Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-08

Union, without u previous vote Of tho people up
proving the consu tuition.
1t is to be lamciitcd that question 30 insignif-
cant when viewed in it's practical effects on the
people of Kansas. whether decided one way or
tho other. should have kindlod such aamc Of ex-
citcmcnt throughout tho country This reflection
may prove TO be lesson Of wisdom and of warn
ing for our future guidance. Practically consid-
cred, tho question is simply whethor tho people
of that Territory should first come into tho Union
and then change any provision in their consitu-
ton not agreeable to Themselves or accomplish
tho very same object by remaining out Of the
Union and framing another constitution in accor-
dance with their wilr In either case, tho result
would be precisely the snme. The only difference
in point Of iact is, that tho object would have been
much sooner attained, and the pacifcation Of Kan
sas more speedily effected, had It been admitted
IA u State during the last session OF Congress.
My recommendation, however, for tho imme-
diatc admission Of Kansas failed 10 meet the mp
probation of Congress. They deemed il wiser to
adopt different measure for the settlement of
the question. For my own part, should have
been willing to yield my assent to almost my con-
Rtitutional measure to accomplish this object. |,
therefore, cordially acquicscod in what has been
called the English Compromise, and approved tho
"Act for tho admission of the State OF kansns in-
10 the Union upon the terms therein prescribed.
Under the ordinance which accompanied the
L"compton constitution, the people of kansns had
claimed double tho quantity of public lands for
the support Of common schools, which had ever
boon previously granted 10 any State upon enter
ing tho Union; and also tho alternate sections of
lind for twelve miles ON each side Of two railroads.
proposed to be constructed from the northern to
the southern boundary, and from the eastern to
tho western boundary Of tho Stnte. Congress
decmnE these claims unreasonable, provided. by
the net of May T. 1868. to which have just re-
torrcd for the admission of tho State on an cqnnl
I,otiuv with thr oryuul Stntps hut ., uuou thu
fundamental condition precedent tlnt n mn oriiy
of tho people thereof at mn election 10 be held tor
that purpose. should, in place Of the worry large
grants Of public nnds which they had demanded
under tho ordinance, accept such grants Us had
been made to Minnesota aud other new States.--
Under this act should minority reject the prop
ostion offered them. "it shall be deemed and held
that the reoplo of Kansas do not desire admission
into the Union with said constitution under the
conditions set forth in said proposition" In that
event the net authorizes tho people of tho Terri
tory to elect delegates to form constitution and
STATE government for themselves, "whenovcr, and
not before il is asccrtained by census, duly and
legally taken, that the population of said Terrific
ry equals exceeds tho ratio of representation
required for II member If the House of Rcprescn-
tatiycs Of the Congress of the United States. =
The delegates thus assembled "shall first deter
mine 10y II vote whether il is the wish ot tho peo-
pie Of the proposed State to lc admitted into the
form n constitution, and take nll necessary steps,
Tor the establishment of State government i'll
conformity with the lrdoral constitution After
this constitution shall have been formed, Congress-
carrying out tho principles OF popular sovereignty
and non-intervcntion have left 'the modo and
manner Of its approval or ratification by tho peo-
llc Of the prop ,scd State" to be "prescribcd by
iaw," and they shall then be admitted into the
Union as State under such constitution thus fair
ly and legally made with or without slavery, MS
said constitution mny prescribe
An election was held throughout Kansas In
pursuance Of tho pre-, Visions oi this act On the
socond day IF August last. aud It resulted IN the
rejection. by largo majority, Of the proposition
submitted 10 the people by Congress. This being
tho case, they are now authorised to form another
constitution, preparatory to admission into tho
Union, but notfuutil their number, as asccrtaincd
by census, shall equal or exceed the ratio re-
tiuircl To elect n member to tho House Of Repre-
scutnti,rs.
/, il not probable, in tho present state of tho
ease tat third constitution can be lawfully fra
med and presented to Congress by Kansas. before
It's population shall have reached the designated
number. Nor is it to be presumed that, after their
sad experience in resisting the territorial laws,
they will attempt to adopt constitution in express
violation Of the provisions of an act OF Congress.
During the scssisn Of 1856 much Of the time of
Congrcss was occupied on tho question Of admt-
ting Kansas un ler the Topeka constitution Again
nearly the whole of the last session was devoted
10 the question: of it's admission under the Lccoinp-
ton constitution Surely it is not unreasonable to
require the people Of Kansas to wait, before
ma king third attempt, until the number of their
inE abilants shall amount tonincty- three thousand
fou r hundred and twenty. During this brief period
tho harmony Of tho States, as well us the great
bu ,iness interests of the country demand that the
.Jpe Of the Union shall not for third time be
convused by another agitation on tho Kansas
question. ly waitngfor n short time and acting
in obedience to law, Kansas will glide into the
Union without the slightest mpediment.
This excellent provision. which Congress have
applied To Kansas ought to be extended aud rem
dered applicable to all Territories which may
hereafter seek admission into the Union.
Whilst Congress possess the undoubted power
Of admitting II new State into the Union. however,
small may be tho number of its inhabitants, yet
this power ought not, in my opinion, to be exerci-
sed before tho population shall amount to tho ra-
to required by the act for the admission OF Kansas.
Had this been previously the rule, the country
would have escaped all the evils and msfortunes
to which it has been exposed by the Kansas ques-
t0n.
or course, it would be unjust to give this rule
retrospective application, and exclude State
which, acting upon the past practice of the govern
mont, has already formed its constitution, elected
its legislature and other officers, and is now pre-
pared to enter the Union.
Tho rule ought to be adopted, whether we con-
tidcr its bearing the people of the Territories
or upon the people of tho existing States Many
Of the serious dissensons which have prevailed in
Congress and throughout the country, would have
been avoided had this rule been established at an
earlier period Of the government.
Immediately upon the formation of n new Ter
ritory, people from different States and from for
eign countries rush into it. for the laudablo pur-
pose of improving their condition. The first duty
to themselves is to open and cultivate farms, to
construct roads, to establish schools to erect pla-
ces of relir Worship and to devote their ener