Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-02-13


which declares in express language in favor
OF :" non-interyention by Congress with
slavery in the States or Territories p leaving
"the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic instit''tions in
their own way, subject only to the constitu-
tion of the United States" In this man
ner, by localizing the question of slavery,
and contininglit to the people whom it i'm
mediately concerned, every patriot anxious
lY expected that this question would be
banished from the halls of Congress, where
it has always exerted baleful influence
throughout the whole country.
1t is proper that / should briefly refer to
the election held under an act of the terri
torial legislature, on the first Monday of
January last, on the Lecompton constitu-
tion, This election was held after tho
Territory had been prepared for admission
into the Union as q sovereign State, and
when no authority existed in the territorial
Legislature which could destrc y it's existence
or change its character. irhc election,
which was peacoably conducted under my
instructions, involved strange inconsis-
tency a large majority of the persons
whoSotcd against the Lecompton constitu-
ton, were atthe very same time and place
recognizing It's valid existence in the most
solemn and authentic manner, by voting
under its provisions have yet received
no official Information of the result of this
election. W
AS question of expediency, after the
right has been maintained, it may be wise
to,reheet upon the benefits to Kansas and
to the whole country which would result
from its immediate admission into the Tn :
ion, as well as the disasters which may fol
low its rejection. Domestic peace will be
the happy consequences of its admission,
and that the fine Territory, which has hith-
erto been torn by dissensions, will rapidly
increase in population and wealth; speedily
realize the blessingsand the comforts which
follow in the train of agricultural and me-
chonical industry. The people will then,
be sovereign, and can regulate their affairs
in their own way. If majority of them
desire to abolish domestic slavery within
the State, there is no other possible mode
by which this can be Effected so speedily as
by prompt admission The will of the ma
iority is supreme and irresistible when ex-
pressed i'll an orderly and lawfully manner.
They can make and unmake constitutions
at pleasure. Itwould be absurd to say that
they can impose fettcrs upon their power
which they cannot afterwards remove. If
Shey could do this they might tic their own
aands fora hundred as well as for ten years.
These are fundamental principles of Amer
lean freedom and are recognised, believe,
, in some form or other by every State con-
stitutionj and if Congress, in the act of adj
admission, should think proper to recognise
them, L can perceive no objection to such
IA course. This has been done emphatical-
ly in the constitution of Kansas. 1t de-
clares in the bill of rights, that g all politi-
cal power is inhorcnt.iu the people, and I'll I'll
free governments are founded on their au-
thoritysand instituted for their benefit, and
therefore they have at all times an alienable
and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or
abolish their form oS government in such
manner as they may think proper" The
great State of New York is at this moment
governed under a constitution framed and
established in direct opposition to the mode
prescribed by the previous constitution. If,
therefore The provision changing the Kan
sas constitution, after the year one thou
sand eight hundred and sixty-four, could
bSpossibility be construed into prohibit
tion to make such change previous to that
period, this prohibition would be wholly
.unavailing. Phe Legislature alreadyelected
may, at itsvery first session, submit. the
question toa vote of the people whether
they will or will not have a. convention 10
amend their constitution, and adopt all nee
essary means for giving effect to the popu-
larwill.. ~ 3 II ~ a ~
SItlhas been solemnly adjudgcd by, the
highest judicial tribunal known to our laws,
thatsslayery exists in Kansas byIyirtue of
the constitution of.the United States
IIansas;is therefore, at this moment as
much a slave State as Georgia or South
Caroline. Without this the equality ofthe
soyereignS States scomposingtRe Unionwould
be violated, aud the use and enjoyment of
o territory acquired by the common treas-
ufeo all tho States, would be closed against
the people and the pfopertyof nearly half
sthe membels,of the confederaey. Slavery
can therefore never be prohibited in Kan
sas except Sby means Of aeopstitational pro;
vision, and n ne other gnanner can this bo
ebtained SO proRptlY,ff a majority e8 the
people desire III as BY admitting it into the
'uaionnndcr itJ present constitution
On fhe other hand, should Congress re-
.jeet the eo1stitution, under the idea Of af-
fofdihg the diseleetsd ia Ktsnsas d third
oppQrtuMitg Of prohibiting slavery III tho
State, which thdy might ,hayc done twice
before il IN the oYisS, no nun can fore,
.tellahe consequence.
( alf G0ngt for She sake OF those men