Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-01-30
The Kansas Question The Contest Over

The points that remain 10 he adjusted may have
importance and interest upon grounds Of prnci
pie but so far as practical results are concerned,
they are Of very little consequence Congress
may adopt or reject the Lccompton COnstitn-
iiOn,--may admit or exclude Kansas under that
instrument lit can IN neither case seriously or
permanently affect the State or the character Of
It's political institutions. The people OF Kansas
are now in possession of their righliul sovereign
" they can mold their institutions to suit
themselves 90 aud neither Congress nor the Fed
cral Executive can much longer postpone "A re-
suit which dspassOnate men have for a long
time seen to be inevitable.
In October last the frec.Slatc men clectc a
majority OF the Territorial Legislature, which
will have foil legislative authority if Kansas is
moi admitted into the Union under the Lecomp-
ion Constitution On the 4th of January the
same party elected the State Legislature, for
which provIs on is made IN the Lccompton in.
strumcnt, and which will have supreme control
If Kansas should be admitted and become a SOW
crcign STATE. In either event, therefore, the
Fioe-S state party has political posse silu OF the
Territory. IL has two-thirl majority m each
branch ct both Legislature, aud Is thus entirely
independent even OF the Governor. Ia either
event, therefore upon the admission or rcjcc-
ton Of the Lecomplon CONSTITUTIONAL has only
to order new Convention, ard frame new
Constitution, winch shall cmbody the sentiments
and represent the interests Of the people Of Kan
sis.
# may possibly lie said that if the I.ccompton
Constitution should be adopted, it could not be-
changed or superseded until after 1854 We
appieheud, however, that this objection would
have no weight whdleyer,--cither with the pco-
pie Of Kansas or with The country at large. H.
the first place there Is IN the Constitution no cx-
press prohibition Of It's amendment previous to
loti, but only direction hO'c it shall he done
Qbcr that date while the Bill u. Rights express.
ly recognizes the night OF the people to lter
amend, or ,upersedc their Constitution at any
time and III any manner they may see Gt. Be-
sides, without any such provision, the night Of
the people to 10 iln, j, fundamental and nilicn.
abe. II has been exercised ~ many States. aud
IN regard 20 Kansas has been distinctly lccog.
nzed ,y oil the leading organs Of public opin-
ION IN all sections Of the country and without 4 :.
Junction OF party, aud more than all his. if the
people OF haust, were 10 exercise this right.
there Is no power thai can inicrire to prevent it,
The southern journals Which have been hiih-
cito 20 anxious 10 make the admission OF Kansas
"A sr'c gttq nan Of the coatiuu tnce Of the South
era States 10 the IN on, can now find 40 special
reason for pressing their demand. Ii the Pro-
Slltciy Parry had carried tn STATE election
As 1t Is believed they would DO, through the re.
tu,il OF thor opponents 10 yuie-then there would
have been tau lb.e reasons tor urging the adop-
ton OF the LccOmplon Constitution tor the Leg
lsIaure would have prevented it. amendment.
would have fastened Slavery ior a iiue upon the
State, aud would have sent two Pro Slavery sem
ators 10 the Congress of the United States for
siN ycau. These were valuable political prizes,
well worth c"ntcnding for But the tables are
turned. 1t Kansas comes MO the Union now
the first fruits Of that act i'll BE- the election nj
IRA Frec-S Senators, " ho will take their seats
before the close OF The prcscn, Congress, and
add their votes To those oi the Republican Par
~. And the vciy next slcl would be the re-
peal of all laws recognizing slavery ia Kansas,
and the call iprAnew Convention - frame a new
State Constitution 80 tar as Slavery Is con-
cerred j; has everything TO ose and nothing to
gam, As matters now stand. by the immediate
admission OF Kansas with the Lecompton Con
stlluiinu.
The rejection of that instrument i, now mat
ten OF interest onlv to President Buchan an and
the Democratic Party. They can preserve their
consistency and carry out the principle OF popu-
lar sovereignty IN no other way. Ii they peLsm
in forcing the Irromptrn document II rough Con-
erc>y, they sacrifice the integrity and good faith
OF the party without obtaining an equivalent
hey can make nothing ior Slavery 10y it. and
viii only convince the grra, body OF the North
err people that their zeal for the Institution was
greater than their ability to serve il.
Under existing circumstances the Kansas de-
bate in Congress must lose much of its interest
ami importance. Wrare afraid Senator Brown.
OF Mississippi will no, find affairs propl,ons to
the completion Of his speech nor tan we see up
on what grounds any very strenuous efforts can
be made either for or against the admission of
Kansas under the Lccompton Constitution. The
leading figure IN the drama has disappeared If
the pla, goes on, the ghost may enter. hut the
part Of Hamlet must be omitted ~ Y. IImes