Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-02-27

l MS was ny accldent or ueslgni very impcf-
icctly done in any county, and in almost onc-hal
Of the counties, some of which were among the
most populous in the Territory, it was entirely
neglected, and therefore large part of She pco.
pie were entirely prevented acting.
FOuH, The people were often, repeatedly
and officially asslred by the Governor and Sec.
retary whom they regarded as the organs of the
General Government, that the Constitution, when
formed, must be and should be submitted, uncon.
ditlonally, to the whole actual resident people
for their ratification or rejection. Under these
circumstances, relying on these official assur-
anccs, they awaited quietly that day and prom.
ised opportunity to exercise their acknowledged
inaenable right TO vote on Their own State Con
stuti0n The result has shown this was an un-
reliable security, for the Constitution, as formed
by the Convention, was by them never so sub.
mittcd to the people, but in the conditional and
deceptive manner hereafter described
The Convention so elected met in September
lSj7, at Lecomplon, and adjourned until after
the Territorial election Of Legislature, in Oc-
lohcr, 1851
The mass Of the people of that Territory have
always placed confidence in the fidelity and in
tegriiy OF the Governors whom the President
has appointed, whenever the same have been
long enough in the Territory, from personal ac-
quantance with it, people and condition to be-
come disabused Of the dcuslon in relation to
them which seems to be entertained and cher.
shcd with 50 much pertlnacity by the dominant
power in Washington. When Gov. Walker
and Actlng-Goy. Stanton had personally and
clearly asccraned. as GOV. Reedcr and Gov
Geary had done before them, that the great body
Of the people, including most Of its worthy and
reliable inhabitants Of both political parties, tru-
ly regarded themselves as oppressed and domi-
neored over by a small and unscrupulous min
orily, inaugurated by violence and pcrpeluatcd
hy fraud, backed and supported by United States
dragons, and that this great bud' Of ia, itulle
had with long iorbcarlnce, waited Tor lair op-
porlunliy pcacably, at the balloi-bOx to mani
tes. their opinions and their strength, aud re-
claim their rights, then It was, that they houcst-
ly resolved 20 endcayor 20 give to that people
such an opportunity, far as they were able.
They proceeded lndustriousy and faithfully to
cxhorl the people to participate in the election
Of a Territorial Legislature in October, 1851
not under the Territorial acts but under the laws
of Congress and gave the most authoritative As
suranccs Of freedom and fairness. That people
knew indeed that the supervision and control Of
the election was IN the hands Of officers never
appointed by them or the Governor, ANA not un-
der their control. aud that they were subject to
being ouNoted by voters. by such officers al.
mliied to vote. from Missouri, or by the nscr-
ton Of fictitious votes. or by false returns.
Unwilling however, 10 lie longer tainted from
ahroal, with the charge OF oowardly or iactious
lnaction, ard Telying on the assurances of the
Governor and their own well-known superiority
Of numbers, they generally concluded to proceed
to the polls and attempt once more to exercise
their rights, under the laws OF Congress and what
does the result disclose 1t shows that no,with-
standing many declined to vote lest thereby they
should lmpliedly recognize as lawful the existing
usIrpation, over 1000 yofes were cast and a
Free State Legislature elected.
In the next place, the result showed that all
the apprehensionsions Of that people as to frau
dulent voting and returns. under the auspices
- 'h"se I"dsa~ tho elections. were well found
cl.
We are well informed bv Gov. Walker and
Secretary Stanton, that votes by the amount OF
1900 in one case. and over 1000 in another,
came ceriihe'! from precincts where, from per-
sonal examination. they found limited popula-
ton of but a few hundred \ large part OF these
votes were obviously fyttious and those returns
were set aside, being informally certified. Had
not this been done 10y the Governor the original
usurpatiOn would again have been renewed and
perpetuatei by frauds.
The result OF this election was regarded by
all candid men there as settling the condition of
Kansas and accordingly, when the Convention
assembled at Lecompton on lis adjournment, it
was nliheuH 10 OBTAIN even a oaIe majority to
constitute lnnrUm' malor'y OF TINS quo
rum, nu' no' OF al me elected delegates pro
c'e"'n' WIN 'h' spfit o' desperation 10 ueieat
ana evade the w'I-khown ana dciearly,eNpresSed
VIII ol the people. and by ingenious devices and
cunning forms 10 ias'en upon them state Con
su'u'oh aohofreh' 10 the'f FEELINGS ana AT the
same Tune redeem IN delus'Ve form only, The
pltdIcs which had been gwen that 1t should be
suomi'tei 10 tue people In order to eVade ana
Illustrate 'he VIII OF iiat people, ana impose up
on them Constitution against their consent
hNe apPareu'Iy CERTAIN ieIil securities were to
pe eVaded or demolished.
First, The Constitution with Slavery must
not be submitted to the people in any such way
that a majority could reject It and yet i, must
be o"b"'''od to 'h"'" 70 r"1eo" Tledaes AND
Keep up appearances oi harness. Second' The
conduct OF G)v: Walker having shown that he
would not prostitute hls oliicIil duty by aiding
in the success OF fictitious votes and illegal re-
turns course must be taken to avoid any use
OF his official action. lh"H' The use OF the le-
gal officers for conducting the elections and max
ing returns must be avoided as they might be