Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-05-01
THE KANSAS QUESTION.

In the defeat Of the Lecompton Con
stitution in the House, we have another
striking evidence of the unsoundness o
the American party. The vote on Tho
adoption of the Crittenden amendment
was, politically, as follows: Y~eas-fron
the Free States-Republicans 81; Dem.
o~crats, %, Americans, 0;-from the
Slave States-Democrats, o.; Repuhli.
cans, 1; Americans, 6. Total-l20.
Nays-from the free States--Democrats,
81; Republicans, 0; Americans, O; from
the slave States--Dcmocrats, 10; Re-
publicans, O; Americans, 8. Total I12.
Thus, it will be seen, by the treachery
of protested Southern friends, the Lee
compton Constitution was defeated in
the House, by s majority. Six Amcri-
cans, from Slave States, voting in favor
of a nefarious ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
in their camp-professing to favor pop
ular sovereignty, when, in fact, it aims
a dangerous blow at the foundation Of
that principle.
The free State men of Kansas refused
to vote at the election for members to
the Constitutional Convention, and per
consequence, that Convention was COM
posed of pro-slavery men, elected by
pro-slavery votes. They had the right,
as exemplifed in the history of about
one-half the States of this confederacy,
to report the Constitution to Congress
without referring it back to the people
for ratification or rejection. The very
day the free State men of Kansas refus-
ed to vote, they assumed the attitude Of
rebels, and to-day occupy that position.
Under these circumstances they cannot
be regarded as proper subjects for pro-
tcctive Notwithstanding deied the
general government and opposed the
execution of law by force of arms, Con
gress cannot recognize them as citizens
because they are rebels Here. we see
the falacy Of the argument against the
adoption Of the Constitution on the
ground that a great majority of the
citizens of Kansas are opposed to it.
Congress has no legitimate right to know
as citizens ofKansas any body of men
who have not exercised the privileges OF
the elective franchise.
Well, on the vote in the House, on
this issue, what do we see? The Amer
leans, who combined with the Republi-
cans in '54-55 in opposition to Democra-
cy ON the popular sovereignty plank,
are now, par excellence, the advocates of
principle, and to carry it out ac-
to their exalted views, again
fuse with their whilom friends Of Woolly
head notoriety. In perfect keeping
with all their acts, while they profess to
be actuated by the principle of popular
sovereignty, they strike a deadly blow
at the very root of that doctrine. The
of Kansas, who voted at the va
rious elections having a bearing on this
matter, are the only citizens of that Ter
and they, the Americans, in con
junction with their republican friends,
say to them, '.your Constitution is re-
publican i'll form, but the in
which you have submitted it don't suit
us; take it back and make another trial,
if you don't do better, we will then re-
ceive YOU Here we see Southern Con-
gressmen, with popular sovereignty in
their mouths and treact1ery in their
shut the door of Congress, on
Kansas, and prescribe the name in
which her citizens mast proceed. Now
we submit, can anything be more palpa-
bic than the destruction of the very prin-
ciple they profess to advocate; which is,
in effect, non-intervention by Congress
the will Of a majority Of the citizens
expressed, in the formation of
domestic institutions Of States and
Territories. .
From the n. o. Daily True Delta 2sth ult.
LETTER OF GEN. VIM. WALKER