The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11
1t is well known that the only real

the question Of slavery. Evidence
to that effect could be accumulated
almost without limit, establishing the
fact. But the committee deem this
unnecessary, as the fact itself will
hardly be disputed by any one. Such
being the case, no reasonable ground
for complaint can be found; for that
question was submitted to all the
bona fde inhabitants for decision on
the 2lst December. There is no pre-
tence that any districts, counties or
persons Were DISTINGUISHED at that
election. Every qualified voter, whe-
ther registered or not registered, had
the unrestraincd privilege of voting
for or against slavery. Here, then,
was the opportunity TO settle the
only existing difficulty, if it was de.
sired. Would il not be very extra
ordinary to permit factious portion
of the people, in total disregard of
the laws, to stay wilfully from the
polls, when, according 10 law, and
according to the published notice 70
Governor Walker, they were equally
bound as if they had voted, and then
claim the privilege of having re-
submission
II it was true that they had as
they assert, majority opposed 90
slavery, they could have voted out
the clause sanctioning that institu.
ton. BY their owa act the vlansc is
retained; but then they desire 20 re-
ject the whole Constitution, because
of the so-callcd obnoxious slavery
clauses left in by tlcir own wilful
refusal TO vote, such wilfulncss in not
to be conciliatcd or tolerated in a
country governed by laws. Suppose
twenty additional opportunities
should be- offered to tlc same people
TO vote on all these questions, who
can guarantee that tley will act bet.
ter in the future than they have in the
pasty Who can say they will vote
at allg And if not, would not the
same objection now made he as valid
then as il is now, with reference to
their non-actpny II seems 10 be,
however, bu. carrying out their
known political designs 10 prevent
the peaceful settlement of the qucs.
ton.
The only legal rule is to adhere TO
the uniform Practice Of all the con-
stitutional governments in the Union;
and an opportunity having been af.
forded TO all of registering their
names and voting, then, 10 decide
according To the majority thus cast,
whether some Of the people have vot.
ed, or neglected, or refused to vote.
Governor Walker said 10 the people
Of Kansas in his official address:
Throughout our whole Union, and
wherever free government prevails.
those who abstain from the exercise
Of the rights Of suffrage, authorize
those who do vote 10 act for them IN
that contingency. and the abscntccs
are as much bound under the law and
Constitution-whcn there il 10 fraud
or violencc--by the majority Of those
who do vote, AS though all had par
ticipatcd in the election. Otherwise,
as voting must be voluntary, self.
government would be impracticablc,
and monarchy and despotism would
remain as the only alternative.
Admitting the truth Of the propo-
sition Of Governor Walker, that those
who abstain from voting authorize
those who do vote TO vote for them,
it necessarily follows that the Abo.
litionists Of Kansas, If they are the
majority Of the people M they claim
to be-, are directly responsible for the
establishment Of slavery in that Tel
ritory. And whether they constitute
the majority or minority, the deci.
sion is equally binding upon them all
Popular Sovereignty" has been
invoked by some IN defeat the lie.
compton Constitution II is even al
legged by those DIRECTORS that nothing
but a submission Of the whole Con.
stitution ~ direct vote Of the pco.
pie would DO a compliance with the
provisions Of tho Kansas Nebraska
Act, which declares that the people
Of that Territory shall be perfectly
free 10 form their domestic institu.
tions in their own way. With this
view Of the subject the committee
cannot agree.
Surely il will not be contcndcd
that this provision Of the Kansas or.
gabic law diminished the previous
rights Of the people in creating a
STATE government. In all time past,
since the declaration Of IDdepcn-
dcncc, it has been uniformly admit
ted, without single exception, that
the peuple had the right Of choice
Al Al ~. D.