Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-05-05

, - "o eupeINlses that action Iii
- 'he duty OF Congress, in the case Of tn,
Leeomhon constitution, to see that it wa
'''fIy M dc, 1t is the duty Of Congress ir
''eIS on or case. If 1T is the duty Of Con
Yr'S, to inquire whether this constitution
mas been fairly made, is an equal oblga
tloh not to giyethe heopportunity of making
any constitution unfairly. Here is prop
osi'ioh TO allow the people to make gov
, ernmeht, put 1t in operation, and admit
IL into the Union, without its ever making
lts appearance before Congress at ALL /
90 not understand how alleged frauds in
thls place can be claimed as reasons for re.
turning this constitution, if we at thesame
lme authorize the making ola State with.
outany guarantee whatever as o how that
power may be abused, without any pro.
lection against fraud, violence, and usur.
patton.
Then, sir, there is another point. and
that IS the extraordinary proposition
WhIch makes the President of the United
states perform functions which the CON
stltullon, in express words, vests in Con-
gress do not speak now as to the gov
/ eIhiAent OF Kansas that is lefore us; that
We nave seen; that constitution we have
read that Congress knows to be republi-
can; that we may, on certain conditions,
allow tho President to announce admi,
ted, and hold that the State is in the
mon; but II is 10 the other alternative
me right to make constitution and
state government and put it in Opera
ton, and put it into the Union by n
proclamation Of the President, without
ever having it before Cong ess atall-that
l object. Who knows Ghat it will be a
republican government Who can guar
anty that 1t will be admissible in form p
And II republican, may it not contain 9th
er features, making it entirely unaccopta~
6le! Sir, ! have not that measure ofcon-
hdence in the men who would be kelly
to get hold of this government in Kansas
just now. WHO'S satisfied that Gen. Lane
would exercise power with moderation
Who believes that if he controlled con-
ventlon. he would not indulge the excess
es OF his feelings Of prejudice against the
southern States?
Sir, | should not be surprised if con-
stitutin made in that way would emanci-
pate the slaves in the territory and confis-
cate the property value in them. | should
not be surprised if n constitution made in
that way, without consulting Congress.
should attempt to intcrdct or embarrass
the fugitive slave law, orwould set up 9TH
er issues with tho federal authority and
yet while Congress might not seriously en-
iertaln the idea OF admitting such State,
the President would be bound 10 admit it
by proclamation. For you will notice
that ~ ,ri,,5 a.,
The duty is imperative on him. When
the facts are properly certified, he must
announce that the State is in the Union,
no matter how Objectionable the consttu-
ton may be. Here is State-making with
vengeance. ANY measure of fraud NAV
be practiced; any extent of violence and
usurpation in making the constitution ::
and no matter how badly made, and vet
the State must come in. The proposition is
mOnslrous.
Now, sir, the suhjeCt-matter of the bill
is sugge stive it presents wide field for
discussion. do not intend to pursue it
this morning; but | could not persuade
myself to vote quietly on this question. |
know that there is certain very insidious
features about this measure--features
which can be used with great eff vet before
the populace. 1t may be alleged that we
have voted against bill which was to give
the people the right to vote on their con-
Stitutiou. That would be true to some en-
tent; but | answer that hold still more
liberal doctrine towards the rcOple of
Kansas ! hold that they can make a con~
stitutiOn in any way they please: making
1t according to law and in regular form. |
would give TO the people Of Kansas that
measure ofrght which those whom rep
resent hero exercised: they made a con-
stitution twice through their delegates
they have revised and ampnIed that con,
stitution through the agency Of popular
ratification. 1t was competent for the
people Of Kansas TO do the same thing:
and if those in Kansas who claim to be adj
verse to this slavery article, who object
most to this constitution had exercised
their high prerogative as freemen, proba-
bly, we should have had no excitement on
this occasion. But, sir, they od not per-
form the duty. In June when they might
have decided the question of slavery by
electing delegates, they would not vote
the bogus laws" were in their way. In
p'to'CI NHtU lHe question Ol hldNeTN was
not involved, but when offices were at
stake, they did vote. In December fol-
lowing when they had direct vote on the
question Of making Kansas free or a
slave State, they could not vote-it would
not do to recognise the "bogus laws" and
the "boCus convention" But few davs
when it was a question of gals
ming the local offices, they rushed to the
polls and elected the officers under what
they termed the "Lecompton swim.
die. There is the source of the trouble Il
and as this issue stands, the most that
those on the other side can make out of it
would be taking their own groundl
IN issue between those who. through the
forms Of law, had abused to some extent.
the right of suffrage, and those who had
set themselves up against the use Of that
right who had pre-. e.erred other means
who had not exercised the high functions
Of freemen under our laws and under our
policy Of government. They avowcd that
determination, and they adhered to it,
There may have been fraud, and there
may have been usurpation, to some extent