The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-02-26
FINDLAY, O., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY

organic act OF Kansas, obtained all
that Il aked for, and the main result
has been exactly what the Southern
men foresaw. The South has moth
ing whatever to gain by the adoption
OF the Lecompton Constitution. II
presents no question of practical ad.
vantage to tho South, and it canuot
be pretended that the admission OF
Kansas under Il will carry with it
any advantage to the South. As q
question on the score of expediency
it does nothing but injury to the
South; the issue presented as q South
ern one, is untimely and mistaken,
unwise. and anything but national.
And would it wound any at the
South less to have the people Of Kan
sas, as soon as the General Govern.
ment is out oi the way, undo all that
has been donci Is it not more res.
pectful TO the South to state the case
maniully and temperately and rely
on Southern maspsuiiiity ana sense
of.juotice.
Again, it is said the Union is in
danger; the Unicn is to be dissolved.
There is no present danger to the
Union. Tho sufferers Of wrong in
Kansas have been almost all North.
ern men; and the North has no wish
to desert, OF dissolve, or weaken the
Union.
But it is urged the men Of Kansas
are in rebellion. The imposition OF
a lothsome and rejected Constitution
is an odd remedy for pretended re-.
bellion, which, as far as know has
no precedent, except in King George
and the British Parlia nent in IVA.
II Gov. Walker found discontents
there, the promises of equity which
he made in the name OF the Presi-
dent quelled rebellion by means OF
the ballotbox. The waves never
rise unless the wind blows. If the
menancc OF the Lcconpton Constitu.
tiou seemed likely TO excite distur-
Dances, Governor Stanton, to his
homer be it said, lulled the rising
not by calling in the
Army of the United States, but by
peacefully convoking the legal Leg.
islature OF the Territory.
There is now no insurrection in
K,nsas; there is no rebellion there.
Cease to dispute tho unquestionable
right OF the majority, and the star OF
peace will rise serenely, the storm
will hush, and the waves subsiJe.
The Government will not find re-
bellion there; let it not provoke one.
And what q contrast between a
Governor Of a Territory restoring
peace through the representatives OF
the people and all officer Of the Gen
eral Government calling himself the
President OF Convention, taking an
escort from the Army of tue United
States to make his entry into the
C ,pital Of Kansas amid the murmurs
OF it's people.
Tito the question between the L..
compton Constitution and the people
OF Kansas we apply the test OF prin
ciple, we find that the enforcement
OF that Constitution will DO an act
of power against right; of the Army
against the people; Of force against
reason; of usurpation against the
rightiul will ofthe majority. 1t will
be a violation Of the fundamental
principle OF free government. which
is governed by consent. 1t is di.
rec;ly at war with democracy, whose
cardinal point is the power Of the
people. The supporters Of the lie.
compton Constitution have not one
square inch Of Democrstic ground to
stand upon. A constitution for its
vaiidity needs the concurrence ofthe
majority Of tue people, either silent
ly by general acquiescence or by
an appeal to the polls. Shall full
and undoubted evidence be required
for a deed of a foot OF land or by gift
by will of shilling? Shall a mer-
chant or banker have power to stop
payment OF a check fraudulcntly
held, and shall the people have no
power to stop their servants from Sc
questering their rights? Shall the
most insignificant treaty of a Minis.
ter Plenipotentiary want validity till
it is ra,ifedl And shall the highest
treaty of the people with themselves
be made in corner by their scr.
wants without their ASSENT IL form
everything and substance nothingi
Is appearance everything and truth
and righ. and reality nothing?
There is not u precedent for en-.
forcing a constitution arainst the
consent Of the people. The princi.
ples OF popular ratification is sanc'
toned in the Mennesota act.
The president in his annual ines
sage emphatic ,llv declares that the
example OF submitting a Constitu
ton to the people is founded on @
correct principle; so that his instruc
tons to Gov. Walker on that sub
ject were properly expressed in IN
qualified terms.
Again: Congress has power to ad
NIT States, but no power whatever
to make q Constitution for Q State;
still less to impose on n State a Con
stitution which = majority Of it's peo
pie loathe and reject. The tenden
cy to Capitalization Of power in thu
General Government is rapid an(
dangerous. We protest against it,
further increase and against its pres
ent excess. Tue true basis of polit
ical organization between all part
Of the Union was, from it's beginning
tha riphta uf the States. and th A