Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-18

augurated Chief Magistrate did not receive a
majority OF all the legal voters of the United
States, as for these people now to complain of
the result of their own laches or illegal acts,
or to seek to remedy it by any such irregular
proceedings as the vote taken on the 4th jan
nary against the constitution, after it had
been legally adopted.
stitutioH is acceptable and satisfactory to a
majority of the legal voters of Kansas. This
Is matter the committee could not ascertain
and report upon with certainty without pol
ling every legal voter in the Territory; and if
they had gone there and taken the vote them
selves for and against the constitution, per-
haps the majority might have varied from
one side to the other, by death emigration,
or change of opinion, before their report could
have been made. That course of investiga-
ton is wholly impracticable. The only pro-
per mode of pursuing the legitimate inquiry
before Congress, in the judgement of the com
mittee. is to ascertain whether demonstration
imbodied the legally and fairly-expressed
will of those who by their acts acknowledge
themselves to be bona fde citizens and consti-
tuent elements of the society or political
community to be organized in State within
its jurisdiction. Those who by their acts
show themselves not to be bona Jtfde citizens,
but na0La tide residents, and even self-acknOwl-
edged outlaws by their open hostility to all
civil authority, should not be considered or
taken in the count. The convention that
formed the constitution was fairly consti-
tuted as could be with the view of allowing
every bona fde citizen inKansas entitled to
vote to have afree opportunity to be heard in its
formation. This Mr.. Stanton safe this Gov.
Walker said; this Judge Douglas said; this
also abundantly appears from the facts and
evidence now submitted. The only correct
test of the will of majority of the bona tide
voters of Kansas upon the subject OF their
constitution is that of the ballot-box, and
such an expression of their will as has been
there given at the proper time and place, IN
conformity to law. By this test majority
of them is certainly in favor of it. The ma
jority of those going to the polls when the
election of delegates, with full and plenary
power, took place, was largely in favor OF
those who made the constitution and when
the direct question on the slavery clause was
submitted on the 2lst December, the like ma
iority was overwhelmingly in favor OF 1t.
On the 4th January, in the election OF State
officers under the constitution, it is well
known that both parties joined in vigorous
contest for the organization of the State
under it. Upwards of $4,000 voters partici-
pated in that election. That vote shows most
clearly that the constitution is not only accep-
table but has been accepted by at least four
fifths of the voters of the Territory, though
it may not be entirely satisfactory to all of
them.
AS to the alleged frauds on the 4th January
for State officers under the constitution, the
committee have not deemed it pertinent or
proper for them to enter into any investiga-
ton. They are matters to be inquired into
and tried by other tribunals. as all frauds in
other State elections are. This House can
have no jurisdiction over them in any way
no more than they have over the frauds, II
any, in the States of New York, Indiana, Hi
nOis, or any other State in elections for State
officers. Should Kansas be admitted, and the
seat of the member returned to this House be
contested on the ground of alleged frauds,
then this House would be the proper tribunal
to decide that question. There will be other
legitimate tribunals TO decide all others.
Upon a review, then, of all these facts, and
a survey of the whole field here presented as
a question of public policy, looking not only
to the present and future welfare of the peo-
pie of Kansas, but to the peace and harmony
of the whole Union, the committee, in cohclu-
sion. express their entire agreement with the
President in his recommendation of the inme-
date admission of the State.
That a large number of the States would
look upon her rejection under all the circum-
stances with extreme sensitlveness, II not
alarm, cannot be denied or doubted. This is
natural. When they see that no new State
has ever presented herself for admission with
a constitution formed and adopted with greet
er regularity and more strictly in conformity
to law-when they remember the irregulari-
ties that were waived on the admission of
California, whose constitution was formed
without any legal authority-when they see
the irregularities in the case of Minnesota now
applying, which will doubtless be waived
when they feel and know that no valid or
well-founded objection can be made to the
constitution of Kansas either in its substance
or manner of adoption, except that 1t recog-
nises slavery so long as the sovereign State
may choose to allow it-when they know that
the fiat has gone forth by that. party which
mainly urges these unusual objections that no
State whose constitution recognises slavery
shall ever hereafter be admitted into the Union,
and that the rejection of Kansas would in
crease and intiame that factiOus, sectional,
and unconstitutional Spirits 1t not natural
that the should come to the conclusion that
the real secret of its rejection Is this bare re-
cogniton of an institution which forms the
basis of their civil society? Is it not natural
that this act would strongly tend 10 produce
distrust towards the common government, by
awakening a conviction that determination
is fixed 10y the majority never TO allow another
member of the federal family to enter the
Union with institutions similar TO theirs!
VIII not her rejection tend to weaken the
bonds which hold the States together.
These are grave questions, involving in their
solution the destinies of the future. The COM
mittee barely allude to them; they are sug-
gcstive enough of themselves without COM
ment or enlargement. But the committee urge
their calm and dspassionate consideration,
especially AS it is believed 10y them the peace,
quiet, welfare, and prosperity of Kansas her.
self will be promoted by her admission, as
well as the general harmony of all the States.
II it be true, that "a majority of the people of
Kansas are opposed to the institution of slavery
as now recognised by her constitution, what
easier mode could be adopted for them to rid
themselves of it than to allow them to take
charge of this with all other matters of inter
nal policy, clothed with the exercise of all
powers belonging TO them as a sovereign State
of the Union? There is nothing now in their
constitution more Objectionable ON this point
than is to be found in their organic act and
the constitution OF the United States, under
which they must continue SO long as they re-
main in territorial condition. The argument
that Congress, by the admission, will be forcing
any institution whatever upon an unwilling
people, is gratuitous as it is groundless,
even if majority there be opposed to slavery.
For by the constitution of the United States
slavery is as much forced upon them as by the
constitution of Kansas. This Congress cannot
prevent, and this will continue TO be the case
until it is removed, if ever, by the sovereign
power of the State.
The committee, therefore, report the follow
ing resolution:
Iiesolred That Kansas ought 10 be admitted as a
State into the Union under the Lcompon constitution
on equal footing with the other States rccommen-
ded by tbs President
From he Chicago Democrat