctly presented 10 me by the questions
( propounded al Topeka, OF arrestiug reyolu-
ton by the slaughter OF the peopie or Of
( preventing il, together with that civil war
which must have extended throughout the
Union. by the solemn assurance then giyen
that the RICH, OF tie people to frame their
own government so lar as my power ex.
tended should be maintained. Bu, for his
assurance, il is concede! fact. tia. the
/ Topeka State Gaverement then ass embed
in Legislative session would have been. put
into immediate actual operation, and that a,
sanguinary collision with the Federal army