Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-05

Psrvsdes our intstitutions, and which il ~
cry day carried into practice, that the peo-
pie have . right TO delegate TO the reprs-
sentative chosen by themselves their SOW.
reignty-power TO frame constitutions. en-.
act laws, and perform many other impor-
tant acts, without requiring that these
should be subjected to their subsequent ap.
probation. 1t would be & most inconyeni-
ent limitation OF their own power, imposed
by the people on themselves, TO exclude
them from exercising their sovereignty in
any lawful manner in which they think
proper. 1t Ia true that the people Of Kan
sas, might. if they had pleased, required
the convention 10 submit the constitution 10
. popular vote, but this they have not done,
The only remedy therefore in this case il.
that which exists in all other cases. If the
delegates have in any manner violated the
will Of their constituents. the people always
possess the power to change their constitu-
ton or avs according to their own pleas
ure
The question Of slavery was submitted to
the election Of the people on the list of De-
cember last. in obedience to the mandate Of
the constitution. Here again. a fair oppor-
tunity was presented to the adheronts Of tn.
iplfaH NoHStiAUeioh, ~ bbON were Tie ma
jority. To decide this exciting question in
their own way, and thus restore the peace
of this distracted Territory but they x3in
refused to exercise the right Of popular
sovereignty. and again suffered the election
to pass by default.
i hereby rejoice that a wiser and better
spirit prevailed among a large majority OF
these people on the first Monday in Janua.
-. ~. &b., .Io,- Ala -, Slos l.
der the Lecompton Constitution, for q Gov.
ernor and other State officers. a member Of
Congress, and members Of the Legislature
This election was warmly contested by the
parties, and a larger vote polled than q,
any previous election in the Territory. W.
may now reasonably hope that the revolt
tionary Topeka organization will he steedi
ly and finally abandoned. and this will 70
far toward a final settlement ofthe unhappy
differences in Kansas.
II rauds have been committed at thii
election by one or both parties. the legisla.
ture aid people Of Kansas under that con
stitution know how TO redress themselye
and punish those detestable but too com
mon crimes without outside interference.
The people of Kansas have them in theil
own way, and in strict accordance with tn.
organic act, framed n constitution and Stat,
Government, rave submitted the all impor
tant question Of slavery to the people, anG
have elected a Governor, a member Of Con
gress, members of the State Legislature. ant
other officers, and they now ask admission
into the Union under this constitution. Re
publican in its form, it i: for Congress to de-
eide whether they will admit or reject tn.
State which has TINS been created. Fo,
my own part am decidedly in favor Of it:
admission, thus terminating the Kansa,
question. This will carry out the grea'
principle OF non-intervention. Sanctioned
by the organic act which declares in ey
press language in favor Of the non-interven
ton of Congress with slavery in the State.
and Territories leaving the people perfect
ly free to form and regulate their domesti,
institutions in their own way, subject onl,
TO the Constitution of the United States. Ii
this manner, by localizing the question o
slavery and combining it to the people who
are Immediately concerned. every patrio
anxiously expected that this question woult
be bani-hed frcm the halls Of Congress
where it has always exerted a baneful in
fluence to the country.
Mr.. buchanan further suggests
1t has teensolemly adjudged by the high
est iudic' al tribunal that slavery exists il
Kansas by virtue Of the United States
Kansas is therefore at this moment as mucl
Il slave state n Georgia. Without this, tn,
equality of the sovereign States c~orsposin.
the Union would be violated and the u.,
and enjoyment of territory acquired by TIL,
common treasure OF all the States would b.
closed against the people and property o
nearly half "fthe members of the confede
racy. Slavery can therefore never be pro-
hibited in Kansas except through the mean
OF constitutional provision, and in 10 9th
er can this be obtained so Promptly i
tie aHanJef4iitJy- ef - reop,e of that Stat
desire it. as ly admitting her into tn
Union under her present constitutions
On the other hand, should Congress reiec,
the constitution under the idea of a~tfl!,lin.
the disatiected in Kansas a third opportuni
ty to prohibit slavery in the State, which
they might have done twice before, if in tn
majority, no man can ~toretcll the conse-
quences. If Congress, for the sake of thes,
men who refused to vote on the 2lst of DE
cember, when they might, as they claim
have stricken slavery from the constitution
should now reject this State because SLAYER
remained in the Constitution, it is NANTES
that the objection upon this subject will b
renewed in a more alarming form than i
has ever before assumed
Mr.. Bigler moved that the Message b
printed and referred to the Committee o.
Territories. ~~--