Freeman's champion., 1858-05-13

has been to make for themselves
Fundamental.Law and to organize
Government under it, with the hop,
that its existence might deter Con
gress from Sanctioning the Constitu
tion framed at Lecompton, and, will
the determination that II should b,
the standard around which they woulc
rally in the event of a forci5le anc
violent resistance to the Fraud be
coming necessary. Because olthis
we, IN behalf Of the lony-oppressed
people for whom we speak, appeal tc
the citizens Of every State to use ali
their inauence to prevent the Nation
al Congress from sanctioning that
Constitution and, Government u
which the people of Kanzas canno,
submit without the sacrifice of theil
dearest rights, and which cannot b.
recognized as valid without an abso-
disregard of the fundamental princi.
pies OF our Government.
u, To the people Of Kanzas, you whose
interests are directly involved in this
Constitutional movement, we can say
that your Delegates in performing
the duty intruStod to them, have en-
dsayored to frame Constitution
adapted to the wants and calculated to
conserve the highest interests Of Kan
zas. They now submit it to you for
your approval or rejection. The lin
tied time IT, which the Convention
has necessarily confined its session
has prevented that deliberation with
which such instruments are usually
formed, but scrupulous care has been
taken to avoid Incorporating anything
believed to be repugnant to any con :
siderable portion OF the people. The
impending dangers have been rteadi
ly in view, and because of them, the
aim has been, especially, to make an
instrument which every good citizen
may conscienciousIy approve. The
Delegates earnestly hope that they
have been entirely successful in this
for they are conscious that your peace
and prosperity for years to come,
may depend upon their work. They
feel that if it is such as to deserve and
receive your ready and hearty ratiGca-
tion, then. not only will they have
been successful in their efforts, but
you, the people Of Kanzas, will have
created by your sovereign will an in
with which you may
ctlectually contrsvene the conspiracy
against your rights.
There is urgent necessity that the
ratification cf this Constitution be of
. most emphatic character, whether
tho pro-slavsry Constitution, now be-
fore Congress, is or is not received
by that body. BY direct and over
whelming vote you have declared your
hatred to that instrument; by a trium-
phant endorsement of the work of
your own. Delegates you will again
express your hostility to the admis-
sion OF Kanzas under a Constitution
which iSthe embodiment of a Fraud,
and the result may reach the Nation,
n Capitol in time to prevent the con-
summation Of that great wrong al.
;eady begun by the Senate ofthe Uni
ed States. But, if this wrong shall
nave been consummated, then by your
vote, you will By choosing between q
Constitution under which Kansas
would bea su6jugated slave State, and
'ne under which it would be forever
rec and independent. You have it
within your power to reject and do.
eat the hateful pro-slavery instru-
nent by endorsing this new Free
State Constitution.
II may be argued by somo that
uch a proceeding would be revolu-
ioaary, but the Arguments are spe-
ious and unfounded. The admission
IT a State into the Union il a simple
contract, the parties to which are the
,eople of the State and the Federal
government. The terms Of that con-
raet can in nowise include the Con-
tltution Of the State; for il they did,
10 State could ever change its Organ
Q Law, without first obtaining the
onsent Of Congress-. Upon the ad.
mission Of State, the Federal Gov
rnment abandons its authority repre-
onted by the Territorial Governm ont
md the State becomes independent
n all things, except wherein. limited
y the Federal Compact, and the peo-
10, consequently become possessed
4 full and sovereign power, to make
Oonstitution for themselves and
2 their own way, without reference to
no Federal Government. No act Of
congress can give LEGAL FORCE to the
fundamental Law ofa State. After
10 admission ofa State ito Oonstitu
ion depends entirely upon the impli.