Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-13

having recognized the lsgal existence. of
! the Territorial Legislature in variety of
forms, which | need not enumerate. In.
decd, the delegate elected to the House of
Representatives under Territorial law,
had been admitted to his seat and had Just
completed his term of service lie day pre-
virus to my ihaugur ton. his was
propitious moment for settling all the diff
cul les in Kansas. This was the time for
abandoning the Revolutionary Topeka or
ganization, and for the enemies of the ex-
isting government to conform TO the, laws
and unite with its friends in framing
State Constitution But this they refused
to do, and the consequences of their refu-
sal to submit to lawful authority, and vote
at the election Of delegates, may yet prove
to be of the most deplorable character.-r,
Would the respect for the laws OF The land,
which so eminenly Distinguished the men
Of the past generation, could be revived
1t is disregard and violation of the laws
which have for years kept The Territory of
Kansas in q state of almost open rebellion
against the Government; it is the same
spirit which has produced actual reboll on
in Utah. Our only safety .consits in obo-
dience and conformity 10 tie law. Should
a general spirit against its enforcement
prevail, this will prove fatal to US as a ma
ton. We acknowledge no master but the
law. And should we cut loose from its
restraints, and every one do what seemeth
good in their own eyes, our case is indeed
hopeless.
: Tho enemies Of tic Territorial Govern
ment are determined still to resist the au-
thority of Congress. They refused to vote
for delegates to the Convention, not be
cause, from circumstances which need not
detail, there was an omission to register
comparatively few voters who were inhabi-
tants OF certain counties in Kansas, in the
early spring of 1657,-but because they
had predetermined, at all hazards, to ad-
here to their revolutionary organization,
and defeat the establishment of any other
Cous'i lution than that which they had
framed at Topeka. The election, therefore
, was suffered 10 pass in default. But of
this restlt tic qualified electors who reiu-
sed to vote, can never justly complain.
f From this review, it is manifest that the
, LecomptoH Convention, according to every
principl pie OF Constitutional law, was legally
D constituted, and INFESTED with the power
y to frame Constitution.
e The sacred principle OF popular sover-
e eighty has been invoked iu favor of the
enc les of law aud order in Kansas. But
in what manner is popular sovereignty to
] be exercised in this country, if not through
{ the instrumentality of estab ished laws
T., Il .on,bl,o,
people did assemble in primary meetings
passed laws, and directed public affairs
= In our country, this is manifectly impossi.
sible. Popular sovereignty can be exer-
ci- ed here only through the ball t-box, and
D., if people will refuse to exercise it, in thi:
' manner. as they have done in Kansas al
r the election of delegates, it is not for them
=. to complain that their rights have beer
9 violated.
a The Kansas Convention, thus lawfully
4 constituted, proceeded to fame Consti
J, tuition, and having completed the work,
!, finally ad ourned on the Seventeenth OIL
. November last. They did not think prop
o er to submit the whole Of this CONSTITUTE 4
r to the popular vote, but did submit the
9 question, whether Kaosas should be Free
/ or Slave State to the people. This wa'
S the question which hid lighted the hame
), of civil war in Kansas, and produced dan
gerous sectional parties throughout tht
+ Contederacy. 1t was of a character so par
9 amount in respect to the condition of Kan
@ sas as to rivet tho anxious attention @
the people of the whole country upon i
# alone. No person thought of any othe
r question. For my own part, when in
q strucled Governor Walker in genera
d terms, in favor of sui mitting the Constitu
l. tion to the people, had no object in viey
e except The all-absorbing question ofslavery
l. In what manner The people might regulat
of their own concerns, was not the srbjec
d which attracted my attention. In fact, til
D. general provisions of the recen. State Con
. stitutions, after an experience of eigE'.
Il Tears, are so similar and excellent that
lie would be difficult to 90 far wrong at tn
g present day, in framing new Constitu
le ton. ..
le | then believed, and still bolive, tia
" under the organic act, the Kansas Con
J. venion were bound to submit this all i'm
Iy portant question of slavery to the people
Jc IL was ueNcii H'"efSli my OPloiOili ei"
tie independently oil the act, they would hav
S, been bound to submit any portion of II
st Constitution to the popular vote, in ordC
T. to give it validity. Had | entertainc
OF su h an opinion, this would have been
tc opposition to many precedents in our hi:
is tory, commencing in the very best age {
it the Republic. 1t would have been oppc
o, sition to the principle which pervadcs OF
OF institutions, aud is every day carried int
n, practice, that the people have the right
Mt delegate TO represent atives CHOSEN by then
r. selves, their sovereign power to frame Coz
Sc stitutions, enact laws, and perform an
n other Important acts, without requirin
ID that these should be subjected TO :heir su
re sequent appreciation. 1t would he mo
of inconyenicnt Limitation of their own pow
if imposed by the people upon themselves,
r. exclude them exercising their soVercignt
IT, in any lawful manner they may thiu
,1 ! rrnnor 7, /, truo tho nnoplo Of X ans