The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-02
settleusent Of the Kansas QuestiOn--POpular
Sovereignty Triumphsnt.


The Kansas question, so far as 1t can be set
tled by Congress, has been disposed Of, and
this apple Of diseord is taken, We trust forev-
er, from the halls Of Congress. The ordinance
which accompanies the Lecompton Constitu-
tion is sent back to Kansas to be voted on by
the people; If they accept the ordinance, the
Constitution is adopted, and the Territory
comes into the Union as State by proclama-
tion Of the President; but if the ordinance is
rejected, the Constitution is rejected, and Kan
sas remains under Territorial government
until her population is sufficient to entitle her
TO a Representative in Congress. Thus it will
be seen, that the principle contended for BY
Senator Douglas and other Democrats, Of allow.
ing the people to adopt or reject their organic
Law, has been fully recognized by Congress.
Every legal voter in Kansas has the right to
express his opinion % to whether he is in faver
Of, or opposed to, the LscOmpton Constitution |;
and suoh measures have been adopted by Con-
grsss, for the establishing Of precincts, and the
appointment Of tho election judges and clerks
a. to render the repetition Of frauds almost i'm
possible.
The ordinance which accompanies the I.e-
compton Constitution, was very justly regarded
as making extravagant demands Of the general
government. and was contemptueusly rejected
In the bill which arst passed the Senate for the
admission Of Kansas. Mr.. Douglas, aud the
most of the Democrats who acted with him, vo-
ted against the bill Is it finally passed, and we
must conclude that their course was induced by
their opposition to the extravagant demands Of
ths ordinance. As many Of our readers may
never have read the Lecompton Constitution,
we reeapitulate, from memory, some of the
provisions of the ordinance which accompanies
1t, and which Congress has authorized the peo-
pie Of Kansas to adopt or reject. 1t sets out
with the impudsnt assumption that the State Of
Kansas has the right to tax oil the lands be-
longing to the general government in the State;
and in consideration Of Kansas surrendering
this assumed right Of taxation, Congress is re-
quired to give the State the usual quantity Of
land given to all new States for school aud Oht-
or purposes, and some 20 ,OO0, 900 acres besides;
also, all gold, silver, copper, lead and other
miaes, together with the land on which they
are situated, salt springs, &c. Other demands
equally unjust and unfair to the other States
are made in the ordinance, but the above are
the principal points which occur 10 eur mind
ct present. The impudent claims made by the
model legislators who framed the Lseonptsn
Constitution, were at nrst very properly reject
cd by the administration Democrats, and no
one had the most distant idea that they would
ever be tolerated for moment. 1t il said that
the ordinance was amended previous to the
passage of the bill, but in what particulars we
are not advised at the time Of writing this II
Il passed in any thing like the shape in which
II left the Lecompton Convention, II may very
Justly be regarded as holding out hribe to the
people of Kansas to vote in favor of the Le-
compton Constitution; for in that case, II it Is
accepted, Kansas will come into the Union with
such dowry % was never dreamed OF being
given to other new States, and which will be
suficisnt, if properly husbauded, to carry on
ths State government without resorting to tax
elton Tor Ill time to come. But il the srdi-
nance vas 20 amended o. to place Kansas upon
an equality with other new States, then the
principal objection to the bill is obviated.
Whether the people Of KanSas adopt or reject
The Constitution. 10 . matter Of indifference to
us. And although the bill Of admission may in
ssme respects be regarded ~ unjust. by holding
cut . bribs to the people Of KansAs il they
adopt the Constitution, and penalty il they
reject it, Jet the great principle Of popular SOW
erslgnty is fully recognized, and those who en-
aeavsrsd to force obnoxious institutions upon
IN unwilling and protesting people have been
,omplstsly fsiled in their efforts and hereafter,
mother sueh experiment. as was attempted BY
be LecOnpton Convention will not be repeated.
Since writing the above, We have rsad the !
III ss Il GDslly passed CsngFesa TAs most