Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-23

1
 rom exercising their sovereignty in any lawful
 manner they think proper. It is true that the
 people ot Kansas might, if they had pleased.
 have required the convention to submit the con,
 stitutlon to a popular vote; but this they have
 not done. The only remedy, therefore, in this
 case, Is that which exists in all similar cases.-
 II the delegates who framed the Kansas consti-
 luton have in any manner violated the will of
 'helr constituents, the people always possess the
 power to change their constitution or their laws.
 according to their own pleasure
 he question of slavery was submitted to an
 election of the people of Kansas on the 21st
 December last, Ill obedience to the mandate of
 the constitution. Here again, fair opportunity
 was presented 10 the adherents of the Topeka
 constitution, II they were the majority, to decide
 ms exciting question, "in their own way" and thus restore peace to the distracted territor. ::
 put they again refused to exercise their right of
 popular sovereignty. and again suffered the cleo
 ton to pass by default
 heartily rejoice that wise ard better spirit | prevailed among large m maioritv of these peo
 pie on the first Monday of January; and that
 they dld, on that day, vote under the Lecomp-
 ton institution for Governor and other State othcerS, member of Congress and for members of the legislature. This election was warmly contested by the parties, and larger vote was Poled than at any previous election in the terri tory. We may now reasonably hope that the revolutionary Topeka organization will be spec ally and finally abandoned, and this will go far towards the hnal settlement of the unhappy diff ierehces Tn Kansas. If frauds have been con- mtted at this election, either by one or both parties, the legislature and the people of Kan sas, under thelr constitution, know how to re- q mSplV p-b Il Jo,o ,I, k,,. too common crimes without any outside inter- ference
 The people of Kansas have, then. Gin their own way,'' and in strict accordance with the or ganic act, framed constitution and State pov ernmeni; have submitted the all-important question of slavery 10 the people, and have elected Governor, member to represent them Tn congress members of the State legislature ana other State officers. They now ask admis- slon into the Union under this constitution, when Is republican in it's form. It is for Con gress to decide whether they will admit or re- lect the State which has thus been created.- For my own part, am decidedly in favor of it's admission, and thus terminating the Kansas question. This will carry out the great princi pies of non-lntervention recognized and sane toned by the organic act, which declares in ex press language in favor of "non-intervention bv Congress with slavery in the states or territories leaving "the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in thelr own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States" In this manner by To- caliz ng the question of slavery, and.confininr 1t tn the people whom it immediately concerned every patriot anXously expected thlt this aues. ton would be bamlShei from the halls of Con- gross, where it has always exerted a baleful in- tiuence throughout the whole country.
 IL IS proper that I should briefly refer to the election held under an act of the territorial legislature on the first Monday of January last on the Lscompton constitution. This election Was hell after the territory had been prepared for admission into the Union as a soveregn Statc and when no authority existed in the territorial legislature which could possibly de- Stroy Its existence or changei;s character Tine election, which was peaceaby conducted under my instructions, involved d strange inconsistent cy. large majority of the persons who voted againSt the Lecompton constitution were at the very tune aud place recognizing its valid exs- tence ln the most solemn and authenti manner by voting under its provisions. I have yet re- celved no official information of the result of this election.
 As question of expediency, after the ight has been maintained, 1t may be wise to reflect upon the benefits to Kansas and the whole country which would result from its immediate admission into the Union, as we'll as the disas terS which may follow its rejection Domestic peace will be the happy consequence of it's ad- mission, and that fine territory which has hith erto been tern by dissensions, will rapidly in crease in population and w"alth, and speedily realize the blessings and the comforts which follow n the train Uf agricultural and mechan- lcai industry. The people will then be sovcr- eign, and can regulate their own affairs in their own way. If a ma jority of them desire to abolish domestic slavery within the Ssate there Is no other possible mode by which this can be effected so speedily as by prompt admsson.- The will ofthe majority is supreme and irresisti- ble, when expressed in an orderly and lawful manner. They make and unmake const tutions at pleasure. It would be absurd to say that they can impose letters upon their own power which they cannot afterwards remove.- If they couli do this they mi ,ht tie their own hands for hundred as well as for ten years.
 They are fundamental principles oi Ameri. can freedom, and are recognized, believe, in some form brother, by every S-ate constitution: and If Congress, in the act of admission, should think proper to recognize them, l can see no objection to such a course. This has been done emphatlcally in the constitution of Kansas. |: declares in the bill of rights that " all political power is inherent in the people; and all free governments are fOnnd ad on their authority and instituted for their benetit and, tn ereorr they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter reform or ab fish their form of government in such manner as they may think proper" The great State of New York is at this moment governed under constitution framed and established in direct opposition to the mode prescribed by the previous constitution. IT, therefore, the provision changing the Kansas constitution, after the year l964 could, by pos Siblllty, be construed into prohibition to m ike such change previous to that period this pro- hibition would be wholly unavaling The leg slature already elected may, at its very first session. submit the question to vote of the people whether they will or will not have a con- veution to amend their constitution, and adopt all necessary means for giving effect to the pop uar will
 It has been solemnly adjudge' by the highest judicial tribunal known to our law, that slavery exists in Kansas by virtue of the constitution of the United States. Kansas is, therefore. at this moment, as much slave State as Georgia or South Carolina. Without this equality, the southern States composing the Union would be voloted. and the use and enjoyment of ter rltory acquired by the common treasure Of all the States, would be closed against the people and the property of nearly half the members of the confcderacy. Slavery can, therefore, never be prohibited in Kansas except by means of constitutional provision, and in no other manner can this be obtained so promptly, if moortv Of the people desire it, as be admitting it into the Union under its present. constitution.
 On the other hand, should Congress reject the constitution, under the idea of affordng the dis affected in Kansas third opportunity of pro- hibiting slavery in the State, which they might have done twice before if in the majority, no man can foretell the consequences.
 If Congress- for the sake of those men who refused to vote for delegates to the convention when they might have excluded slavery from the constitution. and who afterwards refused to vote on the 21st December last when they might. as they claim, have stricken slavery from the constitution, should now reject the State because slavery remains in the constitution it Is la.. .t,. d.. ..I..