The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11

ChoScu, IIcsIuclt, VI boFefnOf, OF
Mayor, or Justice of the Peace, but
on the day appointed by law and,
except by lawless and shameless des-
peradoes in Kansas, NO where in the
United States has this doctrine been
practically controverted. If the
monstrous practices Of the bold bad
men Of Kansas, now an exception,
are 10 be erected into rule, how
long will it be ere some audacious
sectional faction will find pretence
for holding a Presidential election
on day other than that appointed
by the law 2 And when elections are
held without any law by factionists,
and on a day subsequent to the day ap-
pointed by law, their candidates will
always have most votes the legal
candidates will by them he pronoun-
ced the minority candidats,r and
the irregular and illegal ones will
be called the majority candidates
Then will follow strife, bloodshed,
and civil war. Rights, it must ever
be- borne in mind can be best and
most surely upheld by strict adhe-
renee to laws ourages and crimes
are easiest committed and best pro
tcctcd in the midst Of civil commo-
ton. There is no real and true safe
ty to our liberties and institutions
but in strict adherence to the spirit
and the letter Of our Constitutions
and laws and there is no danger to
our peace and our Union that we
cannot easily escape if we will con-
scientiously adhere to them. Who
ever heard of Legislature other
than that of Kansas, which had the
presumption 10 appoint day, open
the polls and request the people to
vote for or against the Constitution
which had been finally adopted by
the people two weeks before, and
which nobody could change but the
people, and they only by q formal
action to that direct end 7 The ac-
ton on the Constitution on the 2lst
December, 1857, was final action,
and that instrument was on that day
u completed one it can be changed.
~ all State Constitutions can be !;
but, until formerly and lawfully
changed, tits valid and its turbulent
opponents will find that the validity
of that fundamental Law cannot be
affected bya town meeting harangue,
or by an irregular vote ordered by a
rash body Of heated partizans.
Many generous persons who are
quite indisposed to countenancc the
violence and contumcly of the Adolf.
tionists sent into Kansas for the pur-
pose Of excluding thcrefrom all pro-
perty not pleasing to them and their
abcttors. urge that something might
be done to lessen the hardships that
will fall upon them In the event of the
admission Of Kansas into the Union
with the Constitution made at LIE.
compton that. although it is true
that the Abolitionists violently OPP
posed registration would not vote at
elections held sham elections on
days subsequent to those appointed
by law, and oven refused to vote
against the establishment Of slavery
at time when they profcsscd to be
licvc their doing 50 would have ex-
clndcd it, and thus have peacefully
settled the question To their own
satisfaction, yet they consider it
would be too severe to compel such
contumacious citizens, even though
it is their own fault, to live under a
Constitution which, however grie-
vous in its provisions may prove to
be, they. cannot change, without re-
sorting 10 revolution until the year
1864
To such, without rcsorting To the
ready answer that Congress has no
power to modify or alter State Con.
stitution and has expressly stipula,
ted that the people OF Kansas shall
hc permitted to form their own insti,
tutions, subject only to the Constitu.
ton of the United States, two replies
may be given, The first one is this:
The clause complained Of in the lie,
compton Constitution, in this conncc.
ton, is in these words -
Sec. IL. After the year one thou
sand eight hundred and sixty-four
whenever the Legislature shall think
il necessary to amend, alter or change
this Constitution, they shall recon-
mend u the electors at the next gen
cral election. two-thirds Of the mem
bers at each House coucurring tc
vote for or against calling Con
vcntion, and If it shall appear tina,
a majority of all citizens II the State
have voted for q Convention. the lie,
gislaturc shall at its next regular