Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1858-12-15


principle OF popular sovereignty, at the foundation
OF our institutions to deprive the people of the pow
er If they thought proper to exercise it. of confiding
to delegates elected by themselves the trust of fra
ming constitution, without requiring them to sub
ject their constituents to the trouble expense and
delay OF u second election. 1t would have been in
opposition to many precedents in our history, COM
mencng in the very best age of the republic of the
admission of Territories as States into the Union
without previous vote of the people approving
their constitution.
1t is TO be lamented that question: so insignif-
mt when viewed in its practical effects on the peo
pie OF Kansas whether decided one way or the 9th
er, should have kinllcd such flame of excitement
throughout the country. This reflection may prove
to be lesson of wisdom and of warning for our ft-
ture guidance Practically considered the question
is simply whether the people of that Territory
shonld first come into the Union and then change
any provision in their constitution agreeable to
themselves, accomplish the very same object by
remaining out of tic Union and framing another
constitution in accordance with their willg In Ell
ther case, the result would be precisely the same
The only difference in point of fact is that the OBJ
Iect would have been much attained and the
PaclilcatlOn OF Kansas speedily effected had it
been admitted State during the last session of
Congress
My Recommendation, however, for the Immediate
admission of Kansas failed to the appreciation
OF Congress. They deemed it wiser to adopt diff.
ftren measure for the settlement of the question:
For my part, l should have been willing to
yield my assent to almost any constitutional mea-
sure to accomplish this ol,cc /, therefore, cortli-
ally acqucsced in what has been called the English
Compromise, and approved the Act for the atlnS-
sion OF the State Of Kansas into the Union upon
the terms therein prescribed
Under the ordinance which accompanied the I.e-
compton constitution, the people of Kansas had
claimed double the quantity Of public lands for the
support of common schools, which had ever been
previously granted to any State upon entering the
Union; and also the alternate sections of land for
twelve miles each side of two railroads. proposed
to be constructed from the northern to the southern
boundary, and from the eastern to the western
boundary of the State. Congress, dccning these
claims unreasonable provided, by the act of May +
1853, to which have just referred for the alnis-
sion of the State equal footing with the orig
nal States, but "upon the fundamental condition
precedent that m,ority of the people thereof at
election to be held for that purpose should in
place of the very large grants of public lands which
| they had demanded under the ordinance, accept
such grants As had been made to Minnesota and 9th
! er new States Under this act. should ma aorty
reject the proposition offered them, it shall be
deemed and held that the people of Kansas do not
desire admission into the Union with said constitu-
tuition under the conditions set forth in said propo-
| son.' In that event, the act authorizes the peO-
! pie of the Territory to elect delegates to form
constitution and State government for themselves,
| "whenever, and not before, it is ascertained by
census, duly and legally taken, that the population
of said Territory equals exceeds the ratio of rep
Il
Representatives of the Congress of the United
States" The delegates thus assembled "Sha first
determine by vote whether it is the wish of the
people of the proposed State to be admitted into the
Union at that time and, if So shall proceed to form
constitution, and take all necessary steps for the
establishment of a State government in conformity
with the federal constitution" After this conStitu-
ton shall have been formed Congress, carrying out
the principles of popular sovereignty and non-inter
vcntion have left the mode and manner of its ap-
1,I Of thp cl
State" to he "prcscribed by law, and they shall
then be admitted into the Union State under
such constitution thus fairly and legally made, with
or without slavery, said constitution may pre-
scribe.
An dlection was held throughout Kansas in pur-
sance of the provisions of this act the second day
of August last and it resulted in the rejection, by
large majority of the proposition submittc, to the
people by Congress. This being the case, they
authorized to form another constitution, pre-
paratory to admission into the Union, but not until
their number as ascertained by census, shall
equal or exceed the ratio required to elect member
to the House Of Representatives.
1t is not probable, in the present state of the
that third constitution be lawfully framed and
presented 10 Congress by Kansas before its TOpua-
ton shall have reached the designated number
Nor is it to he presumed that, after their sad expert
in resisting the territorial laws they will at
tempt to adopt constitution in express violation OF
the provisions of act of Congress. During the
session Of 1856, much of the time of Congress was
occupied on the question Of admitting Kansas under
the Topeka constitution. Again, nearly the whole
of the last session devoted TO the question of its
admission under the tIccompton constitution. Sure
" it is not unreasonable to require the people CT
Kansas to wait before making third attempt, un
til the number of their inhabitants shall amount to
ninety three thousand four hundred and twenty
During this brief period the harmony of the States
as we'll as the great business interests of the country
demand that the people of the Union shall not for
third time be convuscd by another agitation on the
Kansas question. BY waiting for short time, ant
acting in obedience to law, Kansas will glide int
the Union without the slightest impeachment
RULE FOR THE ADMISSION NEW STATES.
, This excellent provision which Congress have ap
piled to Kansas ought to be extended and rendered
o applicable to all Territories which may hcreafte
! seek admission into the Union
- Whilst Congress possess the undOubted power O
! admitting State into the Union, howeve
small NAV be the number of its inhabitants, yet thl
power ought not in my opinion, to be exercised DC
fore the population shall amount to the ratio requil
, ed by the act for the admission of Kansas. Ha
- | this been previously the rule, the country woul
have escaped all the evils and misfortunes to whic
it has been exposed by the Kansas question
: Of course, it would be unjust to give this rule
retrospective application, and exclude State whicf
acting upon the past practice of the government ha
already formed its constitution, elected its eglsis
q ture and other officers, and is now prepared to q
n ter the Union.
! serious SCI lou, f d,s which have ffsy .ongres
6 6 and and thys scountry, would Eav avoi, ii
y q, had q g 9 Zen e4 esta'shedSa anss'ier p
ROD o1 eds thssormation of NV Territ
y ry. people from Sslferen ktes and from. foreg
- countries rush into it. fofx Aaudabe Pa pose
improving their condition Tfeir first duty then
selves is to open and cultivate farms to constru'